Presentation given by Mario Porras, Anna Martin and Laura Dierenfield, Austin Transportation Department to the Lost Creek Civic Organization on August 3, 2017.
3. Local Area Traffic Management
• Reduce speeding via traffic-calming
devices
• Request-based (online application)
• Projects ranked by need
• Examples:
– Speed humps, tables and cushions
– Roundabouts
– Median islands
– Bulbouts
• Requested Projects in Lost Creek
Neighborhood:
– Quaker Ridge (Lost Creek to Whitemarsh Valley
Walk)
– Lost Creek Blvd. (Quaker Ridge to Wilson
Heights)
• More info: austintexas.gov/latm
3
4. Local Area Traffic Management
Summary of Requests in Lost Creek
• Lost Creek Blvd. (17A)
– Speed Limit = 30 mph
– 9,400 veh/day
– 85th
%ile speeds
• WB = 36.4 mph
• EB = 37.3 mph
• Eligible for further review
• Quaker Ridge(16A)
– Speed Limit = 30 mph
– 1,150 veh/day
– 85th
%ile speeds
• NB = 35.9 mph
• SB = 35.5 mph
• Eligible but not funded;
Ranked 25th
out of 53
requests)
4
5. Traffic Signals
• Goal: Safe, efficient movements
for all road users
• City maintains ~1,000 signals
• Can be requested via Austin 3-1-1
• Request eligibility requirements:
– Within Austin City Limits
– Further than 300 feet from existing signal
– Location was last studied or evaluated at
least two years ago
• Eligible requests go through a full
engineering evaluation
• Ranked for funding if approved
• More information:
austintexas.gov/page/traffic-
signals
5
6. Pedestrian Signalized Crossings
• Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
– Pedestrian-activated
– Stops vehicles for pedestrians to cross
in a crosswalk
– Can be requested via Austin 3-1-1
– Ranked for funding if approved
– More information:
austintexas.gov/page/pedestrian-
hybrid-beacons Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
6
7. Residential Permit Parking
• Program to help residents find on-
street parking in their neighborhoods
• Designates spaces in residential areas
by permit only
• Balance needs of residents, their guests
and those who desire to park along
public streets
• Request-based program
• Applications and more information:
austintexas.gov/department/residentia
l-permit-parking
• RPP recently implemented on Bend O
River Dr.
7
8. Austin 3-1-1
• Call center, website and app
• Residents can report issues and make
requests for improvements
• Examples of service requests:
– Traffic signs and markings
– Traffic signals
– Pedestrian crossings
– Bike lanes and facilities
– Safety concerns
• Examples of reports:
– Roadway debris
– Concerns with sidewalks or road paving
– Road closures (construction, special events)
• Ways to reach 3-1-1
– Dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000
– austintexas.gov/department/311
– “Austin 3-1-1” app on Google Play and
iTunes 8
10. Active Transportation Program
• Goal: Improve the quality of life in
Austin through the development of a
comfortable and connected pedestrian
and bicycle network that serves all
ages and abilities
– Planning and design of facilities;
coordinate implementation with
other departments
– Vision Zero Program
– Education and encouragement
programs
• Highlights:
– 240 miles of bike lanes with 20-
30 miles installed annually
– 50 B-cycle stations with 400
bikes
– 60+ Pedestrian Crossings
– 40+ street safety projects
completed in the past six months
• Coordinating agencies:
– Austin Transportation Dept. (Lead)
– Public Works Department
– Austin Resource Recovery
– Planning and Zoning
10
14. Action Plan Vision
safe mobility as the top priority for the transportation system
by setting the goal of zero deaths & zero serious injuries while
traveling
builds on multiple existing safety initiatives, facilitates greater
collaboration, leverages limited resources between City
departments, agencies and community partners
14
15. Actions
1.Evaluation: Collect, analyze, communicate &
share data
2.Enforcement: Focus on hotspots & target top
factors
3.Engineering: Complete Street Design, Traffic
Engineering & Planning
4.Education: Create a targeted, branded Vision
Zero education & media campaign
5.Policy changes
15
Local Area Traffic Management (LATM)
What it is: A request-based program to improve the quality and safety of neighborhood streets by installing traffic calming device along the requested street segments to reduce speeding. These devices may include, but are not limited to, speed humps, speed tables, speed cushions, roundabouts, median islands, chicanes, and bulb outs. Requests are ranked and funded based on need.
ATD has one project, currently in the permitting phase, for a traffic circle at the intersection of Rockwood Lane and Stillwood Lane. This would be phase 2 of the LATM request for Rockwood Lane from Primrose Lane to Steck Avenue.
As part of the quarter cent list, a project on Primrose Lane from Thrushwood Drive to Rockwood Lane was identified for funding by City Council. This project is preliminarily scheduled for construction in September of 2018.
More information: The LATM application, application process, and funding/approval process can be found online at austintexas.gov/department/local-area-traffic-management.
Traffic Signals
What it is: The goal/purpose of a traffic signal is to provide an equitable balance of safe and efficient movements of all roadway users through an intersection. An appropriately installed traffic signal improves traffic flow and mobility for all/various roadway users.
The City of Austin currently maintains and operates around 1,000 traffic signals.
How to request one: Anyone can request a traffic signal by contacting 3-1-1. To be eligible for evaluation the request must, 1) be in the Austin city limits, 2) be further than 300 feet from an existing signal, and 3) be more than two years since the location was studied or evaluated previously. Eligible requests go through a full engineering evaluation and if approved, ranked for funding.
More information: Pending traffic signal requests and a full explanation of the evaluation process is available online at austintexas.gov/page/traffic-signals.
Pedestrian Signals
What it is: ATD tends to use two types of pedestrian signals to enhance pedestrian safety at mid-block or signalized intersections. One is a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB), a pedestrian-activated traffic signal that stops vehicles for the pedestrian to cross in a crosswalk. These can be requested by contacting Austin 3-1-1.
The Arterial Management Division (AMD) has 3 PHB locations on the edge of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Planning Area that were included in the federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant. Since these are grant-funded, they will be studied, but the Arterial Management Division has to hire a consultant to do this. The locations are:
Burnet Road, south of US-183
Burnet Road at Penny Lane and
Burnet Road at Ashdale Drive
Information about PHBs including pending PHB requests, and information about the request and evaluation process is available online at austintexas.gov/page/pedestrian-hybrid-beacons.
The other type of pedestrian signal is a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB), a pedestrian-activated flashing LED light that does not stop traffic but alerts drivers to a pedestrian trying to cross. Per State law, vehicles are required to yield to a pedestrian trying to cross in a crosswalk. ATD is still in the process of creating a criteria for installation of RRFBs and when finalized, that information will be available online.
Residential Permit Parking (RPP)
What it is: A request-based program designed to give residents a better chance of finding an on-street parking space in their neighborhood by designating spaces in residential areas by permit only. Residents purchase a permit that allows them to park on the street within the numbered permit zone near their residence.
More information: This program is designed to balance the needs of residents and their guests with those of others who desire to park along public streets. More information, including the guidelines and procedures and application, may be found online at austintexas.gov/department/residential-permit-parking.
Austin 3-1-1
What it is: Austin 3-1-1 is a call center that residents may use to ask questions, submit concerns, or gather more information about City services and programs. You may fill out a request online, through the new mobile app, or by dialing 3-1-1 while in Austin. You may also track the status of a service request that has been previously submitted.
When to use it: In relation to Austin Transportation Department services and programs, you should use 3-1-1 to request service related to traffic signs, signals, markings, bike lanes and facilities, or safety concerns. You can also find out where to pay a parking ticket, when parking meters are enforced, report roadway debris (glass, tree limbs, etc.), concerns with sidewalks or road paving, road closures related to construction or special events and more. If you call 3-1-1 and they need to escalate the call to emergency services, they will connect you with 9-1-1 (i.e., barrier in road).
By phone: Dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000
Online: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/311
Mobile App: “Austin 3-1-1” free app available on Google Play and iTunes
The Austin Bicycle Master Plan, adopted by City Council in 2014, includes several recommendations for bicycle facilities in and around the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Planning Area.
These include a shared use path along MoPac Boulevard and protected bike lanes along Research Boulevard, Burnet Road, Anderson Lane, Shoal Creek Boulevard, Steck Avenue and Rockwood Lane. They also include other bike lanes in and around the area.
Key findings:
The current citywide network consists of approximately 4,980 miles of absent and existing sidewalks on both sides of all streets, and approximately 2,580 miles of this network is absent.
Construction of new sidewalks for all 2,580 miles of absent sidewalk in the network would cost approximately $1.64 billion (based on historical new sidewalk construction costs). The 2016 budget for new sidewalk construction is $8,600,000, and at this funding level, full build-out would require 192 years.
10-Year Goals from Sidewalk Master Plan
Address all very high and high priority sidewalks within ¼ mile of all identified schools, bus stops, and parks, including both sides of arterial and collector streets and one side of residential streets. (Approximately 390 miles)
Achieve 95% functionality for very high and high priority sidewalks and Achieve 55% functionality for citywide sidewalk network
The Vision sets a goal of zero deaths and injuries while traveling and says safe mobility is the top priority of the transportation system. It says that Vision Zero builds on the work the City and partners are already doing and facilitates greater collaboration to work toward the shared goal.