The Downtown Austin Alliance introduced a pilot program for businesses to offer parking vouchers to customers.

AUSTIN, Texas — The rumble of machinery and the sight of traffic cones and detours surrounding the former site of the Austin Convention Center has become a daily backdrop for some popular businesses in Downtown Austin.

At Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, the construction is hard to miss as the convention center once stood directly in front of it. Now, the area is dominated by fencing and heavy equipment as crews work to revamp the convention center.

“We’re hoping that, you know, these four years go by fairly quickly and we’re moving forward to the other side of it,” said Kevin Fry, assistant general manager of Moonshine. 

The convention center was gutted and demolished by the end of 2025, leading the Downtown Austin Alliance to come up with solutions to offset the impact. 

Through April 30, a pilot program is in effect, which allows participating businesses to hand out parking vouchers for anyone parking at the East Fifth Street parking garage and the East Second Street parking garage. 

“I’m really excited about it,” said Fry.

Fry showed KVUE the book of vouchers. Staff added that there are signs to show customers that the option is available.

In December, Alliance leaders gave people half-off Uber rides in another effort to lure people in.

“We want to have a good understanding of what the tools are that are available, whether it be rideshare, whether it be parking, whether it’s financial relief and assistance for businesses,” said Amalia Carmona, Director of Urban Design at the Downtown Austin Alliance.

Carmona admitted that many of the ideas they’re pushing out have never been done, and they’re learning as they go. They hope to acquire data and information to evaluate which solutions fits best, and which they can expand.

However, the problem is money.

“We’re hoping that the data we receive can be used and leveraged in conversation with other garage operators,” said Carmona. “There’s a lot of private garage operators, we’ve been fortunate that the convention center partnered with us on this offer.”