After the terror attack in New Orleans, Austin police are increasing visible patrols in popular areas like Sixth Street.

However, they're also moving forward with plans to reopen Sixth Street to vehicles after decades of closing the street to protect patrons.

On New Year's Day, U.S. Army veteran and Houston resident Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens. The suspect steered around a police blockade and slammed into New Year's revelers before being shot and killed by police.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said a planned attack like what happened in New Orleans can happen anywhere, and it underscores the importance of taking proactive public safety measures.

"A great idea was putting the balusters on the sidewalks so if we did open the streets, a car couldn't come up like what happened in New Orleans and a car coming up on the sidewalk couldn't happen," Davis said. "Those are structural changes that we need to look at, but those are years away and that takes time. It takes a lot of money, but we have to look at that."

Currently, a combination of police and barricades close off Sixth Street to cars from Red River Street to Congress Avenue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and during special events.

However, over the last three weeks, Austin started a phased effort to reopen Sixth Street to traffic on Thursdays and Saturdays. Davis said they've had no issues.

"Because it's not as busy on those days and we are currently with the students out for the holidays, that was a good opportunity to do that," Davis said. "It gives us some opportunity to look at the gaps we need to address."

Davis said she is confident in the phased approach, but given what happened in New Orleans and Las Vegas, there will be an increased presence of officers throughout the city and extra equipment to block off Sixth Street. Davis said that will last until law enforcement learns more about what happened as the investigation into both incidents continues.

According to Davis, there is also an infrastructure element, as they want to widen sidewalks and amplify lighting.

Police have ordered balusters and other equipment for the entire length of Sixth Street from Brazos to Red River streets. They have curbs about 12 to 18 inches high with fencing on top of them that will be in what is now parking spots along Sixth Street as a barrier.

They were supposed to arrive on Jan. 9, but Davis said the shipment was delayed.

"When those do get here, we're going to be taking up the parking lanes and the south side will be a bike lane as well," Davis said. "Traffic will be flowing westbound in that same westbound traffic, but we'll be operating lights and we'll have extra traffic enforcement as far as DUI enforcement out to help with that."

According to Davis, police will start near Lavaca, Guadalupe and San Antonio streets because those have the most issues.

"When we're talking about calls for service and problems that we're having, that's the area that's kind of condensed to," Davis said.

The priority is to keep pedestrians safe while allowing businesses to remain open and operate. Davis said there is also an officer safety component.

"When you look at our uses of force and our injuries for officers, the amount for the land mass that this is these blocks are, it is unbelievable the number of injuries to officers and uses of force we have in this area," Davis said. "We have to look at doing things better and differently."

Davis stressed that the plan is flexible, and if the crowd gets too big, officers will be able to shut the street down.

"At the end of the day, when we're looking at all this if it can't be done and it can't be done safely, we're not going to do it," Davis said.

Other popular spots like West and far East Sixth Street, Rainey Street and The Domain are always open to cars. In recent weeks, Austin police have met with business owners in the area as the department looked at options related to the opening of Sixth Street.

Meanwhile, the Downtown Austin Alliance said it is "deeply saddened" by the horrific terror attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day. However, it supports the plan to reopen Sixth Street.

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