HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > Austin


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #8781  
Old Posted Nov 30, 2022, 4:21 PM
Novacek Novacek is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,506
Quote:
Originally Posted by freerover View Post
Maybe they are thinking about splitting EB and WB trains along 4th and 3rd. Not unusual but it would require an underground station that runs from 4th to 3rd on congress or two at grade stations at Congress if we go that route. I imagine splitting the lines like this would make those 90 degree turns a lot easier if there was only 1 track per block.
I was wondering if it could perhaps be related to staging. Like run the rail (partially?) on the surface on 3rd for now, then later go underground all the way across on 4th. or vice versa. With the assumption that it would be easier to eventually do the tunnel if there wasn't an active rail line above it.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8782  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 5:38 AM
papertowelroll papertowelroll is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 296
Quote:
Originally Posted by Novacek View Post
Meeting packet is up for the tri party meeting tomorrow.

https://atptx.org/docs/librariesprov...packet_atp.pdf

No real details on light rail (though is that a dashed blue line on 3rd street?)

Grade separation of red line at Lamar starts applying for federal grants late this year.
Anyone know why the Q2 stadium station is supposed to take so long to build? It really blows my mind that it won't be ready for another calendar year. What's in a red line station beyond some concrete and benches?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8783  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 12:28 PM
H2O H2O is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,592
Quote:
Originally Posted by papertowelroll View Post
Anyone know why the Q2 stadium station is supposed to take so long to build? It really blows my mind that it won't be ready for another calendar year. What's in a red line station beyond some concrete and benches?
For one, the project includes double-tracking and signal upgrades from Broadmoor to past Rutherford. There's also a lot more that goes into a station than what you describe, but this one will also be extra long, with the ability to stage two trains southbound and one northbound for the end of match crush.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8784  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 5:13 PM
dilliam dilliam is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 161
I'm sure its more complicated than it seems, but a whole year for some limited double tracking and a new station does seem long. Meanwhile, towers are topping out downtown in the same timeframe.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8785  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 6:08 PM
Novacek Novacek is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,506
Quote:
Originally Posted by dilliam View Post
I'm sure its more complicated than it seems, but a whole year for some limited double tracking and a new station does seem long. Meanwhile, towers are topping out downtown in the same timeframe.
Those towers aren't going up while simultaneously thousands of people are still working/living in the existing building there.

Other than a week here or there, they're still keeping the red line running the whole time (passenger and freight service). Undoubtedly that adds a lot of complications and time to the schedule.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8786  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 6:11 PM
Novacek Novacek is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,506
Quote:
Originally Posted by H2O View Post
For one, the project includes double-tracking and signal upgrades from Broadmoor to past Rutherford. There's also a lot more that goes into a station than what you describe, but this one will also be extra long, with the ability to stage two trains southbound and one northbound for the end of match crush.
If I recall, there was drainage work necessary too. And I think they still need to finish purchasing the property off of delta drive.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8787  
Old Posted Dec 1, 2022, 7:38 PM
dilliam dilliam is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 161
Fair enough. I'm quite possibly the most impatient urbanist alive. I just want to build, and build FAST! lol.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8788  
Old Posted Dec 2, 2022, 5:35 AM
papertowelroll papertowelroll is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 296
Quote:
Originally Posted by dilliam View Post
I'm sure its more complicated than it seems, but a whole year for some limited double tracking and a new station does seem long. Meanwhile, towers are topping out downtown in the same timeframe.
Right? Think about the Tesla factory!

I was being facetious about a red line station being concrete and benches, but still, 2 years for this project seems absurd.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8789  
Old Posted Dec 2, 2022, 3:14 PM
atxsnail atxsnail is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 550
Quote:
Originally Posted by papertowelroll View Post
Right? Think about the Tesla factory!

I was being facetious about a red line station being concrete and benches, but still, 2 years for this project seems absurd.
Not excusing the time it takes, but I think in addition to double tracking from 183, this involves 4 rail crossings which are moving to quiet zones and that involves the FRA. I would guess construction is the easiest part of the overall process.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8790  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 10:38 AM
hereinaustin hereinaustin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 249
Question for you guys-- why can't the orange line just go south on 1st street? Why does it need to be aligned with South Congress? I feel like the current alignment contributes to some of the high costs of the line (requirement for subway extension south due to CVC).
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8791  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 12:36 PM
Novacek Novacek is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,506
Quote:
Originally Posted by hereinaustin View Post
Question for you guys-- why can't the orange line just go south on 1st street? Why does it need to be aligned with South Congress? I feel like the current alignment contributes to some of the high costs of the line (requirement for subway extension south due to CVC).
South 1st isn’t a major corridor the way SoCo is. It’s much narrower and doesn’t have the same scale of development and space for future development. It has SF houses fronting it in a surprising number of places.

There’s a big difference in the current transit usage on the two corridors.

South 1st has poor multi-mobility. You’d have to take out at least two lanes to put in rail (unless you acquire a ton of property, which leaves you with even more single family fronting the corridor). At that point, you still need more room for bike lanes or better than the minimal sidewalks that are there.

Less important, but long term the orange line terminus at SoCo/Slaughter is close to I35 and serves a park and ride/transfer function from that. Slaughter/1st would have to cut over.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8792  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 12:41 PM
H2O H2O is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,592
Quote:
Originally Posted by hereinaustin View Post
Question for you guys-- why can't the orange line just go south on 1st street? Why does it need to be aligned with South Congress? I feel like the current alignment contributes to some of the high costs of the line (requirement for subway extension south due to CVC).
1) S 1st has a very narrow ROW. Putting LRT there would have even greater property impact with associated real estate costs.

2) I'm not sure S 1st has the density of activity that S Congress has, which would impact ridership.

3) As I understand it, the CVC does not require a subway, rather it prohibits it. A tunnel is required for the 2nd river crossing, and because of flood plain and grade issues, the tunnel needs to be longer, putting it within the CVC. Since a tunnel portal and entrances are 'structures', they cannot exist within the CVC, requiring the tunnel to extend beyond Live Oak. If the Orange Line shares the Blue Line bridge crossing, it may be able to run on the surface of S Congress without violating the CVC.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8793  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 2:40 PM
Novacek Novacek is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,506
To add more thoughts:

South 1st today doesn't even have a middle lane. Honestly, they really should just bite the bullet and do a 4-to-3 conversion. The left lanes are always getting blocked by people trying to pull lefts into businesses or at intersections.

With light rail in the median you can't even do that. On other corridors, this is accomododated by adding left turn or u turn lanes/bays and telling people to turn around at intersections. Adding these on 1st would mean even higher RoW requirements.

By the time you added rail to 1st you'll probably spend almost as much as SoCo and end up with a worse result. 1st just isn't the right spot in the city for major transit investment. One of the ways you could always tell those gondola guys were pure bullshit artists.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8794  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 3:31 PM
drummer drummer is offline
World Traveler
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Austin metro area
Posts: 4,470
Density was mentioned in favor of Congress, which makes sense. While S 1st has some development, Congress obviously has more - in addition to St. Edward's, St. Elmo, etc.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8795  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 6:07 PM
StoOgE StoOgE is offline
Resident Moron
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2,319
Congress, Lamar and Riverside are going to be where light rail can live.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8796  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 6:27 PM
dilliam dilliam is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 161
Quote:
Originally Posted by H2O View Post
1) S 1st has a very narrow ROW. Putting LRT there would have even greater property impact with associated real estate costs.

2) I'm not sure S 1st has the density of activity that S Congress has, which would impact ridership.

3) As I understand it, the CVC does not require a subway, rather it prohibits it. A tunnel is required for the 2nd river crossing, and because of flood plain and grade issues, the tunnel needs to be longer, putting it within the CVC. Since a tunnel portal and entrances are 'structures', they cannot exist within the CVC, requiring the tunnel to extend beyond Live Oak. If the Orange Line shares the Blue Line bridge crossing, it may be able to run on the surface of S Congress without violating the CVC.
adding to the 3rd point, we can build under the CVC as long as it doesn't pierce the plane. That's why they extended it all they way past live oak before surfacing. The stations under the CVC close to the church would not be an issue. Here's some "fun" reading on the CVC lol https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/do....cfm?id=277001
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8797  
Old Posted Dec 7, 2022, 11:00 PM
freerover freerover is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,268
Has anyone seen any state bills filed relating to the project? Last session there was one for republic square's underground station but it didn't get out of the senate.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8798  
Old Posted Dec 9, 2022, 5:24 PM
eskimo33 eskimo33 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: 9th Rock from the Sun
Posts: 158
Austin receives $1.5M in federal funds for I-35 cap and stitch project

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council accepted on Thursday $1.5 million in federal funding to support the design and engineering of its Interstate 35 “cap and stitch” project. Council approved the item on consent, meaning no additional discussion was held prior to the vote.

The “cap and stitch” project is a component incorporated alongside the Texas Department of Transportation’s $4.9 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project. The eight-mile-long, state-led project would remove the current I-35 decks, add two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes and expand the roadway, among other features.
Supplementary to that is the cap and stitch program, a city-led initiative designed to increase east-west connectivity and help add community spaces above I-35.

Caps are decks or land bridges placed above lowered highways that can support green space, public amenities and even some buildings. Stitches are widened bridges above the highway that would include travel lanes for vehicles and protected paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Stitches could also include design elements like landscaping, shade structures and artwork.

Other Texas communities — including Klyde Warren Park in Dallas — have incorporated park and event space in their designs over local highways.

The $1.5 million in funds authorized by Austin City Council Thursday comes from the Community Project Funding, secured by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Federal dollars are sent via the state for distribution to local governments, with TxDOT passing along the funds to the city.

The cap and stitch program is being overseen by Our Future 35, a program led by the city’s Corridor Program Office. Michelle Marx, program manager for Our Future 35, previously told KXAN in September these caps and stitches could help reconnect downtown with east Austin.

Our Future 35 has said this could be a means of helping redress geographic and racial barriers imposed by I-35 on east Austin. What was previously East Avenue, I-35’s construction segregated the Eastern Crescent from the downtown corridor.

“This is certainly a generational opportunity for us in our city,” she said. “No matter where you live in the city, I think this is going to impact you.”

Source: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...titch-project/
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8799  
Old Posted Dec 9, 2022, 6:36 PM
freerover freerover is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by eskimo33 View Post
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council accepted on Thursday $1.5 million in federal funding to support the design and engineering of its Interstate 35 “cap and stitch” project. Council approved the item on consent, meaning no additional discussion was held prior to the vote.

The “cap and stitch” project is a component incorporated alongside the Texas Department of Transportation’s $4.9 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project. The eight-mile-long, state-led project would remove the current I-35 decks, add two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes and expand the roadway, among other features.
Supplementary to that is the cap and stitch program, a city-led initiative designed to increase east-west connectivity and help add community spaces above I-35.

Caps are decks or land bridges placed above lowered highways that can support green space, public amenities and even some buildings. Stitches are widened bridges above the highway that would include travel lanes for vehicles and protected paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Stitches could also include design elements like landscaping, shade structures and artwork.

Other Texas communities — including Klyde Warren Park in Dallas — have incorporated park and event space in their designs over local highways.

The $1.5 million in funds authorized by Austin City Council Thursday comes from the Community Project Funding, secured by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. Federal dollars are sent via the state for distribution to local governments, with TxDOT passing along the funds to the city.

The cap and stitch program is being overseen by Our Future 35, a program led by the city’s Corridor Program Office. Michelle Marx, program manager for Our Future 35, previously told KXAN in September these caps and stitches could help reconnect downtown with east Austin.

Our Future 35 has said this could be a means of helping redress geographic and racial barriers imposed by I-35 on east Austin. What was previously East Avenue, I-35’s construction segregated the Eastern Crescent from the downtown corridor.

“This is certainly a generational opportunity for us in our city,” she said. “No matter where you live in the city, I think this is going to impact you.”

Source: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...titch-project/

1.5 million for a billion dollar project. Thanks feds.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8800  
Old Posted Dec 9, 2022, 7:38 PM
ILUVSAT's Avatar
ILUVSAT ILUVSAT is offline
May the Schwartz be w/ U!
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nomadic
Posts: 1,727
Quote:
Originally Posted by freerover View Post
1.5 million for a billion dollar project. Thanks feds.
There will be more to come. You can only request grants on parts of the overall project at a time.

The $1.5 million is being granted to "support the design and engineering of its Interstate 35 'cap and stitch' project.". The "cap & stitch" project is only a part of the overall development.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > Austin
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 9:03 PM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.