Sep 19, 2024 Mobility Committee

[00:00:03]

UH, TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 19TH,

[CALL TO ORDER]

UH, ON THE DAIS WITH ME IS COUNCILOR MARVELLA.

UH, AND THEN I'M ON THE DAIS, UH, VICE CHAIR RIE.

AND THEN JOINING US REMOTELY FROM BEAUTIFUL DC IS CHAIR ELLIS, UH, WHO'S AWAY ON OFFICIAL CITY BUSINESS, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, LARGE CITY COUNCIL CONVENING.

AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY ABSENT FROM THE DIOCESE ARE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

UM, AND BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE FOR TODAY, UH, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE

[Public Communication: General]

UH, MR. CHAIR IRBY FOSTER, UH, DISTRICT THREE.

UH, FOLLOWING UP MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING OUTAGES, I'M ASKING THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER NEW SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD IMPROVE FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING REPAIR PROCESS, IMPROVE UNDERPASS LIGHTING, AND ADD LIGHTING SIGNAGE.

CURRENTLY, WHILE AUSTIN ENERGY HAS BEGUN TO REPAIR FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING OUTAGES, UH, HUNDREDS OF OUTAGES STILL REMAIN.

AUSTIN ENERGY IS REPORTING TO ME AT THE CURRENT RATE.

IT WILL TAKE THEM EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS TO REPLACE MANY OF THE KNOCKDOWN STREET LIGHT POLES AND BASES.

SINCE FREEWAY LIGHTING WORKS LIKE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, AS A RESULT, AS LARGE STRETCHES OF FREEWAYS IN YOUR DISTRICTS WITH STREET LIGHTS THAT ARE STILL OUT WAITING ANOTHER YEAR OR EVEN EIGHT MONTHS, TO HAVE A DARK ROADWAY WITH THREE FATALITIES A WEEK IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE TIMELINE.

A QUICKER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE REPAIR OF TRANSPORTATION BY TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS IN AUSTIN ENERGY, FOR EXAMPLE, AUSTIN ENERGY TAKES ABOUT THREE DAYS TO REPAIR RESIDENTIAL STREETLIGHTS.

HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT A POLICY SET BY THIS COMMITTEE.

ACCORDING TO AE, FREEWAY, STREET LIGHTING BASIS WILL TAKE THEM EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS.

AND I'VE INCLUDED IN A LETTER TO YOU, I WOULD ASK THE COMMITTEE TO SET AN ORDINANCE FOR FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS REQUIRING AUSTIN ENERGY TO REPAIR FREEWAY LIGHTING OUTAGES IN 30 DAYS.

AND LE OR LESS IS A MORE REASONABLE APPROACH.

IT'S A MORE REASONABLE STANDARD.

CLEARLY EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS IS NOT REASONABLE OR SAFE.

AS I SAID, CURRENT REPAIR EFFORTS ARE GOING TOO SLOW.

UH, I'VE ASKED THE, I WOULD ASK THE COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY THE REASONS FOR THE UNDER PERFORMANCE BY CONTRACTORS AT AUSTIN ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS.

PLEASE IDENTIFY AND DECREASE THE TIME IT TAKES TO MAKE FREEWAY STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS AND DEMAND.

AUSTIN ENERGY AND TPW LOOK FOR QUICKER SOLUTIONS.

THOSE SOLUTIONS COULD INCLUDE RUNNING TEMPORARY OVERHEAD WIRING, HIRING, OR REPLACING ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS OR BACK FEEDING CIRCUITS.

NEXT, MOVING FORWARD ON NEW PROJECTS, THE COMMITTEE SHOULD REQUIRE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS TO REQUEST ENHANCED UNDERPASS LIGHTING AND CONTINUOUS STREET LIGHTING ON ALL NEW TECH STOP PROJECTS.

GENERALLY, IF A CITY DOESN'T REQUEST CONTINUOUS STREET LIGHTING, TDOT ONLY INSTALLS BASIC SAFETY LIGHTING AT INTERSECTIONS.

THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO PASS A STREET LIGHTING ORDINANCE THAT SAYS WE WANT CONTINUOUS STREET LIGHTING ON ALL OF OUR FREEWAYS.

FURTHER REQUEST ENHANCED UNDERPASS LIGHTING.

CURRENTLY, TDOT ONLY INSTALLS MINIMUM UNDERPASS LIGHTING IN WACO.

COUNSELORS SAID THIS WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE MOBILITY OF PEDESTRIANS AND ACTIVITIES UNDER BRIDGES.

THEY REQUESTED ENHANCED UNDERPASS LIGHTING AND TDO COMPLIED.

EVERY CITY UNDERPASS WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH ADDITIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURES FOR SAFER, BRIGHTER UNDERPASS SPACES.

WE NEED TO DO THE SAME.

FINALLY, LIGHTED STREET NAME SIGNS.

MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE LIGHTED STREET NAME SIGNS ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MASK ARMS. WE DON'T.

THE COMMITTEE COULD PASS AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING PTPW TO INSTALL LIGHTED STREET NAME SIGNS ON ALL TRAFFIC SIGNAL MASS ARMS. THIS WOULD REDUCE DRIVER CONFUSION ABOUT STREET NAMES AND IMPROVE MOBILITY BY MAKING OUR STREETS EASIER TO FIND.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

AND I'VE INCLUDED A PACKET WITH NATALIE FOR ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE THE PACKET, WHICH I BELIEVE MYSELF AND COUNCILOR MARVELLA, UH, HAVE HERE ON THE DIOCESE.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A JAM PACKED, REALLY FUN, UH, UH, MOBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY.

UH, AND WITH THAT, LET'S GET TO ITEM NUMBER

[1. Approve the minutes of the Mobility Committee meeting of August 22, 2024.]

UH, COULD I GET A MOTION, UH, MOTION BY COUNCIL MARVELLA? UH, COULD I GET A SECOND? AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SORRY.

CHAIR ELLIS.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

UH, AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH, UH, ALL THREE OF US VOTING FOR IT.

UM, SO ANTI ITEM NUMBER

[2. Update from the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) regarding actions from the September 3,2024, meeting.]

AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY SUSAN SUMMERS, WHO'S THE CHAIR.

HI.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SHARE.

WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY ACTIONS.

WE DID HEAR PRESENTATIONS, UM, FROM, UH, LIVING STREETS.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING, UM, THE

[00:05:01]

SO WE, UM, HAD A REALLY GREAT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT SOME OF THE REALLY IMPACTFUL LESSONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEARNED ABOUT THE CURRENT PHASE AND WHAT, HOW WE'RE CONTINUING TO ITERATE THIS PROGRAM AND GAVE SOME GREAT FEEDBACK ON CONTINUING TO APPROVE THAT.

SO I THINK IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE, IF YOU WANNA WATCH OUR BACK AND FORTH, I THINK IT WAS A REALLY, UH, PRODUCTIVE ITEM FOR US.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HEARD UPDATES ABOUT THE TRANSIT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, UM, WHICH AS YOU, I'M SURE KNOW, FUNDS, UM, TRANSIT, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH CITY, UH, CITY MONEY.

AND ALSO, UM, UH, STARTED TO THINK ABOUT SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND ENHANCE THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NEWER, UH, PORTFOLIOS WITHIN TPW.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAD.

WE HAD NO ACTIONS, JUST, UM, SOME REALLY FRUITFUL DISCUSSION.

AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF YOU WOULD LIKE .

GREAT.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

CHAIR SUMMERS.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAIR? UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO NOT.

UM, SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER

[3. Vision Zero Program Update, including Barton Springs Road Pilot and Cameron/Dessau Road Safety Project.]

THANK YOU, UH, WHICH IS THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM UPDATE, INCLUDING BARDEN, UH, SPRINGS ROAD PILOT, AND, UH, CAMERON DESSAU ROAD SAFETY PROJECT.

AND I UNDERSTAND TPW HAS ASKED TO POSTPONE THIS BRIEFING TO FUTURE MOBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING.

SO WE'RE HOPING, FINGERS CROSSED, UH, THAT'LL BE OCTOBER 17TH.

UH, BUT WE'LL, WHEN WE GET THAT FINALIZED, WE'LL, WE'LL LET FOLKS KNOW.

UH, SO THAT WAS QUICK.

UM, SO ON, UH, FROM THERE WE'RE

[4. Community-Driven Urban Trail Visions: The Big Loop and the Great Springs Trail.]

AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.

UH, THE FIRST PRESENTATION IS FROM, UH, JOHN EASTMAN ON BIG LOOP, UH, ON BIG LOOP.

UH, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WILL BE WITH, UH, MICKEY.

NIC.

SO TAKE IT AWAY.

ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

I'M JOHN EASTMAN, SIDEWALK URBAN TRAILS DIVISION MANAGER FOR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS GONNA DIVE RIGHT IN.

WE ALSO HAVE FOLKS HERE FROM THE SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY AND, AND WALK THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION WITH THEM.

SO WHEN WE GET TO QUESTIONS, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE TO, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

UM, SO BIG LOOP, WHAT IS IT? 30 MILE URBAN TRAIL LOOP.

IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THE 2023 URBAN TRAILS PLAN.

AND AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO THE SHOAL CREEK CONSERVANCY.

THE DIAGRAM YOU'RE SEEING ON, ON THE LEFT, THERE IS, UH, A DOCUMENT THEY PUT TOGETHER.

AND THEN, UM, IT RESONATED SO WELL WITH THE COMMUNITY.

UM, IT BECAME PART OF THE 2023 CITY OF AUSTIN.

URBAN TRAILS PLAN, UM, INCLUDES PORTIONS OF THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL, REDLINE TRAIL, LAB, NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, AND MO CAN, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER LITTLE PIECES AND PARTS TO CREATE THIS JUST REALLY AMAZING 30 MILE LOOP.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL CITY URBAN TRAILS PLAN.

SO THIS IS THE, THE PRIMARY MAP.

SO THE CITY OF AUSTIN URBAN TRAILS NETWORK, ALMOST 70 MILES NOW.

UM, 268 MILES PROPOSED.

UM, THE GOAL IS IN THE PLAN OF WHERE THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD OUT A HUNDRED MILES OF OUR TIER ONE TRAILS.

UM, YEAH, WE'VE GOT, UH, ALMOST $152 MILLION IN PLANNED TRAIL PROJECTS IN SOME LEVEL OF DESIGN DEVELOPMENT.

AND, UM, WE'RE PROCEEDING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH CONSTRUCTION.

SO HERE'S A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THE BIG LOOP.

UM, THE SOLID LINES REPRESENT THE PIECES THAT EXIST.

THE DOTTED LINES OR PIECES DON'T EXIST APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS BUILT RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 MILES OF THE 30 MILE BIG LOOP.

AND, UM, THE CHARACTER IS REALLY DIVERSE.

IT GOES THROUGH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CONTEXTS.

WE GO FROM, YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY AMAZING TRAIL DOWN NEAR A CENTRAL LIBRARY THROUGH A HIGH RISE DOWNTOWN AREA TO MORE SUBURBAN TO, UM, SOME AREAS THAT ARE VERY RURAL IN CONTEXT AND OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND.

AND SO IT'S JUST REALLY NEAT EXPERIENCE THAT THIS IS, YOU CAN IMAGINE RIDING THIS BIG LOOP IN A DAY AND GETTING TO SEE ALL THESE UNIQUE, UM, PIECES OF AUSTIN.

SO FOR THE UPDATE, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO KIND OF CLOCKWISE, STARTING PRETTY MUCH RIGHT HERE, UP THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL AND AROUND, AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SHOAL CREEK TRAIL IS ONE OF THE MORE MATURE TRAIL SYSTEMS IN AUSTIN, UM, UP TO 38TH STREET.

IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.

COUPLE MINOR GAPS, UM, BEING ADDRESSED.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF UPGRADES UNDERWAY, SOME RETAINING WALLS, SOME LIGHTING, UM, NORTH OF 38TH ALL THE WAY UP TO 180 3 WAS ADDED.

UH, MORE RECENTLY AS A PART OF THAT PROJECT, IT WAS ALWAYS PLANNED TO DO AN UNDERPASS AT 2222 TIMING WISE, THAT HAD TO WAIT

[00:10:01]

THAT'S DONE.

SO THAT'S EXPECTED TO MOVE FORWARD.

UM, NEXT SPRING WE'RE, UH, ABOUT READY TO GO TO BID ON THAT PROJECT.

UM, AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF SOME, SOME CHARACTER SHOTS OF SHOAL CREEK TRAIL.

UM, ON YOUR LEFT, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHERE IT'S A PARALLEL PROTECTED BIKE WAY AND SIDEWALK.

AND THEN NORTH OF 180 3 IS A SHARED USE PATH THAT GETS US UP TO THE CURRENT TERMINUS OF THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL.

UM, WHICH ON, ON NEIL THOMPSON DRIVE, UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT TO THE WEST SIDE OF BURNETT.

WE'VE GOT A PLAN THAT'S UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S ACTUALLY GETTING SOME PUBLIC REVIEW RIGHT NOW TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY LOCATE THE URBAN TRAIL WITHIN A VERY RIGHT, WIDE RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, AND I'LL SHOW YOU A COUPLE PICTURES THAT IS IN DESIGN, AND WE THINK WE'LL GET INTO CONSTRUCTION IN THAT NEXT YEAR.

THAT'LL GET US UP NEILS THOMPSON OVER LONGHORN, AND THAT'LL BE THE TERMINUS OF SHO CREEK TRAIL.

AND THEN IT'LL TIE TOGETHER, UM, WITH THE SHARED USE PASS THERE BEING INSTALLED AS PART OF THE BURNETT CORRIDOR PROJECT.

AND SO THAT'S FUNDED AND CONSTRUCTION'S ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN NEXT FALL.

UM, SO THIS IS A, AN IDEA OF WHAT NEILS THOMPSON DRIVE AND LONGHORN BOULEVARD LOOK LIKE IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN UP THERE REALLY WIDE RIGHTS OF WAY, UH, IN AN AREA THAT, UM, WE CAN REPURPOSE AND REALLOCATE SOME OF THAT STREET SPACE.

UM, OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION STREET DESIGN GROUP, UM, IS, IS PUTTING THOSE DESIGNS IN AND RUNNING THAT PUBLIC PROCESS RIGHT NOW, MOVING NORTH.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT A SECTION OF THE TRAIL AROUND Q2.

WE TIED A BUNCH OF THAT IN, UM, BEFORE THE STADIUM OPENED.

UM, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTIVELY IN DESIGN WEST BREAKER TO, UM, KRAMER, UM, AND KRAMER UP TO THE IBM CAMPUS, UM, EITHER IN DESIGN OR EVEN IN CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S PORTIONS OF IT THAT WE'RE COORDINATING WITH SOME AUSTIN ENERGY WORK UP THERE.

UM, SO THOSE ARE MOVING FORWARD FURTHER NORTH, UM, FROM IBM CAMPUS TO GRACIE FARMS. THAT'S GETTING COORDINATED WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AT THE BROADMOOR STATION, BUT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THOSE PROJECTS, SO THAT'LL HAPPEN AS THAT ALLOWS.

UM, PHASE FOUR ON THIS DIAGRAM IS GRACIE FARMS UP TO THE NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL.

SO THAT ONE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING.

UM, THERE'S A REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL EARMARK THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT, WHICH WILL HELP FUND THAT.

UM, SO ALL THESE PORTIONS OF TRAIL ARE FUNDED MOVING FORWARD THROUGH DESIGN, UM, AND INTO CONSTRUCTION.

AND AGAIN, THIS JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU SOME CHARACTER OF THE AREAS WHERE THAT TRAIL IS GONNA GO.

ALL RIGHT, THAT GETS US ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL.

GREAT FACILITY, UM, OPEN TO 2015.

UM, YOU KNOW, WELL USED AND, YOU KNOW, PARTNERED WITH PART ON THAT.

UM, 4.4 MILES THAT GETS US.

HERE'S THE, UM, TERMINUS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL ON THE, THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

UM, WE DID, AGAIN, THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT, GOT, UM, A CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK REQUEST TO GET, UM, FUNDING TO GET ACROSS THE CREEK AND OVER TO I 35.

THAT LITTLE SECTION, UM, THAT'S, UH, CIRCLED THERE.

VERY CHALLENGING SECTION.

UM, WE HAVE TO GET DOWN INTO THE FLOODPLAIN, DEVELOP A BRIDGE, UM, KIND OF AVOID SOME CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.

SO, UM, SHORT SECTION, BUT VERY CHALLENGING, BUT IT'S, IT'S IN DESIGN GOING TO CONSTRUCTION HOPEFULLY NEXT SUMMER.

ALRIGHT.

AND THAT'S GONNA GET US UNDER I 35.

AND THIS IS THE ONE SECTION OF TRAIL WE'RE UNDERTAKING PRELIMINARY INJURY REVIEW.

UM, IT'S A REALLY CHALLENGING SECTION.

IT, UM, COMES DOWN FROM THE EAST YEAGER LANE AREA, UM, ALL THE WAY, OH, ALL THE WAY DOWN ALMOST TO PARTWAY TO TWO 90.

UM, REALLY CHALLENGING, UM, APPROXIMATELY 25, $30 MILLION BALLPARK FUNDING ESTIMATES.

BUT AS I SAID, WE'RE GONNA UNDERTAKING A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REVIEW TO GET A BETTER ON HANDLE ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, SO AT THIS TIME, NOT SCHEDULED FOR CONSTRUCTION UNTIL WE CAN, UM, UNTIL FUNDING IS, IS LINED UP AND WE GET A LITTLE FARTHER IN THE DESIGN AND GET AN IDEA OF WHAT, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE BASED ON THESE PICTURES.

ALRIGHT, NEXT GETS US INTO SECTION NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL FUNDED.

UM,

[00:15:01]

CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT HELPED US GET $5 MILLION IN FUNDING.

UH, THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL BOND FUNDS.

TRAVIS COUNTY, WHERE IT GOES OUTSIDE, IT'S GO OUTSIDE THE CITY.

THE CITY FULL PURPOSE IS HELPING FUND THIS.

THE SECTION'S ACTIVELY IN DESIGN IT, IT USES THAT MOAN CORRIDOR, UM, AND WILL TIE US FROM THE CURRENT END OF EAST BREAKER LANE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL.

UM, GONNA TAKE A COUPLE YEARS TO BUILD THAT PROJECT.

UM, BUT WE, IT, IT IS MOVING FORWARD RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF CREEK CROSSING CHALLENGES AS SOME OF THE OTHERS.

UM, IT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE'VE GOT THE SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK, IT'S OPEN AND IT'S A GREAT FACILITY.

ALSO CONNECTS TO THE, RECENTLY OPENED AUSTIN TO MANNAR TRAIL, SO YOU CAN GET FROM A LOT OF PLACES IN AUSTIN.

ALL THE WAY TO MANNAR ON, ON PROTECTED BIKEWAYS AND TRAILS.

NOW, UM, GETS US DOWN INTO THE MOAN TRAIL THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION PIECE BY PIECE.

APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS IS GONNA BE COMPLETE BY 2025.

WE RECENTLY COMPLETED A CONNECTION TO EDA BRANCH LIBRARY, PARTNERED WITH CAP METRO TO BUILD A SECTION THROUGH THEIR, UH, MAINTENANCE YARD.

THIS IS THAT SECTION THAT'S OPENED LITERALLY WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.

UM, GREAT LITTLE TRAIL CONNECTIONS.

AND EACH ONE OF THESE CONNECTIONS IS, HAS UTILITY FOR THE LOCAL AREA, EVEN BEFORE IT CONNECTS UP INTO THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

UM, THAT'S IT.

THEN FROM THERE WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PROJECT THAT'LL, UH, AN EAST FIFTH THAT'S PART OF, WE'RE AGAIN, PARTNERING WITH CAP METRO.

THAT'S A LITTLE RED DOTTED PIECE IN THERE THAT'S IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.

IT'LL GO TO CONSTRUCTION.

THEN WE HIT THE LAB AND WE'RE BACK.

AND WITH THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA SET UP MIKE MIKEY, UM, WITH THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT TO TALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

AND THIS IS A MAP OF HOW OUR TRAIL SYSTEM IN THE RED CIRCLE, YOU WILL TIE INTO THE END OF WHAT, WHAT THE NONPROFIT GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT IS WORKING ON.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

UM, FIRST TIMER HERE, SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THE TECH WORKS.

UH, HERE I AM.

IT'S EASY WORKING FINE, .

NICE.

THANKS, NATALIE.

UM, NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.

UH, MY NAME IS MIKEY GURALNICK.

UM, I'M A TRAIL PLANNER AND A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AT GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT, AND I'M EAGER TO TELL YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

UM, AND ALSO, UM, KIND OF OUR ROLE IN, UH, NOT ONLY FACILITATING, COLLABORATING WITH AND AMPLIFYING THE EFFORTS AROUND, UM, THE BIG LOOP, BUT ALSO, UM, MORE REGIONALLY.

UM, SO THE KIND OF 500 OR MAYBE 250 WORD SUMMARY, UM, OF OUR GROUP IS THAT WE, WE DO TWO THINGS.

UM, WE WORK TO CONSERVE AND EXECUTE, UM, RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO SUPPORT, UM, WATER QUALITY, WATER QUANTITY, UM, AND BIODIVERSITY OBJECTIVES, UH, IN A FOUR COUNTY AREA.

AND WE WORK TO IMPLEMENT TRAIL PROJECTS THAT CONNECT THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITOL WITH THE GOAL BEING THAT ONE DAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, WALK, BIKE, OR POTENTIALLY RIDE YOUR HORSE FROM THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITOL.

BUT KIND OF THE MORE BOOK LENGTH OR MAYBE A THOUSAND WORD VERSION OF WHAT WE DO, UM, IS THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH A RANGE OF PARTNERS, INCLUDING MUNICIPALITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENTS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, OTHER NONPROFITS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY, UM, PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO EXECUTE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ACHIEVE DIFFERENT ECOLOGICAL, UH, AND SOCIAL IMPERATIVES IN OUR AREA WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL BEING, UM, HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

SO, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT WORKING TO CONSERVE LAND SPECIFICALLY SO THAT IT SITS AND IS CONSERVED.

WE'RE LOOKING TO CONSERVE LAND SO THAT IT'S A RESOURCE FOR, UM, HUMANS AND, UH, THIS GENERATION OF HUMANS, BUT ALSO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HUMANS AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIES THAT WE SHARE THE PLANET WITH.

AND WE'RE WORKING IN PROMOTE TRAILS, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE, UM, NICE PLACES TO WALK AND RIDE YOUR BIKE.

THEY'RE THOSE THINGS, BUT THEY'RE VERY, WE, WE SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THE RANGE OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, RECREATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, STORYTELLING, AND PLACEMAKING AND COMMUNITY EQUITY IMPACTS THAT TRAILS CAN HAVE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

SO I MENTIONED THAT WE WORK IN FOUR COUNTIES,

[00:20:01]

UM, AND, UH, PURSUE THE, AND AMPLIFY AGAIN, THE THE WORK OF PARTNERS IN EACH ONE OF THESE REGIONS.

UM, WITH THE IDEA BEING THAT WE, WE HAVE A, A UNIQUE AND IMPACTFUL ROLE, UH, IN SYNTHESIZING AND STITCHING TOGETHER THE WORK OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT REGIONAL PROJECT, REGIONAL PROBLEMS OR OPPORTUNITIES REQUIRE REGIONAL COORDINATION, BUT WE ALSO WORK DISTINCTLY LOCALLY.

UM, I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT.

UH, OUR OFFICE IS AROUND THE CORNER AND WE'RE REALLY PASSIONATE, UM, ABOUT OUR ROLE AND POTENTIAL, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND, UH, OUR WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, TRAVIS COUNTY AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS HERE IN THE CITY.

UM, IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A TEASER, I GUESS, UM, FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IN THESE TWO AREAS, THE WILLIAMSON CREEK CORRIDOR BETWEEN, UM, UH, THE VIOLENT CROWN TRAIL AND MCKINNEY FALLS STATE PARK AND THE ONION CREEK CORRIDOR FROM ONION CREEK METRO PARK, UH, TO HAYES COUNTY.

UM, I MENTIONED THAT GENERALLY LIKE, KIND OF THE OVERVIEW OF, OF, UM, OUR METHODS OR OUR APPROACH IS, IS THAT WE AUGMENT AND AMPLIFY THE WORK OF, OF PARTNERS.

UH, NET BEAR IS REPEATING AND EMPHASIZING, UM, AGAIN AND AGAIN.

IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS OUR TRAIL, THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECTS TRAIL.

LIKE WE HAVE AN IDEA FOR A TRAIL THAT WE THINK SHOULD GO A CERTAIN PLACE, OR WE THINK THESE SPECIFIC CONSERVATION INITIATIVES OR OBJECTIVES ARE, ARE VALUABLE TO US.

UM, WE HAVE, OUR PRIORITIES ARE A REFLECTION OF THE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED LOCALLY IN DIFFERENT, UM, RECREATIONAL TRAIL PLANS OR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANS, OR GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION PLANS, OR HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

SO OUR PLANNING EFFORT, UM, IS ESSENTIALLY US COLLABORATING WITH, UM, AND BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR AREA TO SHARE, PROVIDE DETAIL ABOUT AND SYNTHESIZE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THESE, THESE, YOU KNOW, LOCALLY LED BUT REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANS.

UM, WHICH IS NOT ONLY THE, THE, THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO, IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY, UM, THAT WE THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO CAPTURE, UH, THE, THE PRIORITIES AND THE VISION OF A TRAIL THAT SPANS SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CONTEXTS FROM RURAL AREAS IN THE HILL COUNTRY TO THE CAPITOL.

UM, AGAIN, BROADLY, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IF WE WERE TO KIND OF DIVVY UP WHAT WE DO INTO THREE ESSENTIAL KIND OF CATEGORIES OF ACTIVITY AND WAYS THAT WE, WE ARE HELPING COMMUNITIES, UH, AND, AND AGAIN, OTHER PARTNERS IN THE NONPROFIT AND PRIVATE WORLDS, UM, IS WE HAVE EXPERTISE IN RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, BOTH RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION FOR CONSERVATION, BE IT FEE SIMPLE OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, UM, BUT ALSO FOR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS FULL-TIME ACQUISITION, LAND LAND ACQUISITION, UM, GROUP THAT WORKS IN THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

UM, SIMILARLY, WE HAVE A FULL-TIME STAFF, INCLUDING MYSELF, OF TRAIL PLANNERS THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN NOT ONLY THE SORT OF PRELIMINARY AND CONCEPTUAL PLANNING FOR TRAILS, BUT ALSO, UM, CONSTRUCTION LEVEL DOCUMENTATION AND PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION.

MY, MY COLLEAGUE KENNY, UH, RIGHT NOW IS OUT, UM, AT A SITE IN SAN MARCO, PHYSICALLY BUILDING AND WORKING WITH OTHER FOLKS TO PHYSICALLY BUILD A TRAIL, UH, IN, UM, IN A, A BEAUTIFUL, UM, BIT OF RECHARGE ZONE IN SAN MARCO.

SO A ANOTHER KIND OF DISTINCT AREA OF OUR EXPERTISE AND WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, UM, MUNICIPALITIES TO IMPLEMENT THIS BIG VISION.

AND THEN THE THIRD CATEGORY, UM, IS WE HAVE A, A, A PASSION FOR, UM, UH, ACTIVATING AND STEWARDING BOTH THE TRAILS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN CREATING AND, AND MANAGING AND, UM, AND ACTIVATING, UM, BUT ALSO THE LANDSCAPES THAT, UH, THOSE TRAILS EXIST IN, IN THE RIGHT, ESPECIALLY THE RIPARIAN AREAS.

UM, WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE WORKING, UH, THESE ARE, THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE TRAIL RACES.

YOU SEE HERE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UM, STRUGGLING THROUGH A VERY HOT, UM, VERY STEEP RACE IN SAN MARCO.

UM, WE ADOPTED A SEGMENT OF ONION CREEK TO DO LITTER REMOVAL.

UH, WE OVERSEE SOME INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND NATIVE SPECIES REVEGETATION PROJECTS IN THE AREA.

UM, AND THIS IS A BIG PART OF, OF OUR MODEL.

WE THINK IT'S, UH, ONE THING TO FACILITATE THE IMP IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAILS AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS.

WE THINK IT'S, UH, EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, BRING FOLKS TO THOSE SPACES AND BUILD CONNECTIONS TO THEM.

UM, QUICK OVERVIEW, I GUESS, OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN THOSE THREE CATEGORIES.

IN TERMS OF OUR LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT.

UM, WE'RE WRAPPING UP, UH, AN INITIATIVE TO CALL, UM, MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY LANDOWNER OF A STRATEGIC OR HIGH VALUE CONSERVATION PROJECT, UH, IN OUR FOUR COUNTY AREA.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO, UM, DEVELOP AND SUBMIT PROJECTS, UH, FOR THE CAMPO RE RECREATIONAL OR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION

[00:25:01]

UH, AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING KIND OF A, NOT A ROADSHOW, BUT FREQUENTLY REACHING OUT TO AND, AND SHARING SIMILAR INFORMATION WITH CITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES, UM, WITH THE HOPES THAT, UH, GROUPS LIKE THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMISSION, PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, LAST NIGHT WAS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

UM, WE'LL PASS, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL SORT OF SEE THE VALUE THAT WE OFFER TO THE CITY AND, UM, PROVIDE A, A RECOMMENDATION THAT, UM, STAFF AND, AND OTHERS, UM, CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND EXPAND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

UM, WE'VE ALSO SUBMITTED TWO, UM, PRE TRANSFORMATIONAL GRANT PRO UH, PROJECTS.

UM, ONE IS A, WE'RE THE LEAD APPLICANT ON A $20 MILLION GRANT FROM THE EPA, UH, FOR A PROJECT IN LOWER ONION CREEK.

I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS 'CAUSE UM, THE BIG BOOT WILL COME OUT.

BUT, UH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A, A PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT TRAIL, UM, FACILITATE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, UH, AND TO CREATE, UM, DEVELOP, I GUESS A, A GREEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK THAT WILL, UH, EMPLOY FOLKS FROM EAST AUSTIN, UM, AND EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY IN TRAIL ACTIVATION AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS SOLUTION.

WE ALSO SUBMITTED A GRANT WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, THE TRAVIS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION FOR A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF A RECREATION, UM, AND RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER.

UM, AND WE HAVE RECENTLY, UH, SECURED SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR OURSELVES AND, AND OUR PARTNERS, UH, TO INVEST IN SIGNIFICANT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATIONAL TRAIL PROGRAMS. UM, ONE BEING, UH, WE HAVE A $1.8 MILLION GRANT FROM THE TDOT TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES GRANT PROGRAM TO DO A CORRIDOR WIDE FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOULD ROLL OUT SOME TIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

UM, WE, THIS MOST RECENT CYCLE OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE RECREATIONAL TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM BROUGHT IN FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PARTNERS, NEARLY $800,000, UM, FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RECREATIONAL TRAIL.

UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO, UM, IDENTIFY AND BE INNOVATIVE ABOUT RESOURCES THAT WE CAN BRING TO AMPLIFY THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS, OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND OTHERS IN IMPLEMENTING THIS TRANSFORMATIVE VISION.

THANK YOU.

GREAT.

UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATIONS FROM BOTH MR. EASTMAN AND MR. NIK.

UM, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT BEFORE I GET INTO MY QUESTIONS, UM, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE HERE OUTSIDE OF ME.

UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNCILOR MARVELLA IF HE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, JUST A, UH, LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

I'LL KEEP IT, TRY TO KEEP IT AS, AS BRIEF AS A HANDFUL OF, OF, UH, SEGMENTS IN, IN MY, UH, DISTRICT THAT I'M, I'M WATCHING, BUT THESE ARE KIND OF MORE OF THE, THE TIER ONE TRAILS.

WE HAVE $60 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION FUNDING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

UH, THE, THE TIER ONE WOULD BE 94 MILES OF TIER ONE TRAILS.

HOW MUCH FUNDING WOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT? AGAIN, GUESSTIMATE? I, I THINK AT THIS LEVEL, BUT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE, THE TIER ONE TRAILS IDENTIFIED IN THE, UH, IN THE URBAN TRAILS PLAN? SO, UH, ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, AND THIS IS OUTTA THE URBAN TRAILS, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TRAIL COSTS VARY ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OF THESE TRAILS WE CAN GET BUILT FOR ONE TO $2 MILLION A MILE AND, YOU KNOW, PIONEERING A TRAIL THROUGH, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY FLAT AREAS TO, THERE'S OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY'RE, UH, ABSOLUTELY UP TO $10 MILLION A MILE.

'CAUSE WE'RE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, HARDENED INFRASTRUCTURE NOW AND IN FLOODWAYS THAT'S GOTTA RE YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOTTA HAVE SIGNIFICANT HARD ARMORING.

UM, OVERALL THE COST WE USE IS, UH, ON AVERAGE THREE TO $4 MILLION A MILE RIGHT NOW IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ORDER OF MAGNITUDE AND, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE URBAN TRAILS PLAN IS A 20 YEAR PLAN.

MM-HMM.

.

SO IF WE WAVE THE MAGIC WAND, WE THINK IT PROBABLY ON AVERAGE YOU TALKING ORDER OF MAGNITUDE $400 MILLION.

HMM.

UM, AND, AND THAT'S, WE'RE NOT EVEN SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THE TIER TWO AND, UH, IN, IN TIER THREE THERE, HUH? YES AND NO.

AND I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, AND IT CALLS OUT IN THE PLAN THAT WE TACKLE THOSE PROJECTS OPPORTUNISTICALLY.

RIGHT? AND SO, UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT WORK BY DONE BY OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TEAMS, BY NONPROFIT PARTNERS THAT'S ONGOING.

UM, THERE'S GRANTS THAT HAPPEN AND SO THERE IS WORK THAT THAT HAPPENS AND THERE IS PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THOSE TIER TWO, UM, TRAILS.

UH, WE ALSO GET INTO PARTNERSHIPS.

I WAS TALKING, ACTUALLY, I WAS A MEETING THIS WEEK WITH PART AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ABOUT A TIER TWO TRAIL CONNECTION, UM,

[00:30:01]

THAT, AND THE CONVERSATION WE HAD IS, WELL, WE COULDN'T FUND IT AT MOST, MORE THAN 50% BECAUSE IT'S NOT A TIER ONE FOR US.

WE WOULDN'T FUND LAND ACQUISITION, BUT PART IS ACTUALLY TAKING THE LEAD.

AND ACTUALLY WATERSHED IS THE ONE WHO, WHO, UH, BROUGHT ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT PROJECT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND IT IS A PARTNERSHIP OF FOUR TO FIVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND, UM, THAT'S SORT OF ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT FOR, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING, TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, UM, WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY HOLISTICALLY WE'RE GONNA GET ALL THOSE TIER TWO TRAILS DONE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE'LL BE PERHAPS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED HOW MANY OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES DID COME TO FRUITION.

AND, AND IN TERMS OF THE, UM, THE THINK BOTH TRANSPORTATION AND PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES THAT, THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE, UH, PAYING AND THAT ARE KIND OF GETTING SQUIRRELED AWAY IN VARIOUS, UH, HOW AVAILABLE ARE THOSE FUNDS FOR USE IN THESE KINDS OF, UH, URBAN TRAILS OR, OR, OR CONNECTIONS? I, I WOULD SAY WHERE, WHERE THE, UH, PRIORITIES AND THE, AND THE, UM, REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE FUNDS ALIGN WITH THOSE PARKLAND DEDICATION.

IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.

SO WE'RE WORKING PART WITH PART ACTIVELY ON BERGSTROM SPUR TRAIL, UM, WORKING WITH THEM, LIKE I SAID, ON THAT LITTLE CONNECTOR TRAIL.

SO IT, IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WORKED WITH THEM ALSO ON MOAN, UM, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME PARK ONE DEDICATION.

SO THERE'S A REAL GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH PARDON.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF ALIGNMENT ON THOSE, UM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THEY LOOK TO TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS FOR FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL.

THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY UNLESS WE CAN ACTIVATE IT.

GREAT.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, ONE PARTICULAR, UH, THERE'S A HANDFUL OF LINKS IN DISTRICT FOUR THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN, UH, TALKING TO ME ABOUT.

BUT ONE THAT KIND OF REALLY POPS UP IS THIS, UH, CONNECTION, UH, ON BETWEEN ESSENTIALLY BROADMOOR AND 51ST STREET THAT WOULD CONNECT, YOU KNOW, WINDSOR PARK TO, UH, MUELLER, JUST, UH, WEST OF BERKMAN OVER 10 HILL BRANCH CREEK.

UH, THERE WAS A, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WAS BUILT ON 51ST STREET AND THEY DEDICATED AN EASEMENT AND HAVE PAVED THE CONCRETE, UH, ACHINGLY CLOSE TO, UH, WHERE IT COULD, UH, CONTINUE ON OVER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GIVE BOTH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN, IN, UH, MUELLER ACCESS TO WINDSOR PARK AND PEOPLE IN WINDSOR PARK ACCESS TO MUELLER.

UM, AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT'S, I THINK A TRICKIER SECTION 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BRIDGE AND, AND THERE'S A FLOODPLAIN AND ALL THAT.

BUT MY, DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF, UH, A A OF A, OF A, A COST ESTIMATE OR A, A A, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST A, A GUESSTIMATE ON, ON WHAT, UH, UH, A, A SHORT CONNECTION LIKE THAT WOULD COST? SO, AGAIN, I, I MEAN, ALL WE CAN DO IS, IS USE GO BYS, RIGHT? WHERE WE'VE, WE'VE BUILT OTHER BRIDGES AND, AND I, I'VE, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE, I'VE BEEN TO THE END OF THE CONCRETE AND STOOD NEXT TO, IT WAS INTERESTING HOW THEY ENDED THAT TRAIL, RIGHT? LINED UP WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, NICE BIG HACKBERRY TREE.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, SO WE, WE, WHEN WE CONNECT TO IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND GO AROUND.

'CAUSE THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE A NICE BIT OF SHADE THERE.

MM-HMM.

, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE KICKING OFF A, UH, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REVIEW ON THAT ONE, UM, SOMETIME LATER THIS FALL.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THAT LINK, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO FIND FUNDING, WE GOTTA HAVE A, A BETTER IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'S GONNA COST, BALLPARK A BRIDGE, AND IT'S GONNA BE A BRIDGE.

THERE IS NO ROOM TO DO A LOW WATER CROSSING THERE.

WE DID TAKE A LOOK, UM, OUR ENGINEERING TEAM, AND IT'S JUST THE CONSTRAINTS.

UM, BUT IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING CONNECTION WOULD TIE INTO ALL THOSE SIDEWALKS WE BUILT ON BELFAST.

EXACTLY.

OR I, I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THAT.

UM, ORDERING MAGNITUDE MINIMUM, YOU'RE TALKING TWO TO $3 MILLION TO BUILD A BRIDGE LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S JUST ENGINEERING IT, WE'RE WORKING ON A BRIDGE OVER BOGGY CREEK RIGHT NOW AS PART OF THE MOAN TRAIL.

THE ENGINEERING ALONE, YOU KNOW, IS RUN INTO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BY THE TIME YOU'RE DONE.

ALRIGHT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE, THERE, UH, IN, IN THAT CASE, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.

UH, WOULD TRANSPORTATION, UH, THE, THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES, WOULD THAT BE AVAILABLE FOR, UH, THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS? THE STREET IMPACT FEES? THE STREET IMPACT FEES? YES.

I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT AN EXPERT.

I THINK, AND I'M GONNA LOOK OVER AT RICHARD.

I DON'T THINK SO.

MY UNDERSTANDING, 'CAUSE WE DO COORDINATE ON STREET IMPACT FEES.

MM-HMM.

IS THEREFORE DEFINED PROJECTS.

BUT I'D LET RICHARD

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS.

AS IT, AS WE STAND NOW, THE STREET IMPACT FEES, UM, MAY ONLY BE APPLIED TO CAPACITY, ROAD CAPACITY.

MM-HMM.

, UM, I'M, I AM FAMILIAR OTHER STATES ALLOW THEIR USE ON PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES, BUT, UH, IN STATE OF TEXAS, UH, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

IT'S GOTTA BE A ROAD PROJECT, HUH.

RIGHT.

GOT IT.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I'VE GOT.

GREAT.

UH, WITH THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S, I'M, I'M UP NEXT, UH, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR, FOR MR. EASTMAN, AND THEN AFTER THAT I DO HAVE ONE, ONE QUESTION FOR, UH, MR. GO GONICK.

UM, SO LIKE I SAID, REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE PRESENTATION.

I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT FOR ALL HIS HELP ON, ON MAKING A LOT OF THIS A REALITY, UH, JUST FOR FOLKS AT HOME.

YOU KNOW, I I I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAIL JUST TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REALLY SPECIFY WHAT THAT MEANS, RIGHT? IS IT A ROUTE OR IS IT A TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE? UH, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN WE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR, FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS IS THAT PEOPLE, UH, START TO EXPECT A STANDARD SIDEWALK TO BE AN URBAN TRAIL.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE IS THAT WE'RE REALLY DOING HIGH COMFORT INFRASTRUCTURE HERE, UM, AS WELL.

I, I, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

'CAUSE IT GIVES AN, AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO FOR THE CITY, UH, IN OUR URBAN TRAILS BY, AND THERE'S A, A PRETTY DETAILED SECTION THAT GOES, WHAT IS AN URBAN TRAIL? AND AS YOU SAW FROM SOME OF THE PICTURE, IT CAN HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS.

BUT, UM, WHAT IT IS WITHIN THE URBAN TRAIL NETWORK IS BOTH A TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY THAT IS EXACTLY AS YOU DESCRIBED, A HIGH QUALITY CONNECTION.

UM, A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE CONNECTION THAT CAN BE USED EITHER, EITHER FOR TRANSPORTATION, RECREATION.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SHARED USE PATHS THAT ARE URBAN TRAILS.

AND FOR A LONG TIME, THAT WAS OUR STANDARD.

AND THE SOUTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL IS, IS A PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, 12 FOOT OR NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL.

UM, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADVENT OF THE ELECTRIFICATION OF BIKES AND SCOOTERS AND THEM BEING VERY VIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND VERY, UM, EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

UM, YOU CAN, CAN GET A LONG WAYS ON AN ELECTRIC BIKE AT A VERY LOW COST.

AND THE CITY'S, YOU KNOW, ACTIVELY HELPING PEOPLE WITH THAT.

WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A, A TRAIL CONFIGURATION WHERE WE HAVE A, A SEPARATED BIKE WAY AND PEDESTRIAN PATH WHEREVER WE CAN FIT IT IN THE BOGGY CREEK TRAIL.

UM, OVER IN EAST AUSTIN HAS GOT, IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF SORT OF OUR MODEL TRAIL SECTION NOW, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, A SEPARATED BIKEWAY AND PEDESTRIAN PATH.

TYPICALLY IT'S 10 TO 12 FEET FOR THE A TWO-WAY BIKEWAY, AND THEN EIGHT FEET FOR A PEDESTRIAN PATH.

A LOT OF TIMES WHERE WE'RE IN CONSTRAINED AREAS THAT NARROWS DOWN.

UM, BUT IN SOME AREAS IT'S ALSO A PROTECTED BIKEWAY ADJACENT TO, UH, A HIGH QUALITY SIDEWALK.

AND SO THE SHOUL CREEK TRAIL'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF TRAILS, BUT IN ALL, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S DEFINITELY A, UH, TO USE THE, THE, THE PHRASING OR THE TERMINOLOGY IN THE BIKEWAY.

IT'S AN EIGHT TO 80 FACILITY, RIGHT? IT'S ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TYPE FACILITY THAT YOU'D BE COMFORTABLE LETTING YOUR YOUNG KIDS GO OUT AND USE AS SOON AS THEY'RE, THEY'RE CAPABLE OF RIDING THEIR BIKE ON THEIR OWN.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION, WHICH IS, UH, BOTH OUT OF MY, MY PERSONAL CURIOSITY AND STUFF FROM CONSTITUENTS AND ALSO I'M SURE STAFFERS HERE AT CITY HALL.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PLANS TO MOVE THE THIRD STREET PROTECTED BIKE LANES DOWNTOWN IN RELATION TO THE LIGHT RAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS THERE? WELL HAVE TO, I, I REALLY, I JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED ON KIND OF FILLING IN GAPS IN THE NETWORK.

THAT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT I'M INVOLVED WITH AT ALL, SO I DON'T HAVE TO GET TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AND, AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT ANSWER.

OKAY.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING MY, MY FIRST QUESTION, UH, AND THEN I HAD ONE QUESTION ON, UH, ON THE GREAT, UH, GREAT SPRINGS TRAIL.

UM, THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I NEED, I KNOW YOU SAID IT WAS YOUR FIRST TIME PRESENTING.

I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB, SO, OH, I MEANT, UH, MY FIRST TIME STANDING HERE, I GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TO MY WIFE AND KIDS.

OH, GREAT.

OKAY.

ALL THE TIME.

.

YEAH.

YEAH.

HOPEFULLY THEY ENJOY IT AND ARE AS CAPTIVATED AS AS WE WORK.

UM, YEAH.

SO ONE QUESTION.

UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS HAD A RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GREAT SPRINGS TRAIL.

UH, WHAT DOES OUR CITY PARTNERSHIP LOOK LIKE FOR THE REGIONAL PROJECT IN TERMS OF APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND, AND YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT? UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR

[00:40:01]

I, I'D BE CURIOUS ABOUT BOTH.

YEAH.

SO RIGHT NOW, UM, WE DON'T HAVE LIKE A STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH ANY OF OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS.

UM, WE HAVE, WE, SO WE JUST, IT'S NOT HAPPENING ON AN AD HOC BASIS.

UM, AND THAT'S THE CASE WITH THE CITY EXCEPT FOR, UM, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SUBMITTED ANY GRANT PROPOSALS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY YET.

UM, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO DEVELOPING SOMETHING, AGAIN, ON AN AD HOC BASIS THAT WOULD BE SUBMITTED THROUGH PARD.

UM, AND THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, NOTHING DEFINITIVE OR IMMINENT ON THAT IN DEVELOPMENT.

UM, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED 'CAUSE DEFINITELY, UM, THE, THE SORT OF PREMISE, ONE OF THE PREMISES OF A LOT OF THE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT I MENTIONED WITH, UM, P-A-C-B-A-C, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION NEXT WILL BE THE UTCI THINK NEXT MONTH.

UM, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO, WE WANNA START IN A SENSE LIKE A, IT'S, IT'S GRASSROOTS.

IT'S GOING, MOVING THROUGH THE COMMISSIONS AND BUILDING TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS AND, UM, AND BEING, YOU KNOW, FORTHCOMING AND CLEAR AND GUIDED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THOSE COMMISSIONS TO PRIOR TO GETTING SOMETHING, UH, SIMILAR RECOMMENDATION OR A, A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP OF SOME KIND, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AS, AS COMMISSIONERS, UH, OR AS COUNCIL.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND I THINK, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING.

UM, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT SORT OF MODELS.

I KNOW THE, IF YOU'VE SEEN, SEEN, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM P-A-C-B-A-C OR YOU SEE IT, IT IT'S PRETTY FLEXIBLE.

UM, THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT, UH, WE PURSUE A, A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR A FORMAL CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, UM, OF SOME KIND, WHATEVER'S MOST APPROPRIATE AND MOST SORT OF EFFECTIVE, UM, FOR, FOR BEING THE, THE BEST PARTNER AND COLLABORATOR WITH THE CITY THAT WE CAN, AND BEING THE MOST, BEING THE MOST USEFUL, UM, TO, TO ACHIEVING THESE PRIORITIES, BOTH IN TERMS OF CONNECTIVITY, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION.

UM, I'LL MENTION TOO, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OUR UTILITY AND WAYS THAT WE CAN BE THE MOST USEFUL, I, I KNOW YOU HAD A QUESTION, UM, ABOUT THE, THE, UH, URBAN TRAILS PROGRAM'S, UH, ABILITY TO EXECUTE ALL THE TIER TWO AND TIER THREE TRAILS.

AND JOHN INDICATED THAT, UM, THAT'S DEFINITELY, IT'S OPPORTUNISTIC IN THEIR ROLES FOR NONPROFITS IN, IN THAT WORLD.

THAT'S EXPLICITLY KIND OF HOW WE SEE OUR ROLE, UH, AND HOW WE WOULD PARTICIPATE OR CONTRIBUTE TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEXT FIVE, 10 YEARS, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE URBAN TRAILS PLAN.

THE TIER ONE TRAILS ARE, ARE, ARE FOR OUR PURPOSES, ESSENTIALLY, THEY'VE GOT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST WORKING ON THOSE.

BUT DUE TO THE CAPACITY AND STAFF LIMITATIONS THAT IT TAKES TO BUILD OUT THAT FULL TIER ONE TRAIL SYSTEM THERE, THERE'S NOT A LEFT, NOT, NOT AS MUCH LEFT OVER FOR TIER TWO OR TIER THREE, WHICH IS WHERE WE COME IN BOTH THE WILLIAMSON CREEK GREEN BELT AND THE ONION CREEK GREEN BELT, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ARE TIER TWO AND TIER THREE TRAILS THAT, UM, THAT REQUIRE, UH, YOU KNOW, A STEADY AND AND FOCUSED HAND.

AND THAT'S A ROLE THAT IN, IN THOSE INSTANCES, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, TO PLAY IN A CONTRIBUTION THAT WE CAN MAKE.

GREAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

THANK YOU.

UH, WITH THAT, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST,

[5. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport update.]

UH, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS FOR THAT.

UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE, UH, IN A PRESENTATION ON THE AIRPORT EXPANSION PRESENTED BY THE CEO GLA , UH, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF, OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION.

UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

I'M GLA BADAWI, DIRECTOR OF AVIATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOST PIVOTAL PROJECT IN OUR EXPANSION, THE NEW CONCOURSE B AND TUNNEL AND ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALL.