APD to talk about 6th Street safety

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department called a last-minute press conference Thursday afternoon to talk about safety on one of the city's most popular downtown streets.

In a press release issued just after 1 p.m., APD said the department and Chief Lisa Davis will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. to "provide information regarding 6th Street Safety."

The release stated, "The Department continues to demonstrate its commitment to transparency with a focus on building trust within our community through information sharing."

It's unclear what APD plans to discuss.

The conference will be live-streamed in the video player at the top of this story and on Facebook. This story will be updated with details following the press conference.

This comes just a day after a terror attack in New Orleans that left 15 dead and dozens of others injured when a 42-year-old driver from Texas, drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street.

Officials in other major cities across the U.S. have upped safety measures and placed law enforcement sources on high alert following the tragedy.

The Sugar Bowl, which was scheduled to take place at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome on New Year's Day, was also postponed to Thursday night.

KXAN's Brianna Hollis also reported last month that a group of city departments was looking at options related to a pilot program that would open Sixth Street up to vehicle traffic.

Currently, police and barricades block the road from Red River to Congress on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and during special events.

According to an email sent from city staff to Sixth Street stakeholders, the pilot is set to take place during the “winter months” and wrap up before SXSW, but no official dates have been announced.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page to follow new updates.