Austin's Early Traffic Laws & Sidewalk Payments
City Pays for Sidewalks:
An ordinance passed, allocating $760.14 to pay a contractor for constructing sidewalks and curbs in front of several private properties.Traffic Laws Proposed:
A new ordinance was introduced to regulate street traffic, establish "rules of the road," and set penalties for violations, marking an early step in formalizing urban traffic management.Traffic Debate Postponed:
The proposed traffic regulation ordinance was read twice but then "laid over," indicating it would require further discussion and consideration at a later meeting.
Full Transcript
Regular meeting of the City Council: Austin, Texas, Oct. 5th, 1911
The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Roll called:
Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart, Lockridge & Powell
Absent excused Councilman Bartholomew
The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meetings were read and approved.
Unfinished business
The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance appropriating the sum of $760.14 for the purpose of paying Knox T. Johnson for constructing sidewalks and curbs in front of and abutting properties of the following named persons, viz.:
Estate of Monroe Miller, E.M. Scarbrough, Estate of Jos Nalle, & P. Fleet, which was read the third time and passed by the following vote:
Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart, Lockridge & Powell
Absent Councilman Bartholomew
New Business
By Councilman hart an ordinance to regulate traffic in and along the street and ways of the City of Austin, and to establish rules of the road, and prescribing penalties for its violation.
The ordinance was read the first time and the rule suspended and it placed on its second reading by the following vote:
Yeas mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen hart, Lockridge & Powell
Absent Councilman Bartholomew
The ordinance was read the second time and laid over.
The Council then recessed subject to call of the Mayor.