Re: MoCAV Feasibility Study - Response to comments received by CAMPO

[Laura Carbonneau]

Matt, BAC -

Yes it would be good for individuals to contact their elected officials about this, that said, I think there needs to be organizing around this issue, perhaps Safe Streets Austin working with conservation groups (since conservation of green space is a big part of this).  And it's good that TxDoT has inadvertently provided us with email addresses of those opposed to this.

Is anyone taking the lead on a coordinated effort or willing to step up?

Laura

On Tue, May 16, 2023 at 10:43 AM Matt Harold <mattlik...@gmail.com> wrote:

Friends,

Thank you for showing interest in pushing back on the TxDOT MoCAV development. Your support is critical for protecting the Southern Walnut Creek trail as well as helping get the Northern Walnut Creek trail finished.  This email chain though is not the most effective route to show support. The TxDOT folks on the chain have no obligation to read, reply, or consider anything said here.

I encourage you to reach out directly to your City of Austin Council Member - https://www.austintexas.gov/austin-city-council - Tell them you want the City to support a TRAIL ONLY usage of the MoKan.

Don't live in Austin - email Travis County Judge - https://www.traviscountytx.gov/commissioners-court/county-judge

Or your City leadership, MoKan corridor and the MoCav, run through Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Georgetown. 

Email your congressman

Join the City of Austin Urban Trails email listserve (which is private and not CC based like this mess). http://eepurl.com/GrvKr

Pay attention if this comes back up on the CAMPO agenda and make your opinions known then.

Matt

On Mon, May 15, 2023 at 6:28 PM Akila Thamizharasan <Akila.Tha...@txdot.gov> wrote:

Greetings,

 

Thank you for your recent feedback regarding the MoCAV Feasibility Study. Below is additional information about the study, and its affiliation with the Southern Walnut Creek Trail. 

 

Throughout the past few months, TxDOT has been evaluating the feasibility of using the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MoKan) corridor to develop a connected and automated vehicle (CAV) pilot corridor. This pilot corridor could facilitate the use of CAV technologies to design the next generation of roadway infrastructure to ensure we continue to provide safety, mobility, connectivity and sustainability benefits for our communities.

The MoKan corridor is an abandoned railway that extends approximately 28 miles from Georgetown to east Austin. This north-south corridor is located between and runs parallel to I-35 and SH 130, and connects the cities of Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Austin

 

The Southern Walnut Creek Trail encompasses more than 8.7 miles of multi-use trail and extends from Govalle Park to the Walnut Creek Sports Park at Johnny Morris Road and Daffan Lane. It includes 5 bridges, culverts and benches offering scenic views. There are three locations where the Southern Walnut Creek Trail intersects MoCAV feasibility study along the existing MoKan right of way. These locations are south of FM 969, near Johnny Morris Golf Course and north of Loyola Lane. This area where the trail overlaps along MoKan right of way is approximately one (1) mile.

 

The MoCAV Feasibility Study is considering various alternative alignments and typical sections, and it plans to include shared-use paths providing for regional north-south pedestrian and bicycle use throughout the 28-mile-long corridor. In places where the Southern Walnut Creek Trail intersects MoKan right of way, there are plans to maintain pedestrian and bicycle access through shared-use paths. TxDOT is very early in the project development process and will be working with the communities to further refine alignments and receive feedback. As the study progresses, TxDOT seeks to partner with stakeholders and develop an optimal multi-modal facility that addresses public needs.

 

Funding has not been identified for this project and the study needs to progress through feasibility, schematics, environmental clearance, design, and construction phases. In the meantime, the existing trail will remain in place. TxDOT understands that the Southern Walnut Creek Trail is a hallmark of our bicycle and pedestrian network and has provided more than $8 million in grant funding as part of the 2006 bond program for trails to support its development.

 

For more information about the MoCAV Feasibility Study, please contact Nicholas Barbera, nbar...@txdot.gov.

 

Sincerely,

Akila

 

Akila Thamizharasan, PE, PTOE, PMP

Director, Advance Project Development, Austin District

O: 512 832 7135  |  M: 512 761 2452  |  www.txdot.gov 

 

 

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laura carbonneau
austin, texas
512.695.8109
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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratex

[Shefman Law Group]

I can’t say enough about the thanks I want to give TXDot for giving us all those emails. Looks like TXDOT may have made up their mind to use this trail for mixed use, that said, let’s see what a little

Organizing can do. 

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[Heyden Black Walker]

In my experience TxDOT always says there is no funding and no need to worry, until the message changes to "it's too late." This does not sounds like they intend to back off of the proposal, only that they intend to hire a public engagement firm so they can start each presentation with the current tally of public meetings they held about the project.

[Shefman Law Group]

That sounds spot on Heyden.

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