AUSTIN | Transportation Updates

[J78704]

Originally Posted by drummer

Controversy brews over TxDOT's plans for I-35 expansion project in Central Austin



https://www.kvue.com/article/money/e...f-7d35078a91fe


Project website can be found here.

This article also explains who and what organization are fighting for more community-integrative approach to i35. We should support these people and organizations.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/n...ots-i-35-plan/

[OU812]

Interesting conversation about the coming improvements to Interstate 35 through downtown!
https://omny.fm/shows/the-todd-and-d.../9-3-21-hour-2

[JollyvilleJ-Rad]

Originally Posted by OU812

Interesting conversation about the coming improvements to Interstate 35 through downtown!
https://omny.fm/shows/the-todd-and-d.../9-3-21-hour-2

Was very interesting. Listened to the whole interview with the TxDOT engineer and found it sympathetic to the project and sometimes misleading. The main recurring theme was costs and timelines, budget overruns and a happiness over the lack of tolling. The questions came off as very pro-project and as opportunities to for TxDOT to sell it. When asked about the widening and destruction of "150 businesses" along the deck split, the engineer almost immediately turned it around as their response to the number one request of the project by the community - to remove the upper deck. Besides the fact they misled us with the "no wider, no higher" promise, this seems like a pretty flagrant way of twisting our words around on us - I don't think anybody wanted the deck removed at the expense of widening and eminent domain. Maybe I'm wrong about other people's expectations, but sidestepping the question by basically saying "this is what you wanted" rubbed me the wrong way.

Another (somewhat fair) point was about that the 4 new non-tolled transit/HOV lanes being about moving more people than cars - that has obviously been a major priority of Austinites and our local government, but by instead encouraging alternate modes of transportation. They mention the possibility of adding an additional plan for express bus service from Georgetown to South Austin along the highway in conjunction with ProjectConnect/CapMetro, but there was a reason why the high-capacity lines are where they are and not along the interstate frontage roads - it sounds nice in principal, but it's just not where most people live or commute from.

The one thing I agree with entirely is that "everybody agrees something has to be done." But after the interview when Todd and Don immediately dismissed the local alternatives as plans by the Mayor and Casar to destroy the economy of East Austin, I stopped listening. That kind of rhetoric is not helpful and also untrue. This was not balanced and ended up becoming politicized with alternatives facts about the other community proposals and the intent of local leaders. I'm not opposed to rebuilding and improving and learned to be happy with Option 1 (#BringBackOption1), but that kind of discussion from the radio show is counterproductive in my opinion.

[StoOgE]

Yeah - that interview was hogwash.

We were told that we could both remove the deck and not widen the road.

By that logit they could also put 2 more stacked decks and claim that we didn't want to widen the road.

We want both things and a billion dollars was given to TXDot for an 8 billion dollar investment. Budget overruns aren't the issue when you slashed the budget for the project.

[freerover]

Guys, they lied in order to get Campo money for the project. They were never serious about tunneling. It was all a scam.

[Novacek]

CapMetro had some Project Connect webinar updates yesterday. Nothing too much new in slides, but a few details from the Q&A off the top of my head:

I think I got them to confirm that the new McKalla station will have pedestrian access from the D/D/D loop. The first responder didn't seem to understand the question, but the second appeared to get it. I wanted to check this as it wasn't a given as there's actually a strip of private property separating the tracks and Delta Dr.

They're building the McKalla station large enough to stage trains for post-game rush. They'll be able to stage up to 4 trains (I'm assuming the current short DMU configuration) while still supporting normal through-running. Or stage 6 trains (but this would disrupt through operations).

As mentioned, 400 park and ride spots at Broadmoor. Still no charge for parking for now (Project Connect talked about that as a possible source of operating funds).

Interesting Metrorapid funding details. It was previously revealed that the Manchaca/Oak Hill extension will be entirely locally funded, but they're also planning to do so for the Gold Line (BRT to Highland). The idea is that this would make it easier to potentially rebuild as light rail with federal funds.

For the new battery metrorapid vehicles, sounds like the 40 footers will have the same front/outside bike racks as today, but the 60 footers could come with internal bike racks.

[enragedcamel]

Can I complain about all these bike lanes that are having protections installed? Specifically, I hate the fact that they are protected by mere metal poles, rather than properly using raised concrete. The metal poles aren't strong enough to stop a vehicle driven by a drunk driver, for example, so they only offer the illusion of safety, rather than actual safety.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

Can I complain about all these bike lanes that are having protections installed? Specifically, I hate the fact that they are protected by mere metal poles, rather than properly using raised concrete. The metal poles aren't strong enough to stop a vehicle driven by a drunk driver, for example, so they only offer the illusion of safety, rather than actual safety.

Where are the lanes with metal poles? The only "separated" bike lanes I've seen installed lately are made with either the turtle bumps or plastic poles.

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

Where are the lanes with metal poles? The only "separated" bike lanes I've seen installed lately are made with either the turtle bumps or plastic poles.

Maybe they are plastic. I assumed they were metal...

Wow, that makes them even more useless.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

Maybe they are plastic. I assumed they were metal...

Wow, that makes them even more useless.

They aren't intended to stop anyone. They are flexible plastic mounted on a spring hinge so they do not damage vehicles if they do strike them. They are a visual aid to keep both motorists and cyclists away form the buffer zone. A concrete curb has a similar affect. A curb will not really stop a vehicle travelling at high speed either; they just 'jump' the curb. But, as you noted, a curb offers more psychological protection to cyclists, just as the stand-up (I like to call them knock-down) delineators offer more psychological protection than a painted line.

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by H2O

They aren't intended to stop anyone. They are flexible plastic mounted on a spring hinge so they do not damage vehicles if they do strike them. They are a visual aid to keep both motorists and cyclists away form the buffer zone. A concrete curb has a similar affect. A curb will not really stop a vehicle travelling at high speed either; they just 'jump' the curb. But, as you noted, a curb offers more psychological protection to cyclists, just as the stand-up (I like to call them knock-down) delineators offer more psychological protection than a painted line.

You're right about curbs. I guess it depends on how high they are. To be honest, I'd like something like this:



Maybe a nicer looking version, but the idea is that even someone who completely loses control of their vehicle wouldn't be able to run over anyone in the bicycle lane.



https://twitter.com/nyc_dot/status/999037692645134336

The City could even invite muralists to paint them to turn it into a massive community art project.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by H2O

They aren't intended to stop anyone. They are flexible plastic mounted on a spring hinge so they do not damage vehicles if they do strike them. They are a visual aid to keep both motorists and cyclists away form the buffer zone. A concrete curb has a similar affect. A curb will not really stop a vehicle travelling at high speed either; they just 'jump' the curb. But, as you noted, a curb offers more psychological protection to cyclists, just as the stand-up (I like to call them knock-down) delineators offer more psychological protection than a painted line.

Exactly, pedestrians can and have been killed on sidewalks. In Austin.

That doesn't mean that "all sidewalks are useless".

I think it's more than psychological, the poles serve as a continuous reminder that cyclists may be there, and sit in the driver's field of view.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

You're right about curbs. I guess it depends on how high they are. To be honest, I'd like something like this:



Maybe a nicer looking version, but the idea is that even someone who completely loses control of their vehicle wouldn't be able to run over anyone in the bicycle lane.



https://twitter.com/nyc_dot/status/999037692645134336

The City could even invite muralists to paint them to turn it into a massive community art project.

There's definitely spots where infrastructure like that is appropriate, depending on traffic speeds and counts.

But it's _expensive_. Quick googling, looks like Jersey barriers run about $300 / 4 feet. Not including installation.

So for bike lanes on both sides, you're talking close to a million dollars a mile. For Austin, trying to build out hundreds of miles of lanes, that's not going to work.

[H2O]

Jersey barriers are also really ugly, no matter how much paint you add to them. They also interrupt sightlines, which can be a security issue. And they do not protect anybody at intersections, which is where most vehicle / cyclist / pedestrian crashes occur. It would be better to calm our streets to keep traffic speeds slow so people can have plenty of reaction time to avoid conflicts. That is the intention behind the measures you see as useless. In high speed locations it would be better to have fully separated bike facilities, like off-street trails. Jersey barriers can augment in locations where physical distance is not possible, like on bridges.

[Novacek]

Meeting packets up for several CapMetro board meetings and the ATP monthtly board meeting.

https://www.capmetro.org/public-invo...board-meetings
https://atptx.org/austin-transit-par...board-meetings

One interesting detail, CM (not ATP) is starting a capital reserve fund for the Green Line Phase 2 (the segment to Manor). Funding it with 800k this budget. As a point of comparison, Manor's sales tax seems to be bring in about 2M per year for CapMetro (then probably a bit more from the Feds in formula allocations).

If they keep doing this over the next decade or so until ATP starts phase 1, they'll have a chunk of what they need for that segment.

[Geckos_Rule]

Originally Posted by H2O

Jersey barriers are also really ugly, no matter how much paint you add to them. They also interrupt sightlines, which can be a security issue. And they do not protect anybody at intersections, which is where most vehicle / cyclist / pedestrian crashes occur. It would be better to calm our streets to keep traffic speeds slow so people can have plenty of reaction time to avoid conflicts. That is the intention behind the measures you see as useless. In high speed locations it would be better to have fully separated bike facilities, like off-street trails. Jersey barriers can augment in locations where physical distance is not possible, like on bridges.

Yeah, we don't have large concrete barriers between roads and sidewalks, nor do we have them between opposite lanes on roads (save for on highways). I don't see why they'd be needed for bikes specifically.

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by Geckos_Rule

Yeah, we don't have large concrete barriers between roads and sidewalks, nor do we have them between opposite lanes on roads (save for on highways). I don't see why they'd be needed for bikes specifically.

The answer should be obvious: it's because cyclists are within much closer proximity to cars than pedestrians are, and a car that slams into a cyclist is much more likely to result in a casualty than a car that slams into another car.

I understand that jersey barriers are expensive, but perhaps a compromise could be achieved by going with a 1-foot high concrete — something that is taller than a typical car wheel radius so that the car can't just roll over it.

At the end of the day, as a cyclist, I want to feel safe, and the current plastic poles and turtle bumps ain't doing it, especially not in this state where everyone and their dad drives a massive SUV or pickup truck.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

The answer should be obvious: it's because cyclists are within much closer proximity to cars than pedestrians are, and a car that slams into a cyclist is much more likely to result in a casualty than a car that slams into another car.

A car is often a couple of feet away from pedestrians on sidewalks (especially those with no grass strip).

The cars are the same couple feet away from a cyclist, especially lanes with poles or buffers.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3698...7i16384!8i8192

There's miles of sidewalks I'd want concrete barriers for before I worry about lower speed streets with bike lanes with plastic.

[drummer]

Judge denies effort to stop Oak Hill Parkway construction

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas denied a motion to halt the construction of the Oak Hill Parkway in Southwest Austin.

The case hinged on the argument that the Texas Department of Transportation had not adequately considered the environmental ramifications of the project and thus violated the National Environmental Policy Act. Specifically, the plaintiffs said that the environmental impact statement did not account for the concrete batch plant, which TxDOT would build to facilitate freeway construction.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/n...-construction/

[Lobotomizer]

Great news!