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Roads and the traffic upon it

skittlebrau

By skittlebrau
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skittlebrau

skittlebrau 474

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I don’t think we have a road thread yet, so I thought I would start. 

I love far northwest and had an 8 am meeting a Don Dario’s, which is way south today. Took Mopac south the entire length of the road and it was amazing. Covered 30 miles in 35 minutes during morning rush.

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Pasken

Pasken 1309

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Posted (edited)

Lots of road projects in the latest draft from Campo for next round of regional improvements. They vote on it in a few weeks. It includes money for design/engineering of a bridge for the red line over North Lamar. It's already in a weird area with Airport Blvd and moving to trains at 15 minute intervals might reek havoc on N. Lamar traffic.

 

Project-Evaluation-Report-Draft.pdf

 

For East Austin peeps, they are getting ready to shift 183 traffic to the new frontage lanes of 183 between Manor and 51st so they can dig out the old 183 mainlines at Loyola. That project is moving quickly and that will be a major milestone. It's really the perfect use of toll funds. Build your toll lanes but also make significant improvements to free lanes, utilities, and sidewalks. 

 

 

Edited by Pasken
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  • 5 months later...
A-Tex Devil

A-Tex Devil 2463

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52 minutes ago, bolverk said:

PSA: Bee Cave Rd. is closed this morning due to downed power lines caused by a truck running into a pole.

It was more than that. It was an idiot team that thought they could get their wide load piece of equipment down bee cave and it ripped down several power lines and trees.  Had to turn around last night trying to get home.  Came around Lost Creek to Barton Creek and saw the “Wot?” Lady driving the lead car with equipment truck behind her was getting the riot act read to her by TC deputy.    These jackasses have been going down bee cave for a couple of weeks now, and they’ve already been pulled over at least once.  I hope the book gets thrown at them.  

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bolverk

bolverk 29727

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Interesting read from the ABJ about a new plan by Cap Metro. I'm starting to really like this new CEO for them.

Lots of driverless buses with dedicated lanes: How Capital Metro sees Austin's public transit future

The gears are in motion for an overhauled regional transportation network featuring driverless vehicles and light rail in the years and decades ahead.

The head of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority presented new details this week about Project Connect, the transit agency's long-term infrastructure plan.

Randy Clarke, the organization's president and CEO, called Project Connect a "multi-generational investment" that would build upon Cap Remap, the organization's rejiggering of bus routes that went into effect in June.

Clarke and other officials are stressing the importance of dedicated lanes to serve "bus rapid transit," similar to today's bus service with dedicated right-of-way lanes, and "autonomous rapid transit," the same thing using driverless vehicles. They envision a network of connected electric vehicles operating in lanes that no one else can use.

Clarke even suggested autonomous rapid transit could amount to a "light rail system on rubber tires" if the region provides the infrastructure.

"It's not some sci-fi vision," he said. "It's much closer than many people realize."

"We think that's where the industry is going," he added. "But we want to study it in comparison to bus rapid transit and [light rail] to see what solution is right."

Clarke thinks Austinites shouldn't worry so much about how they are whisked around, whether it's light rail or another method. Instead, he said Project Connect needs to first identify which high-capacity corridors it will serve, and deal with later challenges such as transportation mode, construction and funding.

"The power of high-capacity transit doesn't come in a type of vehicle," he said. "We should have one goal and one goal only: How do we move the most people in the most efficient manner possible?"

Buses, autonomous and rail
Project Connect's vision plan released Oct. 1 shows two automated rapid transit lines serving the city.

One would run from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the University of Texas at Austin, with possible extensions to the Hancock area and the Austin Community College Highland campus.

Clarke told reporters Monday during the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s annual Regional Mobility Summit that the Riverside corridor was "very rapidly developing," citing Oracle Corp.'s growth in the area.

Another autonomous rapid transit line would run along Congress Avenue from Stassney Lane, north along Lamar Boulevard to the North Lamar Transit Center, according to the Austin American-Statesman. That line could also extend to Tech Ridge in the north and to Slaughter Lane in the south.

The vision plan would also include four bus rapid transit corridors that would stretch to the city's edges.

And it appears the Green Line still remains part of Capital Metro's plans for its future. The proposed rail route would stretch from downtown to northeast Austin, including Colony Park, then onward to Manor and potentially Elgin.

While the Green Line would serve the city's growing east side and neighbor cities, some residents and officials are skeptical of the hefty price tag, which is $264 million from Austin to Manor and another $98 million to Elgin.

'More choices'
Clarke sees the cost of transportation, particularly car ownership and commuting, as a "huge part" of Austin's affordability woes. He also said more transportation modes are needed in a region where population increases are rapidly outpacing road construction.

"It doesn't mean we can't have any more cars," he said. "But we certainly need a lot more choices than we have today."

Clarke said the success of autonomous rapid transit would depend on dedicated lanes and right-of-way, freeing up the buses from the slog of car traffic. He also said more traditional bus rapid transit could "make a real difference" with its own right-of-way and prioritized traffic signals, which keeps buses from stopping at red lights as frequently as other traffic.

"We need to make sure our largest investments are not sharing the same roads as people driving alone in their cars," Clarke said.

Austin City Council Member Delia Garza sounded supportive of dedicated bus lanes.

"Transportation isn't going to be more reliable, safer or faster until transit can run in dedicated lanes," she said.

'The community's plan'
The new Project Connect plan needs the approval of the Capital Metro board, which is expected to vote by the end of the year. Taking the Project Connect system to voters for a funding proposition is on the table for 2020.

Clarke said they can't hide from the failure of past transit propositions in 2000 and 2014.

“Other successful cities have failed first. And we can learn from that," he said. "We have a blank slate. I think we have an opportunity to do stuff in Austin that other cities do not have and we've got to take advantage of that."

"It needs to be the whole community coming together,” he added.

Clarke said outreach efforts for Project Connect in the coming months will be "unprecedented in scope and reach."

“It’s going to have to be the community’s plan," he said.

Links to the Vision plans mentioned above:

Local: https://capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/ProjectConnect/Project_Connect_Vision_2018/Project-Connect-Vision-Plan-092618-v7.pdf

Regional: https://capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/ProjectConnect/Project_Connect_Vision_2018/Project-Connect-Vision-Map-Regional-Perspective-092618-v1.pdf

 

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Paper_jam

Paper_jam 836

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As a public service I am posting this notice to the general driving public in the Austin metro area:

Starting tomorrow, October 4, 2018, at 7:00 am, E. Parmer Lane between Interstate 35 and Highway 290, will be closed indefinitely by order of me until further notice. Do not attempt to drive on this portion of Parmer Ln, even (especially) if the road appears to be open. It is closed and anything you see which suggests otherwise is a hallucination or optical illusion. Any attempt to drive on said portion of closed road may lead to prosecution and/or risk of personal injury. Persons in North Austin wishing to access SH 130 or the city of Manor should do so via eastbound Hwy 290 or by Howard Ln. This closure is necessary because holy shit what the fuck happened to this road it used to be a nice country lane and now I have to wait 2+ cycles through these goddamn stoplights which weren't even here a few years ago

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Pasken

Pasken 1309

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, BurntEyes said:

Having lived in Germany and Chicago I'm 100% behind mass transit. It's the shitty execution, particularly by ACC and the other civil/state agencies that make it complete muckity suck that I oppose. 

Dallas actually has done the best job in Texas, IMO.

 

Austin, has been laughable at best. If the new guy at CapMetro really does have great plans, which I've not had the chance to fully suss out, he won't last long as you indicated and any great ideas will be shat upon by the nimbys and ACC, because yadda yadda BS  "it's not safe", won't you think of the children.

It’s actually the urbanists that aren’t happy with him because he doesn’t want to push light rail because of how incredibly difficult it would be to find the funds for it. 

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Posted
Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

US needs so much more mass transit. 

We really just need people to be fucking self aware on the highways.

 

Nope...too hard.

 

If mass transit gets the fucksticks off the road, then I guess I support it, but not at a king's ransom.  Seems some of the proposals are little more than a blank check to the developers.

Edited by slorch
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Neonmoon

Neonmoon 38130

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It’s insulting how much the car industry has fucked over this country regarding mass transit. Year after year we invest billions in roads when we should be investing in trains. There should be multiple lines all over the state. Spend any amount of time in Europe, and you will realize how easy it is to go to every city or town by train. It’s not expensive either. It’s sad really.  

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Onboard 2.0

Onboard 2.0 9083

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14 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

It’s insulting how much the car industry has fucked over this country regarding mass transit. Year after year we invest billions in roads when we should be investing in trains. There should be multiple lines all over the state. Spend any amount of time in Europe, and you will realize how easy it is to go to every city or town by train. It’s not expensive either. It’s sad really.  

I love trains, one of the best things about Europe is its train system.

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Nice Guy Eddie

Nice Guy Eddie 13523

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If people would just learn how to drive in congestion, everyone would move faster.

  • go slower to get there faster
  • work to never hit your breaks
  • leave a space in front of you 

 

  • and don’t get pissed when someone pulls into the space in front of you.  In the words of bill Murray, it just doesn’t matter. 
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1. Merge properly, at the correct speed.  This includes both entering and leaving traffic on major thoroughfares.

2. If you're not passing anyone, get the fuck to the right.

These 2 rules would solve this 5 cars across all going 60-63 mph in a 65 on a clear day with dry pavement for no gotdam reason other than their own idiocy.

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Judge Roybeanbag

Judge Roybeanbag 11821

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55 minutes ago, slorch said:

1. Merge properly, at the correct speed.  This includes both entering and leaving traffic on major thoroughfares.

2. If you're not passing anyone, get the fuck to the right.

These 2 rules would solve this 5 cars across all going 60-63 mph in a 65 on a clear day with dry pavement for no gotdam reason other than their own idiocy.

See leave space in front of you above.  Nobody can merge or change lanes when everyone is on each other’s bumpers. 

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Armybrat

Armybrat 40918

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Had to drive over to son's house in Hutto last evening about 9pm. Was on Texas 130 tollway driving 82 in the right hand lane in moderate traffic when two assholes racing their Mustangs passed doing at least 100mph. Stupid shits were weaving in & out of the traffic, but miraculously didn't hit anyone - and unfortunately didn't take each other out off the road.

That's precisely how those goddamned idiots kill innocent people just because said stupid shits need a Saturday night thrill. I hope they run into a concrete wall & kill themselves before they murder anyone else. Fuck those jerks.

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bolverk

bolverk 29727

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Just arrived at home in Austin after completing the 1,000-mile trek from Denver starting yesterday morning (last night spent in West Texas). The shit show began midway between Llano and Marble Falls on TX 71.

It's mostly a two-lane road, but passing lanes were put in at regular intervals a couple years ago. You fuckers camping out, while driving slowly up a hill in the limited passing lane that's given and don't pull over to the right, need to have your driver's foot dipped in a vat of molten sulfuric acid.

FUCK YOU!!! 😖

Edited by bolverk
emphasis added
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phdhorn

phdhorn 6224

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Had to drive over to son's house in Hutto last evening about 9pm. Was on Texas 130 tollway driving 82 in the right hand lane in moderate traffic when two assholes racing their Mustangs passed doing at least 100mph. Stupid shits were weaving in & out of the traffic, but miraculously didn't hit anyone - and unfortunately didn't take each other out off the road.

That's precisely how those goddamned idiots kill innocent people just because said stupid shits need a Saturday night thrill. I hope they run into a concrete wall & kill themselves before they murder anyone else. Fuck those jerks.

50 yards, huh?

50-Yards-300x300.jpg

Edited by phdhorn
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UTexasFight

UTexasFight 9537

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On 4/4/2018 at 12:06 AM, Pasken said:

Lots of road projects in the latest draft from Campo for next round of regional improvements. They vote on it in a few weeks. It includes money for design/engineering of a bridge for the red line over North Lamar. It's already in a weird area with Airport Blvd and moving to trains at 15 minute intervals might reek havoc on N. Lamar traffic.

 

Project-Evaluation-Report-Draft.pdf

 

For East Austin peeps, they are getting ready to shift 183 traffic to the new frontage lanes of 183 between Manor and 51st so they can dig out the old 183 mainlines at Loyola. That project is moving quickly and that will be a major milestone. It's really the perfect use of toll funds. Build your toll lanes but also make significant improvements to free lanes, utilities, and sidewalks. 

 

 

This post aged partially well.

183 is a godsend

the shit show of airport/n lamar that I have to deal with every morning and afternoon cancels it out though.

infuriating sitting at a light for 5 minutes on airport waiting for the damn red line who is ahead of schedule and crawling at 5 mph but the crossing arms are down so the light stays red on airport 

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