AUSTIN | Transportation Updates

[freerover]

Originally Posted by The ATX

We are trading a downtown double deck for a new one in South Austin.

At least it's just a single wider upper deck as oppose to the two we currently have.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by freerover

At least it's just a single wider upper deck as oppose to the two we currently have.

Very true. Plus it's for HOV/mass transit use only.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Very true. Plus it's for HOV/mass transit use only.

I would bet this website that state employees will get a pass to use them so they can drive directly to the capital in their cars.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by freerover

I would bet this website that state employees will get a pass to use them so they can drive directly to the capital in their cars.

I would also venture to guess that people will ignore the HOV requirement.

[gillynova]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I would also venture to guess that people will ignore the HOV requirement.

Yes but of course they will risk getting a ticket haha. Would be very easy to spot them if there's slow down traffic on there

[SproutingTowers]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The 183 expansion will help get the Cedar Park commuters into downtown quicker since they pulled out of CapMetro a few years ago.

When this highway was built I thought they left the gap in the middle for a future rail system.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The 183 expansion will help get the Cedar Park commuters into downtown quicker since they pulled out of CapMetro a few years ago.

Highway expansions almost always suck but at least Cedar Parkers* will have to pay tolls for the new express lanes. Currently the freeloaders still have easy access to CapMetro from the Lakeline P&R.

* what are they called, anyway?

Originally Posted by The ATX

Very true. Plus it's for HOV/mass transit use only.

I hope that when we are rid of the current Gov (and hopefully the Lt. Gov) that it won't be too late for TxDOT to convert the I35 lanes to HOT. By TxDOT's own studies, HOV lanes are underutilized, wasted opportunities.

https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu...nts/4915-1.pdf

[Echostatic]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

Highway expansions almost always suck but at least Cedar Parkers* will have to pay tolls for the new express lanes. Currently the freeloaders still have easy access to CapMetro from the Lakeline P&R.

* what are they called, anyway?

From a March KXAN article:

Residents of Cedar Park provided quite a few variations on how they address one another, and the city is one of the few places in Texas without a demonym.

The official unofficial name for a resident in Cedar Park is Cedar Parker, but residents also said:

• Cedar Parkistanian
• Cedar Parkian

A viewer also joked by saying Cedar Park residents were called “Sneezers.”

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/the-...s-cities-towns

[jmcmahon]

Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements https://www.bdcnetwork.com/codes-and-standards

Austin makes another leap forward.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by jmcmahon

Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements https://www.bdcnetwork.com/codes-and-standards

Austin makes another leap forward.

I cannot wait to see the results of this!! Proud of the city

[atxsnail]

Austin missed out on all of the Federal rail grant money. It seems we'll likely never have serviceable intercity passenger rail in Austin, not until the current state executive leadership and most of the lege is deposed. (In fairness, federal leadership outside of this recent flurry of activity is not much better for rail either.)

Lone Star Rail District is a nice pipe dream but I don't see where we get the money for it outside of a gigantic federal grant or train-pilling some megabillionaire.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

Austin missed out on all of the Federal rail grant money. It seems we'll likely never have serviceable intercity passenger rail in Austin, not until the current state executive leadership and most of the lege is deposed. (In fairness, federal leadership outside of this recent flurry of activity is not much better for rail either.)

Lone Star Rail District is a nice pipe dream but I don't see where we get the money for it outside of a gigantic federal grant or train-pilling some megabillionaire.

I don't think that rail corridor is realistic. Putting a slow passenger train on freight rail ain't going to cut it. You need to build fully elevated high speed rail. That has to be the goal. None of this 2 hour train ride to get 70 miles bullshit.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by freerover

I don't think that rail corridor is realistic. Putting a slow passenger train on freight rail ain't going to cut it. You need to build fully elevated high speed rail. That has to be the goal. None of this 2 hour train ride to get 70 miles bullshit.

sure, but we have to start somewhere.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by freerover

At least it's just a single wider upper deck as oppose to the two we currently have.

What a complete waste of money, materials, and construction headaches. This will do absolutely *nothing* to solve current traffic issues on the southside.

Why is it that mass transit options and light rail are always viewed by the general public and politicians as a "business" that must generate income to pay for themselves, while this exuberantly expensive elevated highway eyesore nonsense that's going on in every Texas city does not get held to the same standard? When is the last time an interstate project "made money" ?

It's as if these construction companies are in bed with politicians. Kick backs and money laundering... and kicking the can on an actual solution.

**Just one more lane, bro!**

[freerover]

Originally Posted by zrx299

What a complete waste of money, materials, and construction headaches. This will do absolutely *nothing* to solve current traffic issues on the southside.

Why is it that mass transit options and light rail are always viewed by the general public and politicians as a "business" that must generate income to pay for themselves, while this exuberantly expensive elevated highway eyesore nonsense that's going on in every Texas city does not get held to the same standard? When is the last time an interstate project "made money" ?

It's as if these construction companies are in bed with politicians. Kick backs and money laundering... and kicking the can on an actual solution.

**Just one more lane, bro!**

because americans are stupid

[Lobotomizer]

Oak Hill Parkway construction, with a nice skyline view.
https://x.com/OakHillParkway/status/...105266571?s=20

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

Oak Hill Parkway construction, with a nice skyline view.
https://x.com/OakHillParkway/status/...105266571?s=20

The east bound bridge, when finished, will have one of the best skyline views in the whole city. It may even have a view of the Capitol dome.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by freerover

because americans are stupid

You ought to hear the comments on the new diverging diamond intersection about to open in Georgetown. Some folks call it a European takeover of common sense transportation planning. And then they ignore the data proving traffic flow improves and accidents decrease, etc....

That said, mass transit is another thing altogether. But the common denominator is willful ignorance to any data showing a broad array of benefits.

[futuresooner]

Originally Posted by drummer

You ought to hear the comments on the new diverging diamond intersection about to open in Georgetown. Some folks call it a European takeover of common sense transportation planning. And then they ignore the data proving traffic flow improves and accidents decrease, etc....

That said, mass transit is another thing altogether. But the common denominator is willful ignorance to any data showing a broad array of benefits.

"We don't want to be like California!"

Baby, the freeways say otherwise and have for over 2 decades. At some point, the state really needs to take a long, hard look at TXDOT and realize paving the problem away only furthers it just a few years down the road.

[ATX2030]

I-35 EXPANSION PROJECT
Austin approves more than $15M to kickstart I-35 ‘cap and stitch’ design work

https://www.kxan.com/traffic/traffic...h-design-work/