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Monday evening, the Austin Public Safety Commission will hear the results of a year-long study regarding lighting around West Campus. The city called for the study following the murder of UT freshman Haruka Weiser, as well as an uptick in reports of crashes and crime.
The study focused on the area of 29th Street on the north, MLK on the south, the Drag on the east, and Lamar on the west.
Joel Meyer, Pedestrian Coordinator with the Austin Transportation Department, said at the time the study was commissioned that it would provide a full inventory of every street light within West Campus.
“Essentially performing a gap analysis of where lighting needs to be placed, how does it form to existing standards,” Meyer said.
Austin Police Department data also factored into the study.
“I think the first step is to really understand where crimes are happening and see if there’s a correlation where lighting is and is not,” said Meyer.
It’s not clear how any lighting changes would be funded, but Meyer has indicated the plan is to fund the overhaul through a partnership between the public and private sector.
