Time: TONIGHT, Wednesday, April 20, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Pease Elementary Gymnasium (the gym is on the West Ave side)

The purpose of this meeting is to update stakeholders on the staff recommendation for the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard Project with regard to placemaking treatments. This is a follow up meeting from the Thursday, March 31st, 2011 meeting, where information was given, and input received, with regard to landscaping, rain gardens, signage and wayfinding, and naming and gateway/placemaking treatments.

Placemaking is a term describing the process of creating squares, plazas, parks, streets and waterfronts that will attract people because they are pleasurable and/or interesting. Landscaping often plays an important role in placemaking.
Representatives from the Public Works will be on hand to provide information on the project and answer questions.

If you would like to get these notices in your email inbox on a regular basis, then sign up to the City’s bike stakeholder email list.

Construction is starting on the Rio Grande St. portion of the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard. Come learn more about the new roundabouts and give your feedback for this phase of the project.

Time: Thursday, March 31st, 6:00-7:30pm
Location: Pease Elementary, 1106 Rio Grande Street

For more information, please contact the City of Austin Bike Program.

The following is a report by Sara Deshong-Baker, an LOBV Coordinator, on the June 24th Austin City Council briefing on the Nueces/Downtown Bike Blvd.

I apologize for taking so long to get this to y’all. Super busy!

-Tom

On 6/25/2010 11:27 PM, Sara Deshong-Baker wrote:

I took some notes on the questions:

There were some concerns with the legality of possibly taking the speed limit down to 25mph – Annick addressed this by saying they were re-doing speed studies regarding lowering the speed limit.

The council wanted to know if there would be an evaluation of the Rio Grande improvements before embarking on Nueces in 2012. Annick (AB) said there absolutely would be. The evaluation would include looking at ridership and motorized variabilities. UTC [Urban Transportation Commission] may do that evaluation??

Another repeatedly voiced concern from the council was if there was any conflict with the current bike plan and any need to amend the current bike plan. AB says they do want to make a formal amendment to include Rio Grande and to incorporate it into route 31, so that it may appear on formal literature and city distributed bike maps. They would like to amend it in conjunction with the AMATP [Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan].

AB let the council know that there is currently an analysis being done regarding the removal of stop signs and the speed control associated with that. Expected results of the study are due Aug 15th.

Riley wanted to know of any plans north of MLK. AB says she is currently working with stakeholders in west campus to 29th st to possibly develop more “innovative” infrastructure. She also noted that she is trying to work with the Rail plans in the north venture. What a smart sexy woman.

Spelman wanted to point out that all the council recognized the difficulty this project has endured and thanked AB for all her work. He had concerns on parking removal. AB assured him that the removal would be minimal and pointed to the angled parking. She also noted that in the studies, at no time during the day or evening was every single parking space taken on the proposed routes. Also to note, they plan to paint the bike lanes burnt orange, which is pretty smart in gathering more support, although the color is putrid

At the end of the other members questions, Leffingwell wanted to reiterate that this plan would not cut into motorized vehicle capacity on those streets.

So that’s it for the council concerns part. Vince and I had to wait till f*ng 4 pm to hear them. I hope this helps.

Sara Deshong-Baker