about my feedback to CTRMA regarding Mopac changes
27 views
Skip to first unread message
John Abrams
Mar 26, 2012, 10:27:44 PM3/26/12
to Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
not sure if this is the appropriate forum, but based on this feedback
I received today, it appears that the die is cast regarding shared use
lanes for bikes as part of the upcoming Mopac project. It makes me
wonder why we bother with open houses if it's all set in stone
already.
from Steve Pustelnyk:
Thank you for sharing your comments regarding your desire for a
contiguous shared use path in the MoPac corridor. A number of shared
use paths and bike facilities currently parallel MoPac along areas
like Shoal Creek and Exposition. We worked closely with the City of
Austin and the cycling community to find ways to link these facilities
together and provide greater east-west connectivity across MoPac. Our
proposed $5 million investment would greatly enhance mobility for
cyclists in the corridor. We have determined that it would not be
reasonable or feasible to construct a shared-use path within the
limits of MoPac for many reasons including financial constraints,
social impacts, limited right-of-way, and restrictions on elevated
structures. If I can provide any additional information, please let
me know.
I received today, it appears that the die is cast regarding shared use
lanes for bikes as part of the upcoming Mopac project. It makes me
wonder why we bother with open houses if it's all set in stone
already.
from Steve Pustelnyk:
Thank you for sharing your comments regarding your desire for a
contiguous shared use path in the MoPac corridor. A number of shared
use paths and bike facilities currently parallel MoPac along areas
like Shoal Creek and Exposition. We worked closely with the City of
Austin and the cycling community to find ways to link these facilities
together and provide greater east-west connectivity across MoPac. Our
proposed $5 million investment would greatly enhance mobility for
cyclists in the corridor. We have determined that it would not be
reasonable or feasible to construct a shared-use path within the
limits of MoPac for many reasons including financial constraints,
social impacts, limited right-of-way, and restrictions on elevated
structures. If I can provide any additional information, please let
me know.
Tom Wald
Mar 27, 2012, 2:51:18 PM3/27/12
to jsab...@gmail.com, Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
John,
Thank you for submitting feedback to CTRMA regarding a complete,
contiguous, shared use path as part of the MoPac Improvement Project.
It is important to keep a persistent voice for such facilities.
Despite Steve Pustelnyk's statement, there is still some movement on
this, though it does seem to be getting near the end. I hope to see
some positive movement within the next few weeks. I am working with
elected officials and staff this week to see what further we can
establish.
-Tom
--
Tom Wald
Executive Director
League of Bicycling Voters
http://lobv.org/join
t...@lobv.org
512-203-7626
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Austin Bicycle Advisory Council" group.
> To post, email: austi...@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe, email: austin-bac+...@googlegroups.com
> To visit online, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/austin-bac
> City of Austin staff also maintains an essential BAC list.
> To join the staff-maintained list, email: nadia....@ci.austin.tx.us
>
Rich
Apr 10, 2012, 6:39:01 PM4/10/12
to tom...@gmail.com, jsab...@gmail.com, Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
If we get to the point of a complete "no" to any additional facilities further than what CTRMA presented at the open house, I would like to seriously and positively suggest that we ask for a simple crushed granite path like what we have at Town Lake and Mueller. I believe this would remove some of the reasons they cite for not building a paved multi-use path.
I am not aware of the exact cost difference between the two surfaces, but I think it would reduce the cost a lot. The issue of residential private property could be addressed by shifting the trail route onto a quiet residential street, such as Westfield dr, for necessary portions. A small wood pedestrian bridge over the creek near Foster lane would allow a trail in that area, completely removing the cyclist
from high volume auto traffic intersections.
It may not be the perfect, wide, paved, continuous path we want, but it still would be a great value and still be efficient, safe, and pleasant enough for a bicycle transportation route. I think it's a lot better than nothing, and would improve chances of one day making it right.
These 'dirt' paths are quite popular where they have been put in, and the Mopac area we are dealing with really lacks such amenities.
Rich Hollenbeck
From: Tom Wald <tom...@gmail.com>
To: jsab...@gmail.com
Cc: Austin Bicycle Advisory Council <austi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: [AustinBAC] about my feedback to CTRMA regarding Mopac changes
> To unsubscribe, email: austin-bac+unsub...@googlegroups.com
> To visit online, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/austin-bac
> City of Austin staff also maintains an essential BAC list.
> To join the staff-maintained list, email: nadia....@ci.austin.tx.us
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Austin Bicycle Advisory Council" group.
To post, email: austi...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe, email: austin-bac+unsub...@googlegroups.com
Tom Wald
Apr 12, 2012, 6:10:36 PM4/12/12
to Rich, jsab...@gmail.com, Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
Rich,
Those are all options that I am suggesting, if we do run into any dead-ends. At the moment, there are some excellent possibilities on the table, and we're actively looking into these. Hopefully, we'll have something solid by the end of April, but it's too early to say exactly what will result.
-Tom
Those are all options that I am suggesting, if we do run into any dead-ends. At the moment, there are some excellent possibilities on the table, and we're actively looking into these. Hopefully, we'll have something solid by the end of April, but it's too early to say exactly what will result.
-Tom
Rich Hollenbeck
Apr 14, 2012, 3:37:23 AM4/14/12
to Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
I wish those making the decisions could experience what we cyclists
experience. I will tell a short story about my ride on Great Northern
Blvd a few hours ago. This road has a two way bike lane on the west
side of the roadway. Some riders say they feel safer staying in the
car lane. It's a good thing I wasn't going NB in the car lane tonight
at approximately midnight (Friday). Near the Far West connector I was
passed from behind by a pickup truck going in the range of 100-120mph.
He was going so fast that he was almost catching air off the
incredibly mild undulations of this very smooth road. I felt I was in
a video game, except for the huge rush of partially unburnt gasoline
exhaust in the gust coming over me. I wasn't startled too much as I
heard the tires about 2-3 seconds before he passed me. A minute later
I near the end of this straight stretch of road and come across two
pedestrians walking in the bike lanes. I talked to them about the
truck. They said they saw him screeching his tires trying to slow to
make the 90 degree corner to the right..
So before you think Great Northern Blvd is a nice bike route, just
remember that the flat straight nature of it might be inviting another
idiot to test the limits of their vehicle.
Always know your surroundings and have an escape route. I was lucky he
hadn't lost control, and there was about 12 feet separating us.
Rich H
experience. I will tell a short story about my ride on Great Northern
Blvd a few hours ago. This road has a two way bike lane on the west
side of the roadway. Some riders say they feel safer staying in the
car lane. It's a good thing I wasn't going NB in the car lane tonight
at approximately midnight (Friday). Near the Far West connector I was
passed from behind by a pickup truck going in the range of 100-120mph.
He was going so fast that he was almost catching air off the
incredibly mild undulations of this very smooth road. I felt I was in
a video game, except for the huge rush of partially unburnt gasoline
exhaust in the gust coming over me. I wasn't startled too much as I
heard the tires about 2-3 seconds before he passed me. A minute later
I near the end of this straight stretch of road and come across two
pedestrians walking in the bike lanes. I talked to them about the
truck. They said they saw him screeching his tires trying to slow to
make the 90 degree corner to the right..
So before you think Great Northern Blvd is a nice bike route, just
remember that the flat straight nature of it might be inviting another
idiot to test the limits of their vehicle.
Always know your surroundings and have an escape route. I was lucky he
hadn't lost control, and there was about 12 feet separating us.
Rich H
Rich Hollenbeck
Apr 28, 2012, 11:08:21 PM4/28/12
to Austin Bicycle Advisory Council
In case any of you haven't heard, there has been some progress on the
possibility of getting the full length multi-use path:
Here is LOBV's notice:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/MoPac-Shared-Use-Path-Success---A-request-during-the-last-hours-of-April.html?soid=1102026593558&aid=khvU1EqEDtY
Thumbs up,
Rich
> > lanes for bikes as part of the upcomingMopacproject. It makes me
> > use paths and bike facilities currently parallelMoPacalong areas
possibility of getting the full length multi-use path:
Here is LOBV's notice:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/MoPac-Shared-Use-Path-Success---A-request-during-the-last-hours-of-April.html?soid=1102026593558&aid=khvU1EqEDtY
Thumbs up,
Rich
> > wonder why we bother with open houses if it's all set in stone
> > already.
>
> > from Steve Pustelnyk:
> > Thank you for sharing your comments regarding your desire for a
> > contiguous shared use path in theMoPaccorridor. A number of shared
> > already.
>
> > from Steve Pustelnyk:
> > Thank you for sharing your comments regarding your desire for a
> > use paths and bike facilities currently parallelMoPacalong areas
> > like Shoal Creek and Exposition. We worked closely with the City of
> > Austin and the cycling community to find ways to link these facilities
> > together and provide greater east-west connectivity acrossMoPac. Our
> > Austin and the cycling community to find ways to link these facilities
> > proposed $5 million investment would greatly enhance mobility for
> > cyclists in the corridor. We have determined that it would not be
> > reasonable or feasible to construct a shared-use path within the
> > limits ofMoPacfor many reasons including financial constraints,
> > cyclists in the corridor. We have determined that it would not be
> > reasonable or feasible to construct a shared-use path within the
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages