When I lived in Austin, the Domain was always one of my favorite places to visit. I'd be lying if I said I didn't go up every so often just to peek in on the construction. I always found it amazing that they could just build a new neighborhood that almost looked like a real neighborhood. When I moved away they had just opened the first part of Rock Rose but the northern half was still cordoned off, and wrapping up construction.
However, even then, I remember the lack of traffic lights was the first thing that struck me as it began to get more crowded, as newly completed phases had continued to open. Encountering the four-way stops was nerve-wracking even as a driver. I can only imagine what it's like now.
At the same time though, I am so rooting for the Domain because, planning gaps aside, it has been a runaway success so far in terms of return on investment, and it's going to remake the area in its image by proximity. It's interesting to think that once Broadmoor, other neighboring developments, possible changes at the Pickle Campus down the line, this will then be the oldest part of this neighborhood.
If they can learn from mistakes made early on and retrofit the core away from car dependence in the future, and pending the implementation of more mass transit options, it may work in the end. The internal roads are intended to suit pedestrians, so for example, creating a pleasant experience for the entirety of the walk from the Metrorail or nearby bus routes (the "first/last mile"), will incentivize people to walk and use transit.
It only works if people actually leave their cars sometimes!
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BUILD IT. BUILD EVERYTHING. BUILD IT ALL.
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