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Discuss CodeNEXT + Mobility on Facebook LIVE this Wednesday
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Do you have questions about how CodeNEXT, the City’s effort to rewrite the 30-year-old Land Development Code, can help address our mobility needs? Get them answered during a Facebook LIVE Q&A this Wednesday!
Austin Transportation Department Senior Planner Danielle Morin will be available at 12:15 p.m. on the Austin CodeNEXT Facebook page to answer questions from the community about CodeNEXT as it relates to increasing connectivity and enhancing walkability. To read more about the subject before the show, check out the CodeNEXT Mobility priority page, and the blog post, “How Land Use Can Support Mobility.”
Mobility will be the last of the four-part CodeNEXT LIVE series. Other topics covered during this series include the environment on Jan. 10, affordable housing on Jan. 17 and community on Jan. 24.
If you have questions related to the CodeNEXT priority of mobility, leave them in the comments section during the live show.
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Construction of safety improvements at Congress and Oltorf intersection upcoming
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Current conditions at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street, as of Jan. 3, 2018, before construction.
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People traveling through the intersection of Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street may begin to see signs of construction as ATD begins work on safety improvements. Construction is anticipated to begin in the next few weeks and be completed by summer 2018.
The goal of the planned improvements on Congress Avenue at Oltorf Street is to reduce crashes at the intersection by addressing conflict points, enhancing bicycle and pedestrian visibility and safety, and reducing dangerous movements. Improvements include construction of raised center medians, a new 10- to 12-foot shared-use path through the intersection, high-visibility continental crosswalks and driveway reconstruction. For more information about the project, view the project fact sheet.
Funding for the project comes from the 2016 Mobility Bond Intersection Safety/Vision Zero program. The Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street intersection is one of 28 listed on the Top Crash Location Intersection Priorities Improvement List, 15 to 18 of which will be reconstructed using the 2016 Bond funding.
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ATD launches citywide pedestrian crossing safety initiative
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Pedestrian hybrid beacons, accessible pedestrian signals, countdown timers, oh my! Leveraging federal funding matched with City dollars, ATD has launched a $2.2 million citywide effort this year to upgrade all signals with pedestrian countdown timers, outfit another 26 locations with accessible pedestrian signals and signalize five more pedestrian crossings with pedestrian hybrid beacons.
Countdown timers provide a visual and audible countdown indication useful to all pedestrians. Pedestrian countdown signal heads have a crash reduction factor of 25, meaning one would expect a 25 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes after installing these devices.
Accessible pedestrian signals provide an audible indication when the walk signal is or is not on to cross a particular street. These devices are particularly helpful to the visually impaired.
Pedestrian hybrid beacons are pedestrian-activated warning devices that help people safely cross where there isn't a traffic signal. Five more will be installed at or near the following locations:
- South Congress Avenue and Alpine Road
- Pleasant Valley Road and Sheringham Drive
- Oltorf Street and Burton Drive
- Manchaca Road and Larchmont Drive
- Burnet Road and Ashdale Drive
This project is part of ATD’s implementation of the Vision Zero Action Plan, which lists grant funding for safety improvements as a way to help reach Austin's goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries.
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TxDOT breaks ground for I-35 enhancements from Rundberg to US 290 East
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Last week, the Texas Department of Transportation broke ground for construction along I-35 between Rundberg Lane and US 290, according to a recent TxDOT press release. The project includes adding three new flyovers at the I-35 and US 183 interchange, improving the existing northbound I-35 to northbound US 183 flyover, and reconstructing the St. Johns Avenue bridge.
The project is partially funded by Texas Clear Lanes, an initiative TxDOT describes as "designed to address Texas’ most congested highways," using funding from Proposition 1, approved in 2014, and Proposition 7, approved in 2015. All Texas Clear Lanes projects are non-tolled.
The project also includes adding extended entrance and exit lanes, reconfiguring and improving ramps and shoulders, adding intersection bypass lanes at St. Johns Avenue, and improving bicycle and pedestrian sidewalks and paths. The $124.2 million project is expected to be complete in summer 2021, weather permitting.
To learn more about the I-35 from Rundberg Lane to US 290 East project, visit My35Construction.org. For more information on the Texas Clear Lanes program, visit TexasClearLanes.com.
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Latest roadway message reminds road users that it's hip to be safe
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"Hipsters and hippies: Buckle up!" Our latest road sign reminds roadway users that safety is also for hip people of all flavors.
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Be sure to buckle up for every ride. This applies to drivers, passengers, hipsters and hippies. Our latest dynamic message sign (DMS) about seatbelt safety comes from Vincent Sellers, who is one of many winners from our #OnTheRoadATX contest last year when we asked Austinites to send in their cleverest safety messages.
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Coming up in this week's mobility calendar
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The Impact Fee Advisory Committee is responsible for advising and assisting the City in developing land use assumptions and a capital improvements plan as part of the development of a proposed Street Impact Fee Program.
A Street Impact Fee would be a charge assessed on new development to pay for the construction or expansion of roadway facilities that are necessitated by and benefit that new development. The City anticipates presenting a proposed policy to Council in early 2019. Learn more about the process.
- Date: Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 (today!)
- Time: 6 p.m. (open office hours with the project team from 5:30-6 p.m.)
- Location: Town Lake Center (721 Barton Springs Road), Room 100
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The City is developing a Preliminary Engineering Study for Latta Drive and Brush Country Road to evaluate road conditions, missing sidewalks, curbs, and drainage elements to enhance mobility and safety for all road users. Your input will help identify improvements to curbs, gutters, drainage, bicycle accommodations, and sidewalk infrastructure between William Cannon Drive and Tiffany Drive. This study is funded through the City’s 2016 Mobility Bond. Spanish interpretation services will be available. Learn more at AustinTexas.gov/LattaBrushCountry. You can find event information on Facebook as well.
Can't attend the meeting in person? Take the online survey at PublicInput.com/LattaBrushCountry.
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018
- Time: 6-8 p.m.
- Location: Austin Public Library, Hampton Branch at Oak Hill (5125 Convict Hill Rd.)
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