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Safety improvements underway at Pleasant Valley and Elmont
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Click each image for a full-size illustration of the intersection before and after improvements. Images not drawn to scale or intended for engineering purposes.
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ATD began construction Saturday, Sept. 9, on a Safety Improvement Project at Pleasant Valley Road and Elmont Drive. The goal of this project is to reduce crashes by minimizing left-turn conflicts and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety.
ATD anticipates the improvements will take about six months to complete, weather permitting. Read the previous announcement for temporary lane and sidewalk closures.
Improvements include raised medians; dedicated left-turn lanes; a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on both sides of Pleasant Valley; new curbs; high-visibility, ADA-accessible pedestrian crossings; a center turn lane; a new sidewalk and more.
This is the second project being delivered by the ATD Traffic Engineering Division's Transportation Safety Improvement Program using 2016 Mobility Bond funding. It is also another step forward in implementation of the City of Austin's Vision Zero Action Plan, which set a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in Austin by 2025.
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Crews return from Victoria after helping restore street operations
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ATD crews returned to Austin on Wednesday, Sept. 6, after having spent several days in Victoria, Texas, assisting with Hurricane Harvey recovery. Responding to a request for assistance from the City of Victoria, a group of ATD signal and sign technicians loaded up on supplies and hit the road to Victoria the morning of Thursday, Aug. 31, arriving that afternoon and getting to work.
During their time in Victoria, ATD crews helped install more than 120 stop signs and restore operations to more than 90 percent of Victoria’s traffic signals. See photos of City of Austin and City of Victoria crews working hand-in-hand to get Victoria's transportation system back up and running.
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City to host public meeting on Spicewood Springs Road Project
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The City of Austin invites members of the community to attend the first public meeting regarding the 2016 Mobility Bond Project on Spicewood Springs Road. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Westover Church of Christ (8322 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78759).
The 2016 Mobility Bond provides $17 million for preliminary engineering, design and construction of safety and mobility improvements on Spicewood Springs Road, between Loop 360 and Mesa Drive. Improvements have not been designed but may include expansion from a two-lane section to a four-lane divided roadway, along with signals, sidewalks, bike facilities, and driveway reconstruction.
The public meeting will be an opportunity for residents to learn about the project timeline and process, meet the project team, and provide comments about existing conditions along the road.
For more information about the project, visit AustinTexas.gov/SpicewoodSpringsRd or view the project in the Capital Projects Explorer. For more information about the 2016 Mobility Bond, visit AustinTexas.gov/2016Bond.
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PARK(ing) Day to take place this Friday — apply by tomorrow
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PARK(ing) Day is this Friday, Sept. 15! On this worldwide occasion, citizens reinvent parking spaces into temporary miniature parks, or “parklets.” Pack a picnic and some board games and park yourself outside to witness urban transformations for the day.
The City has enjoyed creative installations on past PARK(ing) Day events and invites citizens to continue this tradition. Thinking of organizing a parklet? The application deadline is tomorrow, Sept. 12. Download and complete the application. Permit and usage fees apply.
Visitors are welcome to stop by and interact with the parklet installations across the city, about which you can learn more on Facebook.
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Apply on behalf of an Austin school for a Bright Green Future Grant
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Langford Elementary Cycle Academy students in front of the Austin skyline.
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The City of Austin is currently accepting applications for Bright Green Future Grants, a competitive program that provides funding for school-based sustainability projects up to $3,000. The deadline is Oct. 15, 2017, so apply now!
The program is open to all AISD and Austin area charter and private schools, as well as those in cities – such as Round Rock and Pflugerville – that utilize services through Austin Energy, Austin Water Utility, or Austin Resource Recovery. Anyone representing the school can submit the application, including teachers, students, parents, administrators and nonprofit organizations.
The program was designed to recognize and support innovative projects that will inspire students to become lifelong environmental stewards. Proposed projects should actively engage students and members of the community with hands-on involvement and learning. Examples include composting systems, rainwater harvesting, organic gardens, rain gardens, bicycle academies, and wildlife habitats. The program is sponsored by the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability and funded by Austin Resource Recovery, Watershed Protection, the Public Works Department, ATD and Austin Energy.
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Capital Metro to talk bulk transit benefits with employers over coffee
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Capital Metro is hosting an event for HR professionals to learn more about MetroWorks, a program that helps employers provide discounted transit to employees. The event, called "Coffee with HR Professionals," will take place on Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Caffe Medici in the Austonian. More event details here.
Employee transit benefits are an example of a transportation demand management (TDM) strategy. TDM is a whole variety of strategies that seek to increase the efficiency of our existing transportation system by encouraging travelers to shift away from always driving alone in their vehicles and from driving during peak congested periods.
Learn about ATD's TDM Program, which includes initiatives such as Smart Trips Austin, a partnership with Capital Metro that aims to increase trips taken by foot, bike, bus or shared car.
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