AUSTIN | Transportation Updates - Page 392

Novacek · #**7821** Posted **Jun 14, 2021, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

All good points. I find the south terminus 'Slaughter Station' even more perplexing because it is actually at Ralph Albanedo. At least there is an explicit intention to build a Park and Ride there, unlike at Stassney. Maybe they think that property will be easier to acquire than further south on Slaughter? Not that Slaughter is a great terminus either, but it seems more logical than Ralph Albanedo. South Park Meadows is a significant destination (as the slide implies), but currently not very transit supportive. I do think at least the northern portion closest to Slaughter has a lot of redevelopment potential, particularly by the time this extension would get built. Thoughts?

Maybe they're trying to optimize for station catchment and (eventual) transit supportive density? SoCo at Slaughter has almost no land east of it before you reach I35 frontage roads (which presumably will be a big barrier). Pulling it a bit further north also gets a bit further from the Slaughter Creek Greenbelt, which presumably would also be a barrier to development and ridership?

Also, though they're not currently planned or shown, that location might let you eventually do T-ramps direct from I35 (without messing around with the existing I35/slaughter intersection). *

And it's a half mile less track, which will save you ~50-100M.

Edit/Add: in fact, looking at TCAD, it looks like there might still be existing Ralph Ablanedo Dr RoW running all the way to I35, that could eventually be used as such.

ATX2030 · #**7822** Posted **Jun 28, 2021, 5:30 PM**

Transit options expand in Austin area as Eastside Bus Plaza opens

https://www.kvue.com/article/traffic...d-7efa7c757fd0

Urbannizer · #**7823** Posted **Jun 29, 2021, 4:35 PM**

Soil testing for the Orange Line

Urbannizer · #**7824** Posted **Jun 29, 2021, 5:03 PM**

City Seeking Feedback on Burnet Road Corridor Placemaking and Placekeeping Opportunities

Quote:

The city’s Corridor Program Office (CPO) recently began to collect feedback on the renovation of the Burnet Road Corridor with regards to placemaking and placekeeping opportunities.

The overall project proposes mobility, safety and connectivity improvements to Burnet Road, between Koenig Lane and MoPac Expressway.

This specific road corridor is 2.5 miles in length and one of the nine major roadways in the city’s Corridor Mobility Program.

Over 35,000 vehicles travel the roadway per day and approximately 60 access driveways in the 2.5 miles create additional safety concerns.

The Austin Transportation Department collected crash data that found that there were over 900 crashes on this section of Burnet Road between 2015 and 2020.

Those crashes resulted in 23 fatalities or serious injuries, along with 19 bicyclists or pedestrians involved in crashes.

The project is also expected to diminish vehicular delay, improve efficiency of transit, as well as create continuous ADA-compliant sidewalks and bicycle facilities along the entire length of the corridor.

The project will leverage existing sidewalks when possible and build separate bike facilities next to the existing sidewalk.

Austin residents will have until July 7 to provide feedback on placemaking and placekeeping opportunities.

Novacek · #**7825** Posted **Jun 29, 2021, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

City Seeking Feedback on Burnet Road Corridor Placemaking and Placekeeping Opportunities

Confused/incorrect coverage.

The city is currently seeking feedback on the Burnet/Braker intersection.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/n...eautification/

The entire burnet corridor as covered by the 2016 bond is 5 miles, not 2.5 miles. The 45-55M is for that whole 5 miles, not just the 2.5 above 183.

StoOgE · #**7826** Posted **Jun 29, 2021, 7:44 PM**

I think we should build a pedestrian bridge to go catacorner (Tokyo/Hong Kong have some circular pedestrian bridges) for the intersection between Austin FC and the Domain.

As is its a mess after games that is slowing busses down. If Pedestrians had a way to get across that intersection without inhibiting traffic flow it would be ideal.

drummer · #**7827** Posted **Jun 29, 2021, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I think we should build a pedestrian bridge to go catacorner (Tokyo/Hong Kong have some circular pedestrian bridges) for the intersection between Austin FC and the Domain.

As is its a mess after games that is slowing busses down. If Pedestrians had a way to get across that intersection without inhibiting traffic flow it would be ideal.

Shanghai has some circular ones as well. If anything, having the SE-NE-NW corners connected could be helpful. I'm unsure if there would be merit in connecting it to the Pickle campus corner.

H2O · #**7828** Posted **Jun 30, 2021, 11:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Shanghai has some circular ones as well. If anything, having the SE-NE-NW corners connected could be helpful. I'm unsure if there would be merit in connecting it to the Pickle campus corner.

Starbucks

Novacek · #**7829** Posted **Jun 30, 2021, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I think we should build a pedestrian bridge to go catacorner (Tokyo/Hong Kong have some circular pedestrian bridges) for the intersection between Austin FC and the Domain.

As is its a mess after games that is slowing busses down. If Pedestrians had a way to get across that intersection without inhibiting traffic flow it would be ideal.

It's not even close to being worthwhile.

In general, pedestrian bridges like that are detrimental to the pedestrian experience and build environment (topographic exceptions may apply). It forces you go to way out of your way (up and down) and is especially bad if you need to use the accessibility ramps.

For 99.9% of the time, what the intersection needs is well-timed frequent pedestrian signals of sufficient length. A pedestrian scramble cycle would be even better.

You're trying to optimize for games getting out, which is ~15 minutes x 17 times a year. Even if we get more women's games and other events and concerts (though only the largest of those) it's a miniscule portion of the total time.

And the need will only go down. Right now, most people are going N/NW because that's the portion of North Burnet which is built up. That's where the domain parking garages are.

That's going to change. When broadmoor gets built up and the red line trail goes in, more people are going to head N/NE. When the rail crossing/station goes in, more people are going to go east. When the pickup zone is moved to the D/D/D loop, more people will head east. When more stuff gets built up E and S, more people are going to go east and south. When the red line length and frequency improve, more people will ride it. Etc.

drummer · #**7830** Posted **Jun 30, 2021, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

Starbucks

I mean....I hear you, but I'll stand by there not being merit for a connection over there....

I drink Starbucks when traveling through Asia. Aside from that, I typically avoid it. Personal preference aside, a full circle would be cool.

ATX2030 · #**7831** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 6:05 PM**

Oak Hill ‘Y’ construction project breaks ground, future US 290 and SH 71 improvements planned

https://www.kxan.com/traffic/oak-hil...ments-planned/

...."The $674 million Texas Clear Lanes project is fully funded. Construction is anticipated to complete in 2025-26, weather permitting."

H2O · #**7832** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

I mean....I hear you, but I'll stand by there not being merit for a connection over there....

I drink Starbucks when traveling through Asia. Aside from that, I typically avoid it. Personal preference aside, a full circle would be cool.

I'm with Novacek. There isn't really merit to any connection. But to ignore the draw that Starbucks has (for some) compared to uses on the other corners, is an escape from reality.

drummer · #**7833** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

I'm with Novacek. There isn't really merit to any connection. But to ignore the draw that Starbucks has (for some) compared to uses on the other corners, is an escape from reality.

Haha, fair enough.

Echostatic · #**7834** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 8:54 PM**

Oak Hill Parkway will be some pretty miserable construction for quite a few years, but that area definitely needs it. The Y is completely incapable of handling the traffic it now faces, even with the minor upgrades in 2013. Dripping and Bee Cave aren't slowing their development down any time soon so it'd only get worse if nothing was done, or SOH's proposal was selected.

slippi · #**7835** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echostatic

Oak Hill Parkway will be some pretty miserable construction for quite a few years, but that area definitely needs it. The Y is completely incapable of handling the traffic it now faces, even with the minor upgrades in 2013. Dripping and Bee Cave aren't slowing their development down any time soon so it'd only get worse if nothing was done, or SOH's proposal was selected.

This project will merely encourage even more sprawl, and it will be as congested as before shortly after it opens. The only thing this project will change in the long-term is how quickly the climate changes.

Maximusx1 · #**7836** Posted **Jul 1, 2021, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by slippi

This project will merely encourage even more sprawl, and it will be as congested as before shortly after it opens. The only thing this project will change in the long-term is how quickly the climate changes.

There you go, the age-old Austin 'if you don't build it, they won't come' attitude. How's that been going?

slippi · #**7837** Posted **Jul 2, 2021, 1:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximusx1

There you go, the age-old Austin 'if you don't build it, they won't come' attitude. How's that been going?

???

Do you really think that this project won't encourage more sprawl?

I have an infinite appetite for more apartments near transit stops close to the urban core, but zero appetite for highway projects that amount to climate arson.

KevinFromTexas · #**7838** Posted **Jul 2, 2021, 4:55 AM**

I just dislike seeing anything built out there. The land out there is also expensive. My brother and I camped at a ranch between Austin and San Antonio in an area where some of the properties were going for $15 million. I looked it up since one of them was for sale. It especially seems odd since most of the jobs are going east of Austin along with lion's share of the new housing.

My biggest gripe is seeing places like Hamilton Pool, Reimer's Ranch, and Camp Bend McCullough overrun with more development and water pollution.

WesternSon · #**7839** Posted **Jul 2, 2021, 1:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by slippi

???

Do you really think that this project won't encourage more sprawl?

I have an infinite appetite for more apartments near transit stops close to the urban core, but zero appetite for highway projects that amount to climate arson.

Because thousands of cars idling in traffic due to infrastructure being sized for 1995 traffic levels is a win for the climate...

jkconno · #**7840** Posted **Jul 2, 2021, 2:16 PM**

I live a few miles from the Y and IMO this should have been done years ago. Can't wait.