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2016 Mobility Bond: Share your feedback at two upcoming substandard street open houses
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Austin Transportation is hosting two public open houses this month as part of the 2016 Mobility Bond for substandard streets. In our first series of open houses earlier this year, we heard about these streets’ needs and existing conditions. Now, we want the community’s feedback on proposed recommendations.
Circle S Road (Eberhart Lane to Foremost Drive)
Johnny Morris Road (Loyola Lane to FM 969)
If you can’t make an open house in person, the information presented will be available alongside a survey on each project’s respective website after the event. The 2016 Mobility Bond dedicates $11 million to substandard streets and capital renewal programs, including the creation of preliminary engineering reports for nine substandard streets.
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Vision Zero: Austin Police using aerial drones to document and map traffic crash scenes
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The Austin Police Department is now using unmanned aerial vehicles, or “drones,” to document and map serious injury and fatal traffic crash scenes. This project will help make crash scene investigations more quick and efficient while also providing relief for Austin road users. Previously, Austin Police used a process that required road closures and employed stationary equipment with laser technology, which created traffic delays for road users and vulnerable spaces for the public and first responders. One minute of closure activity at a crash scene can create four minutes of traffic delay and about 10 percent of police officer fatalities result from being struck by automobile drivers.
Austin Police worked with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to implement the project plan. The City-funded drone expense totaled under $11,000 and the District Attorney’s Office purchased and donated the mapping software. This system of crash scene documentation has been successfully deployed in many jurisdictions nationwide. Austin Police will provide an update with local impact data after several months of operation.
The process of collecing, analyzing and sharing crash data is crucial to the City of Austin's Vision Zero mission to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries. Learn more about how the City is working to achieve Vision Zero by 2025. |
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Check it out: City of Austin and University of Texas partner to use automated video analytics to improve transportation planning
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Visual summary of pedestrian activity patterns from video recordings at Lamar Boulevard and 24th Street.
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The City of Austin, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin, is using automated video analytics to assess traffic and road usage patterns to improve transportation planning. In an interview with Government Technology, Austin Transportation staff and University of Texas researchers discussed their partnership on the Automated Video Analytics for Improved Mobility Project, which leverages the City of Austin’s existing traffic monitoring cameras to gather data on roadway usage and the University of Texas’ tool to detect and track objects such as vehicles and pedestrians using artificial intelligence.
This video data analysis provides insights more quickly for transportation planners who have traditionally relied on field observations and manual counts. “We are going to start using some of the capabilities that the research team has developed to assist in the planning of new traffic signal locations, and in evaluating the performance of existing signal locations,” said Jen Duthie, Arterial Management Division Manager at Austin Transportation.
The project also presents an opportunity "to better understand the experiences of Austin pedestrians so we can make more informed decisions and make walking safer and more enjoyable,” said Joel Meyer, Pedestrian Program Manager at Austin Transportation. The collected data will provide insights into where people are crossing the street and how far they might be willing to walk to use a safe crossing.
In the longer term, this type of technology has the potential to identify the locations and frequency of near misses between drivers and pedestrians so the City can implement countermeasures to prevent traffic crashes.
Read the full interview.
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Drive clean this ozone season to help improve our air quality
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Do your part to reduce emissions, especially since we are still in ozone season!
From March through November, ground-level ozone, the most common type of air pollution in many Texas regions, typically reaches its highest concentrations in the air we breathe. While ozone in the outer atmosphere helps protect the earth from the sun’s harmful rays, ground-level ozone is the major ingredient of smog, a problem that plagues many Texas cities.
To help improve our air quality, drive clean by doing the following:
- Fill up your gas tank during early morning and evening hours and don’t top off your tank. When temperatures are cooler, gas is denser and evaporates less. Evaporation of gasoline releases volatile organic compounds into the air, which can contribute to smog and other air quality issues.
- Avoid drive-through lanes. Park and go inside to make your transactions.
- Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Maintaining proper tire pressure and regular oil changes make a difference in your gas mileage.
- Take any extra weight off your vehicle. Removing heavy trunk items not in use can help reduce the amount of energy your vehicle requires to accelerate.
- Share your rides. Lone drivers put more cars on the road and emissions into the air. Try carpooling to work or when going out with friends.
- Try another way of getting around. Biking and walking give off zero emissions and can make you healthier. Riding on public transit takes cars off the road and is ultimately good for the air.
To learn more tips for reducing emissions and saving money at the gas pump, visit DriveCleanTexas.org.
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Check it out: Austin one of the best bike cities in the United States
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Austin ranks 13th on Bicycling's 2018 list of the 50 best bike cities in the country! What makes for a great bike city? Bicycling determined that the best cities "don't cater to one specific type of rider [but] have built systems and a riding culture that benefits everyone—from the kid who rides to school to the retiree who takes a weekend trip to the grocery store."
Austin Transportation's Bicycle Program works to create a complete bike network that provides a safe and comfortable experience for people of all ages and abilities. Celebrate the great news by going on a ride today!
Check out the whole list: The Best Bike Cities in America.
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Thank you for making Austin City Limits a smooth ride! 👍
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Austin Transportation thanks everyone who traveled to Austin City Limits the past two weekends. If you took public transit, biked, walked, scooted, rode a pedicab, took a taxicab, hailed a ride, or tried any other options in our mobility guide, you made a positive difference in Austin traffic!
Remember, your trip choices make a difference in congestion and public safety any day of the year. Learn more about how transportation demand management encourages sustainable travel options and helps relieve traffic congestion at AustinTexas.gov/TDM.
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Coming up in this week's mobility calendar
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The City of Austin is hosting ten open houses, one in each Council district, to share information about the 2018 Bond and allow the community to ask any questions! Visit AustinTexas.gov/2018Bond for more information. Even if you missed a meeting in your district, you are welcome to attend any open house. If you have questions, you can call 512-974-2000 or email 2018Bond@AustinTexas.gov.
Open House in District 7 (Council Member Leslie Pool)
Open House in District 8 (Council Member Ellen Troxclair)
Open House in District 6 (Council Member Jimmy Flannigan)
Open House in District 4 (Council Member Gregorio "Greg" Casar)
Smart Trips + Lime: Austin Nature in the City - Pocket Park Scooter Tour
Join Smart Trips Austin and Lime to tour some of the best pocket parks on the Eastside. Participants will explore parks within Austin's 78702 and 78722 zip codes and learn about amenities and neighborhoods within the Central East Austin community. This event is free to attend, but registration is required on Eventbrite.
Smart Trips Murder, Mayhem and Misadventure Transit Adventure
Learn about Austin's historic cemeteries on this transit adventure. Smart Trips Austin and Capital Metro are partnering to provide free local day passes for this event. The event is free to attend but registration is required on Eventbrite.
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