AUSTIN | Transportation Updates

[dilliam]

Groundbreaking on the Broadmoor station finally happened this morning after getting pushed back from September. Should be open by 2024, which seems like a long time for adding a new station and a bit of additional track. Does anyone know if there any schematics similar to those that were shared with the public last month for the McKalla station?

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by 8ofspades

I think Capmetro should base Leander's cost on what services are actually given + amortization of the improvements that were made. Sure, it would be a loss of potential revenue, but I think it would be much more valuable to the ATX-metro area in the long run.

That's effectively what CM already does. Any money in excess of the service CM provides is given back to the city in the form of the "Capital Metro Capital Contribution Programs"

https://www.capmetro.org/docs/defaul...rsn=a9212441_2

page 5/6

[8ofspades]

Originally Posted by Novacek

That's effectively what CM already does. Any money in excess of the service CM provides is given back to the city in the form of the "Capital Metro Capital Contribution Programs"

https://www.capmetro.org/docs/defaul...rsn=a9212441_2

page 5/6

Wow, that makes a lot of sense, and also makes that goodman report seem either very sleazy, or very poorly researched. Any news on what Leander decided?

[kingkirbythe....]

Where Does Austin’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Network Really Suck?

https://austin.towers.net/where-does...k-really-suck/

If you’re looking to get around Austin without a car for business or pleasure, you’ll notice a relative lack of sidewalks pretty fast once you venture outside of downtown — it’s a longstanding issue, with the city estimating in 2019 that our pedestrian network was roughly only half connected, though we’ve added quite a lot since the approval of a new sidewalk improvement plan back in 2016. That’s not to mention the gaps in our bike lane network, where even major arterials only offer painted lanes if anything.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by 8ofspades

Wow, that makes a lot of sense, and also makes that goodman report seem either very sleazy, or very poorly researched. Any news on what Leander decided?

Yes, Goodman has a history of setting up and obtaining funding for pretty useless transit projects like the Woodlands Waterway Shuttle. I think their strategy is to get a nice fat consulting contract to set up the replacement transit system if Leander leaves Cap Metro.

[atxsnail]

Leander City Council votes today on whether or not to put CapMetro on the ballot

https://www.austinmonitor.com/storie...capital-metro/

[StoOgE]

Abbott is blocking the south lamar changes. Not sire if that's made it here but it's technically a highway

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Abbott is blocking the south lamar changes. Not sire if that's made it here but it's technically a highway

Are you referencing this
https://www.austinmonitor.com/storie...rly-two-years/

or some new issue? Google is turning up nothing.

[StoOgE]

Yes, he won't let them remove any auto-traffic lanes. That's the inter-agency conflict. TxDoT won't approve any removal of lanes so my guess is we're either going to see the city divert those funds to another artery or a complete redesign that will not be what we wanted.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Abbott is blocking the south lamar changes. Not sire if that's made it here but it's technically a highway

Why is he so bothered by everything the COA does? He has much bigger problems to be worrying about than a one block stretch of South Lamar. This is ridiculous.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Yes, he won't let them remove any auto-traffic lanes. That's the inter-agency conflict. TxDoT won't approve any removal of lanes so my guess is we're either going to see the city divert those funds to another artery or a complete redesign that will not be what we wanted.

So the city spokesperson lied whey they said there wasn't a conflict?

"Crichton said the agencies are not in conflict – each simply has different guidelines governing the nitty-gritty of street design that need to be accounted for. Nonetheless, the coordination has taken longer than expected.

The general design of the segment remains unchanged."

[StoOgE]

I've heard city staff are getting nowhere with the state who won't budge - I am sure they are publicly saying things are fine and trying to negotiate behind closed doors.

But it tracks closer to reality of a 2 year delay after signs went up about pending changes that things are worse than they are letting on.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I've heard city staff are getting nowhere with the state who won't budge - I am sure they are publicly saying things are fine and trying to negotiate behind closed doors.

But it tracks closer to reality of a 2 year delay after signs went up about pending changes that things are worse than they are letting on.

Jack Craver reports via his Austin Politics Newsletter that Abbott is refusing to allow TxDOT to approve the change. Also says he only found out bc of a Statesman article.

I'd recommend his newletter if you have an interest in council politics, development/land use, and other related topics. He offers a free trial.

[papertowelroll]

Originally Posted by JAM

Call it what you may, but that is not an express bus. It sits in traffic just like the cars. If there was a dedicated HOV lane as Houston has, then I would agree with you.

Its an "express" bus because it makes fewer stops. Just like "express" trains do in cities with subway systems.. a separate lane would be BRT, and we don't currently have that. (Except for the MoPac toll road I suppose).

I agree personally with the other poster. My previous house was 15 mins from a train station and 5 mins from a bus stop. There was no time of day that the train was a faster way to get downtown for me, and I never took it as a result. (Except for Austin FC the other direction!)

[drummer]

Voters will decide Capital Metro's future in Leander on May 7 ballot

The city of Leander’s continued involvement in Capital Metro will be up to voters May 7.

Leander City Council voted 5-2 on Jan. 25 to call an election for voters to decide whether the city will continue participation in Capital Metro. Council members Becki Ross and Esme Mattke Longoria voted in opposition.

Leander voters will say “yes” or “no” to the question: “Shall the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority be continued in the City of Leander?”

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...-may-7-ballot/

[drummer]

Also this:

Construction starts on 183 North project in Northwest Austin

The 183 North project aims to improve mobility, reduce congestion and provide reliable travel times for transit and emergency vehicles, according to the Mobility Authority. The project will span US 183 from MoPac to SH 45/RM 620.

The 9-mile project will add two express lanes in each direction and an additional general-purpose lane, where needed, for a total of four nontolled lanes in each direction. Express lanes will also be built connected to MoPac South.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...thwest-austin/


I find it interesting that they're adding lanes to 183 from Mopac to 45 heading to the NW suburbs while folks will also vote as to whether *mass* transit is or isn't important to the good people of Leander.

That said, I personally think both are needed. I think mass transit has the potential to make a bigger dent for the good of the metro area in many ways, but because I also live in reality, both are needed.

[AustinYIMBY]

So if Leander voters vote "No" does that mean they will close the Leander Red Line station and the train will only go as far as Lakeline?

[drummer]

Originally Posted by AustinYIMBY

So if Leander voters vote "No" does that mean they will close the Leander Red Line station and the train will only go as far as Lakeline?

That's my understanding. It wouldn't be terrible for the system as a whole, but with the way Leander/Liberty Hill are growing, having a true commuter rail from that area is a must in my opinion. Especially since there are some larger developments being built near the station up there.

[AustinYIMBY]

My pessimistic prediction is that most people that utilize CapMetro services in Leander won't vote, either because they live outside of Leander and use the train, dont know about the election or just dont vote in general (shame on them!). So the election will result in a win for "no" because of selfish voters. Then the people who actually use CapMetro but didnt vote will get upset that the services are gone.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by AustinYIMBY

My pessimistic prediction is that most people that utilize CapMetro services in Leander won't vote, either because they live outside of Leander and use the train, dont know about the election or just dont vote in general (shame on them!). So the election will result in a win for "no" because of selfish voters. Then the people who actually use CapMetro but didnt vote will get upset that the services are gone.

It'll be interesting to see if the developer of the Northline development puts any money behind a "stay" campaign.

leaving has got to be at least something of a financial hit to them. Without the train, they have no differentiator from a generic development anywhere else in the metro 30 miles from downtown.