AUSTIN | Transportation Updates

[slippi]

Originally Posted by WesternSon

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

People have been trying to greenwash highway expansions with this line for decades and it simply doesn't pass the smell test.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by slippi

People have been trying to greenwash highway expansions with this line for decades and it simply doesn't pass the smell test.

No pun intended, I assume?

[MBAus]

Originally Posted by slippi

People have been trying to greenwash highway expansions with this line for decades and it simply doesn't pass the smell test.

Fully agree with this sentiment. The transition from gasoline to battery electric vehicles is likely to occur a lot faster than most people think. There's a major shift in the auto industry that's in the early innings and will accelerate over the next 2 years. That'll make a huge dent in the climate impact of this sort of expansion.

Also, as more people get cars with advanced driver assist features (e.g. GM Super Cruise, Tesla Autopilot, etc.) the whole "sitting in traffic" thing becomes a lot more bearable from a quality of life perspective.

[StoOgE]

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.

While I don't disagree - in the case of Drip and BeeCaves its already happened. At this point its just a traffic jam that needs solving.

Now, throw a commuter rail in there and we can make everyone happy.

[enthurzan]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

While I don't disagree - in the case of Drip and BeeCaves its already happened. At this point its just a traffic jam that needs solving.

Now, throw a commuter rail in there and we can make everyone happy.

CapMetro already owns an entire railroad from Llano all the way to Giddings (see picture). If they wanted to, they could create a commuter rail system along this route. This railroad is perfect for commute rail since many of the towns on the route are quite small, and therefore have not yet been affected by non-walkable suburban sprawl. CapMetro could build mixed-used stations with apartments and malls to earn profit from the positive externalities of transit, which is was Japanese transit companies do.


Just extended the current Project Connect green line plans to Elgin, and building transit oriented development within a 1/2 mile radius around the station, would add >100,000 residents around those stations who are much more likely to use transit. See 2nd picture

[urbancore]

interesting read about fed funding for Project Connect.

https://www.austinmonitor.com/storie...ity-standards/

[freerover]

Originally Posted by enthurzan

Just extended the current Project Connect green line plans to Elgin, and building transit oriented development within a 1/2 mile radius around the station, would add >100,000 residents around those stations who are much more likely to use transit. See 2nd picture

Would love to but Elgin and Manor haven't offered to pay for it.

[ATXboom]

Originally Posted by slippi

People have been trying to greenwash highway expansions with this line for decades and it simply doesn't pass the smell test.

Agree. Social or Desire lines prove people will live where they want to and then make a path to where they need to go. It’s a flawed assumption that that if you don’t build transportation infrastructure then homes won’t be developed. You can only limit sprawl through culture change or limiting home development on the fringes of the metro. All limiting transportation does is drive up commune and idling times.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Agree. Social or Desire lines prove people will live where they want to and then make a path to where they need to go. It’s a flawed assumption that that if you don’t build transportation infrastructure then homes won’t be developed. You can only limit sprawl through culture change or limiting home development on the fringes of the metro. All limiting transportation does is drive up commune and idling times.

Yes. Limiting capacity doesn't limit growth on any timeline (or in any way) that will be acceptable to real people.

[ATXboom]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Yes. Limiting capacity doesn't limit growth on any timeline (or in any way) that will be acceptable to real people.

I’d be interested to see if shifting cost of infrastructure would change living location choices. Ie toll roads or tax increment zones. It should be cheaper to transport the closer in you live. Ie mass transit and roads paid by all tax payers.
Basically make em pay if you live way the F out.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by ATXboom

I’d be interested to see if shifting cost of infrastructure would change living location choices. Ie toll roads or tax increment zones. It should be cheaper to transport the closer in you live. Ie mass transit and roads paid by all tax payers.
Basically make em pay if you live way the F out.

We already know that tolls (in the way we currently conceive of them) don't work. You go to where your job is, and pay whatever you have to pay (transit, gas, tolls, parking, etc) to get there. These are "small enough" to be rolled into the greater COL.

If we were serious about using tolls to disincentivize sprawl, they'd be raised by a factor of ten. Want to live in Dripping but need to work DT? That'll be $35 one way.

FWIW, I don't think that's feasible, but IMO that's the sort of thing we'd have to enact to keep traffic to levels that we wouldn't have to increase the road infrastructure.

[ATXboom]

Originally Posted by We vs us

We already know that tolls (in the way we currently conceive of them) don't work. You go to where your job is, and pay whatever you have to pay (transit, gas, tolls, parking, etc) to get there. These are "small enough" to be rolled into the greater COL.

If we were serious about using tolls to disincentivize sprawl, they'd be raised by a factor of ten. Want to live in Dripping but need to work DT? That'll be $35 one way.

FWIW, I don't think that's feasible, but IMO that's the sort of thing we'd have to enact to keep traffic to levels that we wouldn't have to increase the road infrastructure.

Agree and agree. Good post.

[KevinFromTexas]

Seen on Social Cycling Austin's Facebook page. If this is your route, beware:

Be careful with the plywood on the 5th bike way where it ends by the new apartment building, there's an open manhole under it. I reported it to 311.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...58368315288660


https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...58368315288660

[drummer]

Leander council questions city’s future in Capital Metro

Forty-two Leander voters said “yes” to Capital Metro in 1985. Then, 491 of 738 voters chose to continue services in 2000, according to the city.

Leander voters, once again, may have the choice whether to stay in or leave Capital Metro services. But residents, city leaders and council members all have questions about what the exit means financially and for the city’s future.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...capital-metro/


Not a whole lot here that we don't already know, but it's a new article on the subject for Leander and Capital Metro's future. I still stand firmly on the side of Leander remaining a part of Capital Metro.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by drummer

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...capital-metro/


Not a whole lot here that we don't already know, but it's a new article on the subject for Leander and Capital Metro's future. I still stand firmly on the side of Leander remaining a part of Capital Metro.

I mean I feel like Red Line Service would improve if they choose to leave. It's not up to me but I won't sing any songs to honor their memory if they choose to leave.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by freerover

I mean I feel like Red Line Service would improve if they choose to leave. It's not up to me but I won't sing any songs to honor their memory if they choose to leave.

Yeah, I hear you on focusing more on Lakeline and south. However, I know a lot of folks who used it before Covid and are looking to start it again as their companies return back to the office.

[TexasPlaya]

Austin needs an all hands on deck approach.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

Austin needs an all hands on deck approach.

This would certainly be preferable and more productive.

[paul78701]

Capital Metro unveils initial plans for six underground rail stations in downtown Austin:
https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...wntown-austin/

* Auditorium Shores station will be underground.
* Interesting to see that the Orange line could potentially be underground as far south as South Congress and Johanna St. Also could be underground until just north of MLK.
* Fourth St will become a pedestrian friendly "green spine" at the street level.
* The convention center station will have two underground levels.

[freerover]

It's a real shame we aren't going to get the republic square mega station. Fucking state man. We weren't even asking them for money.