AUSTIN | Transportation Updates

[ATX2030]

Originally Posted by gillynova

Yeah, some Waymo's still act up. I saw 2 Waymo's facing each other at Loro and none would budge to go to the side of each other until one finally backed up and the other went to the side. It was funny to see

Seems like a real problem!

Waymo driverless cars in Austin slammed with complaints

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/waymo-driverless-cars-austin-slammed-complaints

[randalls]

Friend told me about a Waymo that got confused in a roundabout at the Phoenix airport, so it just keep going in circles for 90-minutes and wouldn't let the friend out. They missed their flight. They were on hold with the Waymo emergency line for nearly that entire time. Still lots of kinks to work out with these vehicles.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

Seems like a real problem!

Waymo driverless cars in Austin slammed with complaints

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/waymo-driverless-cars-austin-slammed-complaints

"Waymo stops immediately when there's a yellow light "

In other words, it doesn't run red lights like humans do.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Novacek

"Waymo stops immediately when there's a yellow light "

In other words, it doesn't run red lights like humans do.

It is generally legal to proceed through an intersection when the traffic light is yellow, as long as you are not already in the intersection when it turns red. The yellow light is a warning that the red light is approaching, and it encourages drivers to slow down and stop if it's safe to do so. However, if you're too close to stop safely when the light turns yellow, you can proceed through the intersection.

Proceeding through an intersection when the light is yellow =/= running a red light.

That being said, I believe Waymos are designed to drive more conservatively than human drivers (ie not speeding, not running yellow lights, not going around double parked cars). It does sometimes lead to frustrating scenarios when you get stuck behind one.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by homebucket

It is generally legal to proceed through an intersection when the traffic light is yellow, as long as you are not already in the intersection when it turns red. The yellow light is a warning that the red light is approaching, and it encourages drivers to slow down and stop if it's safe to do so. However, if you're too close to stop safely when the light turns yellow, you can proceed through the intersection.

Proceeding through an intersection when the light is yellow =/= running a red light.

Yes, but since the complaint wasn't "the waymo stops in the middle of the intersection", I'm assuming that it was actually possible for it to stop before entering the intersection. So the car is doing what we're all supposed to do.

It's a little bit more than encouragement. "You must STOP
before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection if you can do so safely"

https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/forms/dl-7.pdf

[Lobotomizer]

One step closer...

ATP opens bidding for $4B Austin light rail project

The agency tasked with building the Austin's voter-approved light rail system—Austin Transit Partnership—has officially launched the official solicitation process for a design and construction contract worth over $4 billion.


ATP expects to award the final design and construction contract by early 2026, with crews breaking ground in 2027, according to a news release.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/south...idding-for-4b-austin-light-rail-project/

[ATX2030]

Does anyone know if they plan on adding cars to the Redline to increase capacity?

[freerover]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

Does anyone know if they plan on adding cars to the Redline to increase capacity?

Long term, yes however they will have to complete rebuilding all the stations.

Downtown, the new Saltillo station, Q2, and Uptown will all have stations that can support double red line trains. Highland and Crestview can't. The plan is to eventually move Highland South a few blocks, double track and make it long enough but no timeline or funding for that has been identified.

The hope for crest view is a below grade red line station but they need 500 million for that to trench the red line under Lamar as it's not part of project connect.

I have no idea what the stations west of mopac look like but it's possible to only run the double trains on the southern section. Still, we are at least 10 years away from that happening.

[AustinInAustin]

Longhorn Dam Bridge Project

[freerover]

Just a terrific project.

[Croon]

Red Line, starting next year 2026 will have a headache on its hands with the decommissioning of the terminus/flagship downtown station that fairly recently had expansion improvements. Cap Metro said this will last 12-16 months, but I always anticipate this stuff to take longer than billed. Temporary downtown station decommissioning will be due overhaul of the 4th st at-grade under the current mainlanes, the crossing on 35 frontage between Plaza Saltillo and Downtown station, where 35 reconstruction will overhaul that crossing as part of the broader work. So for a good long while the Red Line inbound will stop at Plaza Saltillo and a shuttle from Plaza Saltillo or MLK station will take people to downtown. This will make a half-baked Red Line even more cumbersome and more of a hassle than its worth. Hopefully after that's done, along with other improvements on the line, Cap Metro would choose to expand service to 7 days a week and expand weekday evening/night service til at least midnight instead of 730pm (when last train northbound leaves downtown Monday to Thursday currently) and weekend night service until 230am instead of 1230am or whatever it is

Uprail, I would like to see a stop added along Airport Blvd south of Koenig to better serve North Loop and Hyde Park, or closer distance to Hancock Center. The rail section currently under 35 by Hancock Center will also be replaced with an elevated bridge. I would like to see a station there to serve Hancock Center, some Hyde Park area folks, Cherrywood and it would possibly attract some Mueller folks.

[Novacek]

So after this, what's next for the trail. PC should add another bike/ped bridge (on the rail bridge) east of congress. I35 project is supposed to somewhat improve the pedestrian crossing there.

Another pedestrian crossing between mopac and Lamar would be nice.

[freerover]

Nothing is being “decommissioned.” Obviously a 12-18 month closure sucks but this has been obviously coming for the last 10 years as 35 work inched closer. I’m more curious about how long they will have to close Plaza Saltillo for while they rebuild the station next year.

[Croon]

Originally Posted by freerover

Nothing is being “decommissioned.” Obviously a 12-18 month closure sucks but this has been obviously coming for the last 10 years as 35 work inched closer. I’m more curious about how long they will have to close Plaza Saltillo for while they rebuild the station next year.

Out of use, not being utilized for its purpose for 2 years or longer. I don't see it It likely won't come back online until the new convention center is finished if on target, until 2029.

I'll stick with decommissioning since it will be longer than a temporary feel of week or months. Besides, downtown station and its iterations has had a couple of previous "temporary decommissioning" periods dating back to 2019 before when it was expanded to three track, two platforms and reopened in October 2020

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Croon

Out of use, not being utilized for its purpose for 2 years or longer. I don't see it It likely won't come back online until the new convention center is finished if on target, until 2029.

I'll stick with decommissioning since it will be longer than a temporary feel of week or months. Besides, downtown station and its iterations has had a couple of previous "temporary decommissioning" periods dating back to 2019 before when it was expanded to three track, two platforms and reopened in October 2020

Bro, that's simply not what the word decommissioning means. Also, there is no reason why the convention center construction should prevent a return to service especially since the block next to the line won't even have much of a structure on it as those 2 blocks are for a future expansion.

[gillynova]

Been seeing these around i35 in downtown and near the In N Out on i35



South i35

[Sigaven]

Does anyone know what the really tall temporary-looking walls they're building at I-35/Airport (next to In n Out) are for? I'm guessing it has something to do with the upcoming highway expansion

[freerover]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Does anyone know what the really tall temporary-looking walls they're building at I-35/Airport (next to In n Out) are for? I'm guessing it has something to do with the upcoming highway expansion

Boring machine for drainage tunnel I believe.

[Lobotomizer]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Does anyone know what the really tall temporary-looking walls they're building at I-35/Airport (next to In n Out) are for? I'm guessing it has something to do with the upcoming highway expansion

Yes, it's work for the billion dollar, 22' diameter, 6 mile long drainage tunnel which is part of the I35 Capital Express Central project.

http://txdot.gov/en/mobility35/projects/capex-central/drainage-tunnel-and-pump-station.html

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/projec...nity-connectors-meeting-boards-may13.pdf

[gillynova]

I was wondering that too. Thanks for the links!