AUSTIN | Transportation Updates - Page 385

drummer · #**7681** Posted **May 26, 2021, 3:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

But who pays for it? Tesla is outside the city as is most of everything over there except for COTA. Maybe if Travis county wasn't so focused on rural roads.

I can't answer that - all I know is it makes sense to have it. Payment would certainly need to be arranged for anything to ever happen, of course.

sjk · #**7682** Posted **May 26, 2021, 4:35 PM**

Well Elon is the richest man in the world...maybe he's gonna foot the bill?

We vs us · #**7683** Posted **May 26, 2021, 4:41 PM**

I mean, he could feasibly help with infrastructure (via Boring Co) . . . and he's really pointed to wanting to make the Giga site something of a destination on the river, more than just a car building place.

Dunno, seems plausible.

freerover · #**7684** Posted **May 26, 2021, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

I mean, he could feasibly help with infrastructure (via Boring Co) . . . and he's really pointed to wanting to make the Giga site something of a destination on the river, more than just a car building place.

Dunno, seems plausible.

What use is Boring? Their entire business model revolves around tunnels that are too small to be of much use to anyone. They don't even use their own machines to dig.

We vs us · #**7685** Posted **May 26, 2021, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

What use is Boring? Their entire business model revolves around tunnels that are too small to be of much use to anyone. They don't even use their own machines to dig.

Surely they could source a bigger borer, no? Especially if they don't use their own machines . . . .

EDIT: Boring is going to have to expand the model (if they haven't already) to stay solvent. I wouldn't expect them to stay focused solely on Tesla tunnels. Not a lot of demand for that right now.

freerover · #**7686** Posted **May 26, 2021, 4:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Surely they could source a bigger borer, no? Especially if they don't use their own machines . . . .

I don't think you understand the Boring company. That's like saying surely apple can open up their iPhones for side loading apps. The entire business plan revolves around easy to build small ass tunnels that don't cost much. If they make bigger tunnels then they no longer are as fast or as cheap and so they become like other tunneling companies that make useful tunnels that cost a lot. The innovation isn't the tunneling, it's suppose to be making 12' diameter tunnels useful which they have not shown they can yet.

https://www.boringcompany.com/products

Mikey711MN · #**7687** Posted **May 26, 2021, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

I don't think you understand the Boring company. That's like saying surely apple can open up their iPhones for side loading apps. The entire business plan revolves around easy to build small ass tunnels that don't cost much. If they make bigger tunnels then they no longer are as fast or as cheap and so they become like other tunneling companies that make useful tunnels that cost a lot. The innovation isn't the tunneling, it's suppose to be making 12' diameter tunnels useful which they have not shown they can yet.

https://www.boringcompany.com/products

My personal theory is that The Boring Company is the loss leader to sell more Tesla cars and/or provide more value to them. Which in turn provides more demand to sell more batteries.

I am personally intrigued if there is some economy to construct roads below ground to ultimately avoid the expense and delays associated with building them above ground, e.g. ROW, utilities, phasing existing traffic, etc.

Somewhat unique to our area is my understanding of the constraint that prohibits any I-35 funds to HOT/tolled lane(s) development. As recent history in this country/state has shown, HOV usage tends to underutilize the "managed" lane. But if you can offer a "free" express component to, say, a battery-powered, autonomous vehicle, it could be an interesting use of that capacity.

Beyond that, to your point, I just don't see many customers shopping for the products on their list. But I'm sure they'd happily sell it to someone if asked, if only to reduce the losses.

wwmiv · #**7688** Posted **May 26, 2021, 7:20 PM**

Alternative “by others” could also simply mean another team on the project working on a storage yard facility. Evidence in favor: notice that the orange line is also labeled as “by others.”

freerover · #**7689** Posted **May 26, 2021, 7:51 PM**

Maybe they did the unlikely and secured a barn on the Orange line south of 71. That would take the pressure of TxDot finishing the riverside bridge in time for the opening of the whole system which I think is a serious risk depending on how capital express construction goes.

I guess they could get boring to do the underground walkway connections between stations. It would just be so claustrophobic.

Maximusx1 · #**7690** Posted **May 26, 2021, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

The source provided me with the Orange Line route as well. It'll take a while to break that one out into snippets suitable for posting.

So glad you came back to the site. Thanks for everything you do!

The ATX · #**7691** Posted **May 27, 2021, 4:29 AM**

This is the first of three posts showing the Orange Line from South Austin to Downtown.

The ATX · #**7692** Posted **May 27, 2021, 4:37 AM**

Continuing North towards downtown:

The ATX · #**7693** Posted **May 27, 2021, 4:41 AM**

Arriving Downtown. The next series of posts will be from downtown to Tech Ridge.

freerover · #**7694** Posted **May 27, 2021, 4:51 AM**

Very cool

Novacek · #**7695** Posted **May 27, 2021, 11:18 AM**

I’m assuming that they (confusingly) changed what the colors mean, and Orange now means buried, green means on the surface?

They seem to be taking out more buildings along congress than I expected.

H2O · #**7696** Posted **May 27, 2021, 11:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novacek

I’m assuming that they (confusingly) changed what the colors mean, and Orange now means buried, green means on the surface?

They seem to be taking out more buildings along congress than I expected.

Yes, it appears they are tunneling all the way to Nellie. That is good news because I figured that was the only way they could do it without blocking streets Downtown for the tunnel portals. I just hope that all stays in budget.

drummer · #**7697** Posted **May 27, 2021, 1:27 PM**

I'm confused - is that a split station at Woodward? As in north- and southbound platforms aren't next to each other? Seems strange that they're across an intersection from one another.

freerover · #**7698** Posted **May 27, 2021, 1:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

I'm confused - is that a split station at Woodward? As in north- and southbound platforms aren't next to each other?
Seems strange that they're across an intersection from one another.

That's very normal.

drummer · #**7699** Posted **May 27, 2021, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

That's very normal.

Ok. I'm more familiar with metros in China and other Asian countries since that's where I've used them the most. They're sometimes built with platforms on the outside or between the tracks, but they're always right next to each other.

freerover · #**7700** Posted **May 27, 2021, 1:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novacek

I’m assuming that they (confusingly) changed what the colors mean, and Orange now means buried, green means on the surface?

They seem to be taking out more buildings along congress than I expected.

The Stassney station is brutal but they wanted a south Austin line.