AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[OU812]

And hopefully some kind of RAIL transportation system. Preferably monorail or any kind of elevated light rail. Something like the "L" in Chicago would be nice, especially the downtown loop.

[KevinFromTexas]

I hate the idea of elevated rail. I'd rather not see all that mess up in the air.

[hismasterplan]

I've said before, Austin isn't a good place for an el. It just wouldn't fit visually except if it were only up and down the high ways if anywhere. But to have el trains running through downtown wouldn't be too pretty, especially if they block views of historical sites like the capitol. We should definitely go for ground level though, such as light rail. I've gotten to the point where I hate driving for many reasons but I won't go too into it.

[OU812]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I hate the idea of elevated rail. I'd rather not see all that mess up in the air.

Elevated transit can look nice if it's built with aesthetics in mind. Throwing up gigantic chunks of steel for the sake of mass transit without regard to it's appearance (NYC, Chicago) is another thing.

I believe the main advantage of rail being elevated rather than at-grade is that it's MUCH safer: no chance of vehicle/pedestrian accidents. Plus it doesn't clutter the existing roadway by taking up what few precious downtown lanes there already are. A monorail's footprint is very small and can literally be built in the middle of a street while leaving most of the width of the lanes available. Besides, what other options are there downtown? Big loud noisy streetcars? (I've seen them in Toronto, they're obnoxious and take up alot of space) Subways? Too expensive to build around here from what I've heard due to Texas' shallow limestone and other reasons.. Light rail? That works in the suburbs but how would it fit downtown? I thought the reason why it was voted out in 2000 was because it would have robbed so many of the existing lanes, especially around UT...

Of course this is a debate that can go on forever and I'm not really in the mood nor have the time to go there. I personally hope that someday there's a city proposal for elevated rail and it goes up for a vote, that way the public can decide. By the way- why aren't road proposals ever up for a vote? Sometimes the money is, but not how it's spent. Sure would be nice for the public to decide on the construction of new expressways and tollways around here. Especially since Austin is about to have 5 more tollways that we didn't ask for (that makes like what, 11 total?)

[OU812]

Originally Posted by hismasterplan

I've said before, Austin isn't a good place for an el. It just wouldn't fit visually except if it were only up and down the high ways if anywhere. But to have el trains running through downtown wouldn't be too pretty, especially if they block views of historical sites like the capitol. We should definitely go for ground level though, such as light rail. I've gotten to the point where I hate driving for many reasons but I won't go too into it.

I'm just thinking 1 or 2 loops of elevated rail downtown (w/o blocking the capitol bldg mind u). Those would connect with light rail trains to points outside of the CBD. From there, long distance high speed commuter rail would connect to the burbs. Anyhoo, just a pipe dream of mine

[OU812]

*Some interesting monorail pics:
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/monorail.html
http://www.inmagine.com/searchterms/monorail.html

[hismasterplan]

Originally Posted by OU812

I'm just thinking 1 or 2 loops of elevated rail downtown (w/o blocking the capitol bldg mind u). Those would connect with light rail trains to points outside of the CBD. From there, long distance high speed commuter rail would connect to the burbs. Anyhoo, just a pipe dream of mine

As long as it's designed good. That reminds me of some of the lines in Chicago, like the Blue Line. It runs as a subway, then goes elevated and I think there's a section that's ground level.

[Aiphanes]

Originally Posted by OU812

*Some interesting monorail pics:
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/monorail.html
http://www.inmagine.com/searchterms/monorail.html

Those are some nice monorail pictures...This could work here in Austin...

[crewer]

I was in Austin last week and on the west side when I saw the smoke from the Alexan Apartments fire. What a sad shame... that it all didn't go up in flames.

Are there no regulations in Austin anymore that control growth on what used to be the beautiful Hill Country? Or how about some architectural requirements that keep developments from becoming outrageous eyesores!

I'm all for development, but give me a break!

[M1EK]

Elevated rail is never going to happen here, and LRT was voted down in 2000 because of about ten different reasons - primary among them that Krusee forced them to the polls before they were ready, in an obvious attempt to kill it by putting it on the ballot at the same time suburban turnout would be particularly juiced due to W.

It had NOTHING to do with taking lanes downtown - the opposition was primarily road warriors with a healthy dessert of people who (correctly) said that CM hadn't yet nailed down the exact route (of course, this was Krusee's fault).

Elevated rail is incredibly costly and brings along a whole extra set of problems with the neighborhood NIMBYs; access for the disabled and for emergencies; etc. The only places that should even consider it are places like Honolulu (too low to go underground; too much traffic to run at surface level; provides good views for riders and doesn't obstruct much for others).

Monorail is for kooks. Sorry, but Seattle and Las Vegas proved that the claims about economics and safety were a load of crap.

[ATXboom]

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/downloads/ep_data_0708.pdf

Austin updated latest downtown development plan list July 31.

[Kevinb]

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Derailed train slams into Austin building
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AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Austin Police Department officials said a train has
derailed at the 300 block of North Lamar Boulevard and hit a building.
The hit building has not been identified.

KXAN Austin News has a crew on the way, and we'll provide information as it
become available.

[shanny]

while driving yesterday i noticed the austonian from 360 near westlake high school! its becoming more and more visible every week.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, that train wreck happened at the Amtrak station near the Town Lake Animal Shelter. The building that was hit was that apartment building that replaced the old Goodwill building. I wonder how it happened. It was a freight train, and it looked like it was crossing the bridge and heading west.

Photos from the Statesman.com: By the way, there's some neat angles on downtown there.
http://www.statesman.com/news/mediahub/media/slideshow/index.jsp?tId=117089

Train derails downtown
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/s...08/08/20/two_cars_of_train_derailed.html

[Alec_of_the_ATX]

picture taken in North Austin looking west-southwest

[KevinFromTexas]

Wild! Yeah, it got really dark here yesterday at about 4:30. It poured down rain for about 30 minutes.

[priller]

Another crane up today, for the office building going up at 5th and Mopac.

[zx14]

the trip to austin helped lexington leaders to understand the importance of a modern city center building to boost downtown and the local economy. Austin showed them what progress is truly about. However as they start on our centre point project a building simmilar is size to the w a few historic buildings had to be demolished. including one from 1827 which was older than Austin. However the front of the building will be saved to be incorperated into the new design.

[Saddle Man]

The loss of those buildings is unfortunate.

[Strayone]

I saw the train derail story on the news, a resident said she heard some noise looked out her window and saw a train wreck. Wow the saying "It was a train wreck" applies here.