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Austin Mobility News: May 9, 2022

Your weekly news update from the City of Austin Transportation Department
Red, yellow and blue icons of people traveling by different modes (car, bus, motorcycle, scooters, walking, wheelchair, bicycling and using mobility assistive devices) in front of icons depicting iconic Austin buildings (Frost Tower, the Capitol, etc).
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In this week's edition:
Para obtener más información en español, vea este correo electrónico en su navegador y haga clic en la esquina superior derecha para la traducción al español.

Improvements complete at Manor Road and Cherrywood Road 

A CapMetro bus stops near the intersection of Manor Road and Cherrywood Road.

The intersection of Manor Road and Cherrywood Road is now redesigned to increase mobility and safety for everyone using the street. 

Austin Transportation's improvement project in this area, which began in the summer of 2021, included: 

  • Two new dedicated left turn lanes: one for people turning from eastbound Manor Road to northbound Cherrywood Road and another for turning from southbound Cherrywood Road to eastbound Manor Road
  • Upgraded bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure including sidewalks, shared use paths, crossings and curb ramps 
  • Driveway modifications to reduce opportunities for conflict between modes
  • Upgraded signal infrastructure, phasing and timing 
  • New and relocated CapMetro bus stops, including two MetroRapid stops

This project was made possible through a combination of funding from the City of Austin's Mobility Bonds as well as CapMetro Quarter Cent funding allocated by City Council in 2020. 

You can find a photo gallery and a video of the improvements here. 

Ross Road Substandard Street Project moving through design

A map shows the section of Ross Road due for improvements.
The City of Austin is in the process of designing improvements to Ross Road to make it safer for everyone using the street, including people driving, walking, cycling and accessing the neighborhood or the Del Valle ISD schools. 

The City identified Ross Road as a substandard street, meaning it does not meet standards for safety, mobility and drainage. Voters approved $35 million in the 2020 Mobility Bond to construct mobility and safety improvements to Ross Road between SH 71 and Heine Farm Road and now the City is in the design phase. 

Near-term pedestrian crossing improvements are also planned along or across Ross Road at Fort Lexington Drive, Gillwell Drive, at the entrance to Del Valle Elementary School, Thome Valley Drive, Spiers Way, Los Cielos Boulevard and Pearce Lane. 

On April 30, Austin Transportation staff joined District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes at a community meeting held at the Del Valle Opportunity Center to provide more information about these projects. More community engagement opportunities are scheduled to take place later in the year when the project hits the 60% design mark. Construction is expected to start in 2023. You can learn more at the project website. 

Learn about Project Connect's Combined Maintenance Facility and East Riverside/Pleasant Valley light rail station

A map shows the Riverside light rail station on the Blue Line.
The Project Connect team is hosting community engagement opportunities throughout the year for the public to weigh in on the Blue and Orange light rail transit lines. 


Upcoming meetings 
Combined Maintenance Facility update: Tuesday, May 10, 5:30 p.m., virtual meeting
 

Project Connect's Blue and Orange Lines make up a 28.2-mile light rail transit plan that would operate throughout Austin. As the Project Connect team prepares to build these lines, it also needs to build a Combined Maintenance Facility where the light rail vehicles will be maintained and stored, plus associated support functions. This meeting will explain the purpose of the facility and focus on its function. The location is still under evaluation. Register here for the virtual meeting, which will be held via Zoom. 
 

East Riverside/Pleasant Valley Station: Wednesday, May 18, 5:30 p.m., virtual meeting


The busy intersection of East Riverside Drive and Pleasant Valley Road is a critical juncture for the Blue Line, the 8.2-mile light rail transit line that would operate from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Republic Square in downtown Austin. The proposed Riverside station at this intersection would connect the Blue Line to the Pleasant Valley MetroRapid bus line, currently under construction. Register here for the virtual meeting, which will be held via Zoom.


Previous meetings 

Orange Line – North Lamar Transit Center to Tech Ridge Transit Center

This workshop focused on the northernmost section of the Orange Line, which would run from the North Lamar Transit Center to the Tech Ridge Transit Center. Project Connect's plans call for this initially to have MetroRapid bus service, with the possibility of an extension of the light rail to this area in the future. 


Blue Line Bridge over Lady Bird Lake 

This workshop focused on the bridge that will carry Blue Line light rail vehicles over Lady Bird Lake from South Austin to downtown. Project Connect staff said one of the major questions that has emerged out of previous community discussions of this bridge is whether the bridge will carry buses in addition to light rail, pedestrians and bicyclists. The community had the opportunity at this meeting to see early concepts of what the bridge could look like with or without buses. 

For more video recordings and presentation slides from previous Project Connect meetings, visit the public engagement library. 

Public hearing on ASMP amendments set for City Council meeting

A graphic displays the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.
The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP), Austin’s comprehensive, multimodal transportation plan, is being amended for the first time since it was adopted in 2019. That amendment process, which started in 2021, is now nearing its conclusion and a final draft of the proposed ASMP amendments has now been published.

Amendments to the ASMP include three proposed new policies and revisions and additions to action items. Amendments to the Street Network also include changes to account for Project Connect and the updated Transportation Criteria Manual. More detailed information is available on the ASMP website, including the updated Policy Document, Street Network Amendments and more.

During this process, the ASMP team has collected over 2,500 responses to our Amendment Surveys, met with communities and neighborhood associations, received and responded to over 200 emails and phone calls and presented to several Boards and Commissions and Council Mobility Committee. 

Now, Austin City Council will consider these amendments on May 19 at a public hearing. You can participate in this process by going to Austin City Hall to speak in person or by registering to speak virtually. More information on how to participate at Austin City Council meetings is available here. 

If you are experiencing technical difficulties accessing these materials or have questions, please email ASMP@AustinTexas.gov

Developer-focused webinars to discuss Street Impact Fee May 19

Graphic text: SIF, City of Austin Street Impact Fee
Austin Transportation will host two workshops May 19 ahead of the implementation of Austin’s Street Impact Fee (SIF). The fee, which will begin collection on June 22, 2022, will be required for most new development in the city.

Austin City Council adopted the Street Impact Fee in December 2020 to fund transportation infrastructure improvements in 17 defined Service Areas. The amount of the fee will vary based on the type of zoning and the amount of increased development intensity.

The webinars will vary based on the type of developer.
 

Large-Scale Developers

Thursday, May 19, 2022, 10 a.m. | Click here to register


Small-Scale Developers

Thursday, May 19, 2022, 1 p.m. | Click here to register

The workshop focused on small-scale developers will be held simultaneously in English and Spanish. The webinar for large-scale developers will only be held in English.

To learn more, visit AustinTexas.gov/StreetImpactFee or email StreetImpactFee@AustinTexas.gov.

Calendar Corner: May 10 – 16, 2022

Project Connect: Combined Maintenance Facility


Project Connect's proposed Blue and Orange Lines make up a 28.2-mile light rail transit (LRT) plan that would operate throughout Austin. This meeting will focus on the Combined Maintenance Facility that is needed to service electric trains. While the location is still under evaluation, this meeting will focus on the facility's function.


City Council Mobility Committee

The Mobility Committee reviews land use as it concerns mobility, all transportation modes including roads, aviation, public transit, pedestrian programs, bicycle programs, ground transportation, taxicab regulation, core transit corridors and related matters.

 

Project Connect Community Advisory Committee


The City of Austin, Capital Metro and the Austin Transit Partnership have created an advisory committee to advise all three partners on topics related to equity and Project Connect, including efforts to curb displacement along the Project Connect system.


Red Line Parkway Initiative Taco Tour 


The Red Line Parkway Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to building a trail and parkway along CapMetro's Red Line MetroRail, is hosting this free taco tour that will make four stops around downtown Austin. After riding the MetroRail to the Downtown Station, attendees will walk to taco restaurants in the area for a total tour of about 1.5 miles. 

About Austin Transportation

The City of Austin Transportation Department works to provide a safe, efficient, innovative, cost-effective and sustainable transportation system that connects roadways, bikeways, walkways and transit systems in order to bring improved access and mobility to our community. We are taking proactive steps to engage and educate the community, which is why you received this news update. Visit AustinTexas.gov/Transportation.
Austin Transportation and Public Works Department
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, Texas 78767

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