[CALL TO ORDER]
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THIS IS THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
IT IS MAY 14TH, 2026, AND I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 1:03 PM WE ARE HAVING THE MEETING HERE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL.
I'M JOINED BY VICE CHAIR CADRY AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, AND THEN PARTICIPATING REMOTELY.
[Public Communication: General]
LET'S START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.UM, I BELIEVE THERE ARE 10 SPEAKERS, SO WE'VE PLANNED TO DO TWO MINUTES A PIECE SO EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND START CALLING OUR SPEAKERS? THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JOSE LOYOLA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
NO, ROSALYN CASPER ALEXANDER SPEAKING VIRTUALLY TOO.
UM, AND THEN ERIC BATISTA AS NUMBER FOUR.
ARE WE DOING REMOTE SPEAKERS FIRST? DO YOU WANT TO DO THEM REMOTE FIRST? AND THEN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, 'CAUSE THEY'RE SPLIT UP BETWEEN, WE TYPICALLY FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS, DO ALL THE REMOTE ONES FIRST, JUST SO THAT WE CAN CLEAR THE QUEUE AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
UM, I SHARED SOME SLIDES, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT THERE, THEN IT'S OKAY.
UM, SO GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M A PARENT AND DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN BIKE BUS PROGRAM.
I STARTED OUR OWN BIKE BUS AT MY SON'S SCHOOL.
THAT EXPERIENCE MADE SOMETHING PAINFULLY CLEAR.
IN TOO MUCH OF DISTRICT SIX CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE A REAL FREEDOM TO MOVE UNLESS AN ADULT DRIVES THEM AROUND.
CAR DEPENDENCY IS NOT JUST A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE FOR CHILDREN.
KIDS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY AND REACH SCHOOLS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND TRANSIT WITHOUT NEEDING A CAR RIDE FOR EVERY TRIP.
I'VE HAD PARENTS TELL ME THAT THEY WANT TO JOIN OUR BIKE BUS, BUT THERE'S TOO SCARED TO LET THEIR CHILDRENS CROSS ROADS LIKE PALMER AND LAKE LINE.
FAMILIES NEED SAFER CROSSINGS THAT CHILDREN CAN ACTUALLY USE.
PROTECTED BIKEWAYS AND TRANSIT THAT GIVES FAMILIES REAL ALTERNATIVES TO DRIVING NOT MORE HIGHWAY STYLE WIDENING THAT LOCKS US INTO MORE TRAFFIC AND FEWER CHOICES ON LAKELINE BOULEVARD FAMILIES NEEDS, UH, SAVE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE ACCESS TO LAKELAND STATION TODAY, NOT AFTER A FUTURE FOUR LANE EXPANSION.
AUSTIN HAS ALREADY SHOWN WHAT BOLD LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE WITH THE WISH BOND BRIDGE.
THAT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S MADE FOR PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR MOVING MORE CARS.
AS YOU SHAPE THE FUTURE PRIORITIES AND BOND DECISIONS, PLEASE FUND ACTIVE MOBILITY AS A STANDALONE INVESTMENT PROTECTED ROUTES TO SCHOOL SAFE STATION ACCESS, SHADED SIDEWALKS, AND PROTECTED BIKEWAYS.
PLEASE HELP BUILD A CITY WHERE OUR CHILDREN FREEDOM DOESN'T HAVE TO END AT THE EDGE OF A SIX LANE ROAD.
HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? CAN YOU YOU HEAR ME? YES.
SO SORRY FOR THE, UH, INSISTENCE.
MY NAME IS ROSALIND ALEXANDER KERICK.
I'M A SIXTH GENERATION DESCENDANT OF RENOWNED RACEHORSE MAN, DANIEL ALEXANDER AND HIS MOTHER SINI, WHO CAME AND ACQUIRED OUR FARMLAND WILD ENSLAVED.
WE HAVE LIVED AND WORKED ON THE LAND.
OUR ANCESTORS BOUGHT FIRST WITH THEIR UNPAID LABOR AS SLAVES, AND AGAIN, AFTER EMANCIPATION WITH THEIR HARD EARNED DOLLARS.
OUR LAND LEGACY HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN FOR 180 YEARS AND COUNTING THE ALEXANDER FARM HAS BEEN DESIGNATED HISTORIC MULTIPLE TIMES BY MULTIPLE ENTITIES.
IT INCLUDES THE HISTORIC ALEXANDER FAMILY CEMETERY WITHIN WHICH GENERATIONS OF ALEXANDER'S REST IN PERPETUITY.
IN 1968, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS.
NOW TXDOT TOOK LAND FROM OUR MILE LONG FRONT OF THE ALEXANDER FARM FOR US, 180 3.
IN 2019, WE WERE INFORMED TEXDOT HAD A FURTHER EXPANSION ROUTE DROWN THAT WOULD OBLITERATE THE REMAINDER OF OUR HISTORIC CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS OF A HORSE TRAINING TRACK USED BY OUR ANTEBELLUM BLACK COMMUNITY TO FLEE BONDAGE ON HORSEBACK.
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THE TRACK ON OUR LAND, BUILT BY OUR ANCESTOR, DANIEL ALEXANDER, SERVED AS A FREEDOM CONDUIT FOR RIGHT AWAY ENSLAVED PEOPLE.OUR FARM IS THUS PEERLESS IN AUSTIN FOR ITS LONGEVITY AND SIGNIFICANCE TO THE TEXAS AND AMERICAN HISTORY LIVED BY BLACK AMERICANS.
YET DESPITE THE IMMEDIATE LEGAL LETTERS WE FILED, PROTESTING THE EXPANSION ROUTE OVER US, THE INTERCESSION OF VARIOUS POLITICIANS, ENGINEERS WHO SUGGESTED ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT WOULD NOT OBLITERATE OUR LAND INTERVENTIONS BY THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND THE ASSURANCE THAT OUR HISTORIC STATUS AFFORDED US THE SAME RIGHTS AS ANY SECTION 1 0 6, ELIGIBLE STAKEHOLDER, AND EVEN A TEXT OUT REGIONAL MEETING A FEW YEARS BACK, AT WHICH WE WERE SHOWN A MORE EASTERN ROUTE TO BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED WITHIN 60 DAYS.
BUT THEN WASN'T THE SAME EXPANSION PARAMETERS THAT WE WERE FIRST SHOWN IN 2019.
PERSIST ON THE PUBLIC T WEBSITE TODAY.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED NEITHER TABULATION NOR REPORT OF PUBLIC INPUT FROM THE LAST TDOT COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE SH ONE 30 TO SH 71 PORTION OF THE PROPOSED 180 3 EXPANSION.
OUR PROXIMITY TO US 180 3 CONTINUES TO SUBJECT OUR BLUE COLIC TERRAIN TO EVERY NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROL OWEN, FOLLOWED BY ERIC BATISTA AND TRAVIS SCHNEIDER.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE SKYVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND WE ARE A RECENTLY FORMED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, BROUGHT US TO FORMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OUR CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF KA LANE, PARTICULARLY FROM I 35 TO NORTH LAMAR.
THIS IS A REPORT YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND JUST SCROLL RIGHT ON THROUGH THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, WE HAD A MEETING WITH TXDOT, UH, BACK IN JULY OF 2025, AND SHOWED THEM SOME OF THE INCIDENCES THAT WERE OCCURRING ALONG THE ROAD AND THE STORIES THAT PEOPLE HAD TDOT, UH, DID SOME SHORT TERM MITIGATION.
THEY'VE PUT UP SOME SIGNAGE, SOME, UH, CANDLESTICKS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DID SOME CHANGES TO THE STOPLIGHT AND ALL OF THAT HAS HELPED.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE WE HAVE, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENT MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE GOING UP.
UH, THE OLD GAS COMPANIES BECOME AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
LEAF JOHNSON FORD'S GONNA BECOME AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
BUTTER CROSS BAKERY'S GONNA BECOME A MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEX.
CITY OF ELGIN, THE CITY OF MAYNARD, THE CITY OF TAYLOR, ARE ALL GROWING.
WE'VE GOT THE TRAFFIC COMING IN OFF OF HIGHWAY TWO 90.
IT COMES IN UNDER I 35, GOES UP OVER AIRPORT BOULEVARD, COMES TO THE RAILROAD TRACK, TAKES A TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY IN AN URBAN AREA WITH STOPLIGHTS AND PEDESTRIANS AND CARS.
SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE AND WE ASK FOR IS HELP AND LET'S A, UH, A MASTER PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THIS AREA AND WITH THE GROWTH THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
AND THE TRAFFIC'S GONNA BE COMING IN OFF OF HIGHWAY TWO 90.
I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT LIVING OFF OF EAST SLAUGHTER.
TODAY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY EXPANDING HIGHWAY 180 3 IS THE WRONG INVESTMENT.
THE CONCEPT IS CALLED INDUCED DEMAND.
WHEN YOU ADD LANE CAPACITY, YOU LOWER THE COST OF DRIVING, WHICH CAUSES MORE PEOPLE TO DRIVE MORE OFTEN AND FOR LONGER DISTANCES.
A 10% INCREASE IN HIGHWAY CAPACITY PRODUCES ROUGHLY A 10% INCREASE IN DRIVING.
THE LANES WILL FILL UP AND CONGESTION WILL RETURN RETURN.
WE SPENT OVER 600 MILLION ON THE 180 3 NORTH PROJECT, AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CONGESTION RELIEF WON'T LAST GIVEN AUSTIN'S GROWTH RATE.
SO WHY DO WE FEEL THAT ANOTHER 600 MILLION AND ANOTHER DECADE OF CONSTRUCTION IS WORTHWHILE? AT WHAT POINT DO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN'T BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THIS? EXPANDING A HIGHWAY TO REDUCE CONGESTION IS LIKE LOOSENING YOUR BELT TO CURE OBESITY.
IT ADDRESSES THE SYMPTOM BRIEFLY WHILE MAKING THE UNDERLYING CONDITION EVEN WORSE.
OUR CITY NEEDS TO INVEST IN RELIABLE TRANSIT, TRANSIT PROTECTED BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT TO ACTUALLY BEND THE CONGESTION CURVE.
EVERY DOLLAR COMMITTED TO ANOTHER HIGHWAY EXPANSION IS
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A DOLLAR NOT SPENT ON A BUS OR A TRAIN TRANSIT LINE, OR A PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION THAT SERVES SENIORS, TEENAGERS, AND FAMILIES WHO CANNOT DRIVE OR WHO CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE.DO NOT INVEST IN CONCRETE, INVEST IN PEOPLE.
THE COST OF OUR CAR DEPENDENCY ISN'T ONLY MEASURED IN DOLLARS AND TRAVEL TIMES.
RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY LINKS CAR DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES TO HIGHER RATES OF LONELINESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION.
WHEN WE DESIGN CITIES AROUND, UH, HIGHWAYS RATHER THAN PEOPLE, WE ELIMINATE THE INCIDENTAL HUMAN CONTACT THAT HOLDS OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
THIS COMMITTEE'S RESPONSIBILITY ISN'T JUST BUILDING ROADS TO SERVE THE AUTOMOBILE.
YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR NURTURING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH INVESTMENT THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO OTHER PEOPLE, NOT JUST CARS TO HIGHWAYS.
WE HAVE TRAVIS SCHNEIDER NEXT, FOLLOWED BY JIM MCCLINTIC.
FRANK, THE AND ELIZABETH BERLEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SAID, UH, URBAN PLANNER AND CO-CHAIR OF A I A AUSTIN'S MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
UH, I WISH TO ADDRESS, AND IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY, THE CAPTAIN STITCH PROPOSAL POSTED THIS MORNING TO THE MESSAGE BOARD BY COLLEEN ON BEHALF OF MAYOR WATSON.
UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FRESH PRINT.
SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, FORGIVE IF YOU HAVEN'T, BUT IT'S, UH, THE MOTION IN A NUTSHELL, UM, WOULD REDUCE THE CITY'S SHORT TERM FUNDING OBLIGATION.
WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.
HOWEVER, THIS MOTION PREVENTS THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION STITCHES BETWEEN HANCOCK AND CHERRYWOOD FROM EVER HAPPENING SUBSTANTIALLY HARMING THE PROJECT'S ABILITY TO ADVANCE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
SECONDLY, THE REDUCED CAP PROPOSED AT PALM PARK WILL NOT BE A CAP AT ALL, BUT A STITCH AT 300 FEET LONG BY ONLY 160 FOOT WIDE.
IT WOULD BE THE SAME SIZE AND PROPORTION AS THE STITCH ALREADY PROPOSED AT 41ST STREET THAT WILL NOW GO AWAY JUST AN ACTIVE MOBILITY BRIDGE OVER A CANYON OF NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION WITH NO FUTURE POSSIBILITY TO EXPAND INTO AN ACTUAL COMMUNITY DESTINATION.
SURE, THIS WOULD GIVE DOWNTOWN A STITCH IN THE 2030S WITHOUT RELYING ON PARTNERS.
BUT ARE WE OKAY WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES? PAYING FOR 100% OF THIS STITCH ABANDONING THE FAIRER AND PROVEN PRECEDENT OF COLLABORATING WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERS, UH, THAT KIM PRESENTED IN MARCH.
THAT'S HOW DALLAS HAS FUNDED EIGHT ACRES NOW, GOING ON 12 ACRES OF CAPS IS THAT PARTNERSHIP.
IF OUR FULL 14 ACRE VISION FOR CAPS AND STITCHES IS FUTURE-PROOFED AS ALREADY PUBLICLY COMMITTED, I SUSPECT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DAA WILL HAVE NO ISSUE FOCUSING THEIR PARTNERSHIP FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ON ONE CAP AT A TIME.
AS THE STATEMENT, UH, SORT OF IMPLIES JUSTICE DALLAS HAS DONE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, ONE CAP AT A TIME, NOT ALL 14 AT ONCE ACRES.
I MEAN, PRIVATE PARTNERS COULD COME KNOCKING AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH ONCE THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT IS REAL AND NO LONGER A WHAT IF.
BUT REALLY, WE HAVE YEARS UNTIL THE 2030S, UH, CHANGE ORDER DUE DATE TO ATTRACT PRIVATE FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING FROM A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
SO AS THE 28TH APPROACHES, PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT POSSIBILITIES WILL BE LOST FOREVER.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU'RE UP HERE, WE'RE READY TO HEAR YOU.
I'M A CO-FOUNDER OF THE UNITED NEIGHBORS OF 1826.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU.
UM, UH, LETTING US, UH, ADDRESS YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A HANDOUT THAT WE HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU, BY THE WAY, THIS IS, THAT IS EXACTLY IT.
UH, THIS IS NOT A NEW HANDOUT.
WE PRESENTED THIS TO CAMPO LAST YEAR IN JUNE, WHERE WE WERE ASKING FOR THIS $70 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH IS A 4.4 MILE, UH, ROADWAY, WHICH IS REALLY A BUSINESS OR IT'S NOT A BUSINESS, IT'S A RESIDENTIAL.
AND MY COLLEAGUES WILL ADDRESS EACH ONE OF THOSE POINTS.
BUT WHO ARE WE? UNITED NEIGHBORS OF 1826 ARE EIGHT HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.
ALMOST 8,000 HOMES ON THIS 4.4 MILES.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT'S DIVIDED INTO TWO PIECES RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS MAP, IT'S AUSTIN CITY.
ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT'S TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND IN THIS TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UM, AS A, AS A GROUP, WE'VE TALKED TO STATE SENATORS, STATE COMMISSIONERS, AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND WE SAW YOU ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MS. ELLIS.
WE'RE SAYING THIS IS A BIT THIS AND, AND THEY'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL IDEAS, OR NOT
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THE IDEAS, BUT THE, THE SPECIFICS OF HOW FLAWED THE T DOT INFORMATION IS.WE'VE ALSO HAD THREE DIFFERENT MEETINGS WITH T AND THIS IS IN A SITUATION WHERE, UH, WE'RE GETTING SOME ATTENTION ON A, ON A, A STATEWIDE AND AND LOCAL BASIS.
UM, THAT'S ABOUT IT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I'LL TURN IT TO FRANK DEAL CO-FOUNDER.
AND, UH, AS JIM SAID, WE'VE, WE'VE MET, UH, PREVIOUSLY ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
UM, THIS HANDOUT THAT WE GAVE IS, UH, ROUGHLY THE SAME PRESENTATION WE GAVE AT THE CAMPO HEARING BEFORE THE 2050 RTP WAS APPROVED.
UH, THIS PLAN IS STILL IN EXISTENCE THERE, UH, AND THAT THIS, AS JIM SAID, THIS SECTION OF 1826, AND I'M ASSUMING EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE, WHAT 1826 IS.
IT'S THE ROAD YOU WOULD TAKE IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE SALT LAKE.
UM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT HIGHWAY IS, UH, ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF IT IS, UH, USED FOR RESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC.
UH, THE PROJECT IS PROPOSED WAS A 4.4 MILE STRETCH OF DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH SHARED USE BIKE PATHS OR SHARED USE PATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HIGHWAY WITH A BUDGET OF $70 MILLION.
WE'VE MET WITH TEXDOT MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS, AND THEY ALSO AGREED THAT BASICALLY THE PLAN IS PRESENTED IS NOT THE RIGHT PLAN FOR A, UH, BOTH BECAUSE, UH, THE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS THAT SUPPORTED IT ARE NOT, HAVEN'T BEEN REDONE AND ARE NOT ACCURATE.
AND ALSO JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER SCOPE OF IT, THE, IF IT WERE PUT THROUGH AS WRITTEN, UM, IT, IT WOULD PUT A HIGHWAY RIGHT THROUGH, UM, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE AND THE MARY GAY MAXWELL, UH, UH, PRESERVE, OR, UH, THAT'S THAT, UH, PEOPLE MAY KNOW AS WELL.
UM, THE SCHEMATIC THAT WAS DRAWN WOULD TAKE, UH, WOULD IMPACT OVER 190 PROPERTY OWNERS AND TAKE AWAY 34 ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND FROM PEOPLE.
A LOT OF THAT LAND WOULD BE, UH, IMPACTING PEOPLE'S WELLS, PEOPLE'S SEPTIC.
AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TXDOT HAS GROSSLY INACCURATE DATA THAT THEY'RE RELYING UPON.
UH, MEANING THAT THE 2025 TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS ARE ACTUALLY DOUBLED AT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
THE ONLY THING THEY ACTUALLY STATISTICALLY GOT RIGHT IS THAT THERE ARE ZERO FATALITIES FROM 45 TO TWO 90 ON THIS 4.2 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ON 1826, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IF THIS EXPANSION GOES THROUGH AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, AN INCREASE IN, UM, SPEED, AND A DECREASE IN THE ACTUAL SAFETY THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE.
WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS ALL OF THE LAND IS VIRTUALLY ALREADY DEVELOPED.
THAT MEANS 92% OF THE ROADS ARE, AND THE RESIDENTS IN THIS REGION ARE SINGLE POINT INGRESS EGRESS.
WHY THAT 92% IS ACTUALLY REALLY CRITICAL AS A FACTOR IS THE EMERGENCY ACCESS AND WILDFIRE EVACUATION.
SO SOMETHING I DID COVER AT CAMPO IS THE FACT THAT OUR AT LA CROSS IN CIRCLE C, WHICH IS A BIG VOTING BLOCK HERE, THAT IS WHERE THE FIRE STATION AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS RESIDE THAT ACTUALLY SERVICE OUR AREA.
AND WHY THAT'S CRITICAL IS IF THIS IS A, IS A DIVIDED HIGHWAY WHERE YOU HAVE ONLY A RIGHT TURN, THAT MEANS THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BYPASS OUR STREET TO ACTUALLY ACCESS OUR ROADS.
AND THAT'S A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.
SO THIS IS AN INCREASE IN RISK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS ALSO AN INCREASE IN OUR FIRE SAFETY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WHILE CENTRAL TEXAS IS THE THIRD MOST WILDFIRE PRONE REGION IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES WITH THE REMAINING TOP 10 AND ALL IN CALIFORNIA, AND BEING THAT WE MAY HAVE RAIN YESTERDAY AND WE MAY HAVE HAD RAIN THE DAY BEFORE, WE ARE STILL IN A DROUGHT AND WE ARE STILL IN SIGNIFICANT WILDFIRE DANGER.
SO IF WE ALSO HAVE A WILDFIRE AND WE ARE RIGHT TURN ONLY, NO LEFT TURN, WHY THAT'S ALSO CRITICAL IS OVER 50% OF THE LIKELIHOOD WAS WE WILL BE PUTTING TOWARD THE DANGER IF THERE IS A WILDFIRE AND WE HAVE TO EVACUATE.
SO WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THIS AS IT IS AND HAS IT STANDS AS TEXT DOT.
HAS IT PLANNED PLEASE? OUR LAST SPEAKER IS LAUREL CHESKY.
OKAY, THANK YOU COMMITTEE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
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UM, UH, LAUREL CHESKY.I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WINDSOR PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, MOSTLY REPRESENTED BY DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A POSITION STATEMENT, UM, THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS WRITTEN AND PASSED CONCERNING ONE ELEMENT OF THE I 35 PROJECT.
UH, WE PLAN LATER TODAY TO EMAIL THIS STATEMENT TO AND TO AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, FOUND OUT IN OCTOBER THAT TDOT PLANNED TO EXTEND BROADMOOR DRIVE ACROSS CAMERON ROAD TO THE I 35 FEEDER ROAD.
THIS APPEARED APPARENTLY ON THE WEBSITE IN AUGUST.
WE, WE OPPOSE THIS ONE LITTLE DESIGN ELEMENT EXTENDING BROADMOOR TO I 35 BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE IT'S DRAMATICALLY GOING TO IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE HAVE MET WITH TXDOT SEVERAL TIMES.
MR. REGO SITTING BEHIND ME HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT, UM, THE EXTENSION IS GOING FORWARD.
WE'VE ALSO MET WITH, UM, STAFF AT TRANSPORTATION.
UM, BUT THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING.
SO IF THIS IS TO GO FORWARD, WE'RE ASKING TEXDOT TO FUND MITIGATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SELECT, UM, THOSE DESIGNS, UM, TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? NO, MA'AM.
WELL, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TO TALK TODAY.
I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE A TIMELY CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT TXDOT IS WORKING ON, JUST SO NEIGHBORS HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED.
[1. Approve the minutes for the Mobility Committee Meeting of April 2, 2026, and the minutes for the Special Called Joint Mobility Committee with Public Safety Committee Meeting of April 29, 2026.]
WE TAKE THAT UP, I WOULD SAY LET'S TAKE UP ITEM ONE, THE MINUTES FOR THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 2ND AND THE SPECIAL CALL JOINT MOBILITY COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD ON APRIL 29TH.IS THERE A MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CADRE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LANE? ALL IN FAVOR, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
AND I SEE MAYOR PRO TEM REMOTELY ALSO APPROVING THAT ITEM.
[2. Discussion and possible action on amending the 2026 Mobility Committee calendar to remove the July 9, 2026 Mobility Committee Meeting.]
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AMENDING THE 2026 MOBILITY COMMITTEE CALENDAR TO REMOVE THE JULY 29TH MEETING DATE.UM, THIS IS ONE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE QUICKLY SWITCHING INTO OUR BUDGET HATS.
WE ARE GOING TO QUICKLY PIVOT INTO BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET PRESENTATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SO I HAVE TRIED TO CLEAR OUR CALENDAR SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN CITY STAFF AND OUR TEAMS TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY HANDLE WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE FOR CITY FINANCE.
UM, SO I WOULD PROPOSE CANCELING THAT MEETING.
IF ANYONE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR OPINIONS HERE OR YOU COULD ALWAYS LET ME KNOW ON, ON EMAIL, UM, THAT WE WANNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE COULD ALWAYS DO A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IF THERE'S AN URGENT MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
BUT I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE GO AHEAD AND CANCEL THAT MEETING.
I'M GETTING A THUMBS UP FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
I WOULD SAY THAT COUNTS AS A VOTE.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CANCEL THAT JULY 9TH MEETING FOR 2026.
[4. Updates on the I-35 Capital Express Project and other Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects in the Austin area [Tommy Abrego, Mobility35 Program Manager; Christiana M. Astarita, Transportation Engineer - TxDOT].]
BACK INTO THE ROBUST CONVERSATION AROUND ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UPDATES ON THE I 35 CAPITAL EXPRESS PROJECT AND OTHER TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.SO WE HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS HERE TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY.
I KNOW WE OFTENTIMES HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH TXDOT, UM, BUT WE ARE THE CITY.
THEY ARE THE STATE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO KNOW WHEN, WHEN TO PUT THEIR COMMENTS FORWARD, WHEN TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TOPICS YOU MAY COVER, BUT APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO HELP DAYLIGHT THIS THANK YOU MOBILITY COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING US HERE THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I WORK FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UM, ON THE MOBILITY 35 CONSTRUCTION TEAM.
AND I HAVE, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTIANA ASITA.
I'M, UH, THE I 35 CAPEX CENTRAL PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DOWNTOWN SEGMENT.
AND WE'LL BE GIVING YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON OUR CAPEX PROGRAM.
SO, UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION ON OUR CAPEX CENTRAL, UH, PROJECT.
WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE $4.5 BILLION PROJECT FROM TWO 90 EAST ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TWO 90 WEST, UM, WHICH IS THE ADDITION
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OF TWO NON TOLD HOV LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.WE ARE ALSO REBUILDING THE EAST WEST BRIDGES UP AND DOWN THE CORRIDOR.
WE ARE ADDING A SHARED USE PATH ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WE HAVE 16 PLUS MILES BEING ADDED OF THE SHARED USE PATH ON THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH VARIOUS, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CROSSINGS AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE UPPER DECKS, AS YOU KNOW THEM TODAY IN THE UNIVERSITY SECTION, ARE GONNA BE EVENTUALLY DEMOLISHED AS PART OF THE LOWERING OF I 35.
UM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE LATER IN OUR PRESENTATION, ALSO OUR DRAINAGE TUNNEL PROJECT, WHICH IS PART OF THE LORING OF I 35.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS, UH, PROJECT, AND WE'LL BE GIVING YOU MORE SPECIFIC UPDATES ON THAT.
THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS IN THE CAPEX, UH, CENTRAL THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
UH, WHAT YOU SEE IN YELLOW ARE THE THREE PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN CONSTRUCTION.
UM, IF YOU'VE DRIVEN ON THE CORRIDOR, YOU'VE SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE MLK BRIDGE BETWEEN THE MOODY CENTER AND THE PARKING GARAGE.
UM, THEY ARE IN CONSTRUCTION AND, UM, THEY'VE DEMOED ALL THE EXISTING BRIDGE.
THEY ARE, UH, NEARLY COMPLETE WITH ALMOST HALF OF IT AND LOOKING TO FINISH THE, UM, SECOND HALF, UH, THIS SUMMER.
NEXT IS OUR LADY BIRD LAKE PROJECT, WHICH IS FROM HOLLY STREET OVER BY THE LAKE ALL THE WAY TO BEN WHITE BOULEVARD, UM, 71.
AND THAT IS ALSO A PART OF THE TWO TOLLED HOV LANES THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN EACH DIRECTION.
IF YOU'VE BEEN ALONG THE LAKE AREA OR IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON ALREADY WITH THE LADY BIRD LAKE BRIDGE.
WE'VE STARTED SOME OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE BRIDGE AND WE STARTED SOME OF THE DRILL SHAFTS.
UM, THAT SIDE OF I 35, WHICH IS THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BUILD THAT, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
AND THEN THE THIRD PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION IS OUR DRAINAGE TUNNEL AND, UH, PUMP STATION PROJECT.
SO, LIKE I SAID, IT'S PART OF LOWERING THE HIGHWAY FOR, UM, OUR RAINFALL.
WE ARE BUILDING A 25 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL THAT'S ABOUT 200 FEET BELOW THE GROUND GOING FROM THE AIRPORT BOULEVARD SHAFT SITE.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THE NOISE WALLS THAT ARE UP FOR THAT.
UM, GOING DOWN ALL THE WAY TO CESAR CHAVEZ AND THEN GOING EAST TO THE US 180 3 CESAR CHAVEZ INTERSECTION, WHERE ULTIMATELY THE PUMP STATION IS.
WE'LL BE GIVEN MORE DETAILS ON THAT AS WELL TOO.
WHO, AND I'M SORRY, THE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA BE GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION SOON.
UM, THE BIG ONES THAT YOU SEE THERE ARE THE DOWNTOWN AND UNIVERSITY PROJECTS.
THOSE ARE SPLIT AT THE MLK BRIDGE.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO GO INTO CONSTRUCTION, UH, LATER THIS YEAR.
UM, THERE'S ALSO PART OF THE HOV LANES, THE LOWERING OF THE HIGHWAY, UH, BUILDING OF EAST WEST BRIDGES.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, ON SOME OF OUR EARLY PHASE CONSTRUCTION, HAVE SOME OF THOSE EAST WEST BRIDGES BUILT IN BOTH THE DOWNTOWN AND, UH, UNIVERSITY SECTIONS.
AND WE'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY, NOW I'LL COVER A FEW OF OUR PROJECTS, UM, IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
UH, JUST GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS.
UM, SO WE HAVE OUR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
BOULEVARD BRIDGE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THOSE LIMITS ARE, ARE JUST THE, THE BRIDGE ITSELF.
UH, THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST IS 34.4 MILLION.
IT STARTED CONSTRUCTION IN LATE LAST, UH, UH, 2024.
UM, ANTICIPATED COMPLETION IS LATER THIS YEAR.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS, UH, FOR THIS YEAR, UM, INCLUDING SOME ADDITIONAL BRIDGE DEMOLITION NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND MAIN LANES, UH, AND THEIR CLOSURES FOR THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
UH, EAST WESTBOUND SIDEWALK CLOSURES, AND THEN EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES WILL BE REDUCED.
UM, HERE'S A CURRENT PHOTO OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS TO DATE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE, UH, UH, ABOUT HALF OF THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN COMPLETE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE IN THE LOWER LEFT PART OF THE BRIDGE WHERE THERE'S STILL SOME, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTION COLUMNS BEING FORMED UP, UH, FOR THE OTHER HALF.
UM, BUT THIS REALLY SHOWS YOU THE EXTENT OF THE WIDENING OF THAT BRIDGE.
AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS, IS OUR PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY, UM, UH, WHICH, UH, WILL BE LATER, UH, EXPANDED ON AND INCLUDE, UM, SOME AESTHETICS AND AMENITIES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
UH, THAT WILL COME, UH, IN WITH THE DOWNTOWN AND UNIVERSITY PROJECTS.
UH, THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT IT IS EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE LOWERING OF THE, THE MAIN LANES, UM, THE WHITEN MLK BRIDGE AND THOSE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES.
UM, SO WE'VE ADDRESSED NOT ONLY VEHICULAR IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ALSO, UM, THIS IS A MULTIMODAL FACILITY, BUT WE'RE ADDRESSING PEDESTRIAN BICYCLIST NEEDS AS WELL.
[00:30:01]
UH, WE'LL, WE'LL BE ADDING BUFFER SPACE BETWEEN THOSE VEHICLES AND, UH, PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING AND CREATING, UM, UM, A NICE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, TRAVERSE THROUGH THAT AREA AND SIT AND RELAX IF THEY LIKE TO.THERE'S GONNA BE SHADE STRUCTURES, SOME PLANTERS, UH, AND, AND NICE LIGHTING AND OTHER, UM, BRIDGE AESTHETICS AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS OUR LADY BIRD LAKE SEGMENT.
SO THIS HAS LIMITS FROM THE HOLLY STREET TO SH 71 BEN WHITE BOULEVARD.
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS ABOUT 750 MILLION.
CONSTRUCTION STARTED, UH, EARLY LAST YEAR AND IS ANTICIPATED TO COMPLETE IN 2033.
YOU CAN SEE THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS FOR, UM, YEARS 2026 THROUGH 2027 AND 20 GOING ALL THE WAY TO 2032.
UH, SO FOR THIS YEAR, UM, PEOPLE CAN EXPECT, UH, PHASE CLOSURES OF THE NORTHBOUND I 35 RAMPS.
UM, SOME PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE WOODLAND AVENUE AND TEMPORARY U-TURNS, UH, WILL BE ADDED, UH, NORTHBOUND, I NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND I 35 FRONTAGE ROADS WILL BE CLOSED AT RIVERSIDE DRIVE, UH, WITH BI BYPASS LANES OPENED UP TO TRAFFIC.
UM, WORK OVER LADY BIRD LAKE WILL CONSIST OF, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT EAST PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND, UH, SOME PHASED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTHBOUND I 35 FRONTAGE ROAD, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, PHASED DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RIVER RIVERSIDE DRIVE INTERSECTION.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO SEE IN GOING INTO SOME OF THE LATER YEARS, UH, SOME OF THE WORK THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO, TO BE DONE.
UM, WE'LL GO INTO TO ALL OF THEM, BUT, UM, THIS IS RIVERSIDE DRIVE NOW.
IT IS CURRENTLY, UM, IN THIS AREA IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS A VIEW OF I 35 LOOKING TO THE NORTH.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WORK IS HAPPENING ON THAT EAST SIDE OF I 35.
THIS IS, UH, RIVERSIDE DRIVE EXPECT AND WHAT IT'S EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE AFTERWARDS, AGAIN, LOOKING NORTH, UM, THE, THE, UH, RIVERSIDE DRIVE INTERSECTION WILL BE COM COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.
THIS IS ACTUALLY, THIS CONFIGURATION IS CALLED A SPEWY, OR A SINGLE POINT URBAN INTERCHANGE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITION OF THE CAP METRO BLUE LINE, UH, RUNNING RIGHT DOWN, UH, THE MIDDLE OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
UH, AND OF COURSE, THE, THE LORD MADE LANES, UH, LADY BIRD LAKE BRIDGE.
AND AS IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW WITH CONSTRUCTION, UH, JUST LOOKING, UH, SOUTH, INSTEAD YOU CAN SEE OUR CREWS, UH, AND WORKING IN THE AREA.
AND THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT IS IT IS EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE, UM, IN ONE PERSPECTIVE, UM, ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, LOOKING TOWARDS DOWNTOWN IN THAT NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE'RE INCORPORATING INTO THE, THE DESIGN.
UH, NEXT IS OUR DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN SEGMENT.
THIS HAS LIMITS FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST IS 1.6 BILLION, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO START CONSTRUCTION IN EARLY NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETE BY 2033.
AGAIN, WE'VE LISTED SOME ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS, WHAT, UH, DRIVERS CAN EXPECT, UM, FROM 2027 ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2032.
UH, SO STARTING EARLY NEXT YEAR WILL BEGIN PERMANENT CLOSURE AND PARKING UNDER I 35, BETWEEN SIXTH STREET AND EIGHTH STREET TO ALLOW FOR OUR CREWS, UH, TO, UM, WORK SET UP THEIR, THEIR, THEIR YARD, UH, STORE TO STORE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, SO FORTH.
UM, THERE'S GONNA BE A LONG TERM CLOSURE OF THE SOUTHBOUND I 35 FRONTAGE ROAD FROM FIFTH STREET TO CAESAR CHAVEZ.
SO A LOT OF UTILITY WORK THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE.
UM, LARGE DIAMETER WASTEWATER LINES, WATER LINES, UM, UH, ADJACENT TO PALM PARK.
UH, WE'LL ALSO BE STARTING, UH, CITY STREET CLOSURES FOR, LIKE I MENTIONED, SOME OF THAT UTILITY WORK IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND GOING THROUGH THE, UH, THE PROJECT LIFE LIFE CYCLE, UM, IN 2028, WE'LL HAVE, UH, THE CLOSURE OF THE CAP METRO RAIL RAILROAD STATION ON FOURTH STREET, UH, THAT THERE IS A CAP METRO, UH, RAILROAD BRIDGE CROSSING AS PART OF THIS, UH, DOWNTOWN SEGMENT, UM, IN ONE OF OUR ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UM, YEAH, I WON'T GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL THERE.
UM, UH, THIS IS, UH, SHOWING YOU FOURTH STREET AT I 35 AND WHAT IT LOOKS, LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
UM, VERY OUTDATED, ANTIQUATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN, IN NEED OF MUCH IMPROVEMENT AT THE CAT METRO RAILROAD.
UH, UH, RED, RED LINE CROSSING HERE AT FOURTH STREET.
UM, HERE'S FOURTH STREET AT I 35, UH, WITHOUT CAPS.
THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF CAPS ARE NOT, UM, INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROJECT OR LATER ON.
UH, YOU WILL HAVE, UM, UH, A BRIDGE AT FOURTH STREET FOR THAT CAP, METRO RAILROAD, RED LINE, UM, AND THEN A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AS WELL, UH, INCLUDING SOME AESTHETICS THAT'LL BE ADJACENT TO THAT RAILROAD BRIDGE.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE IN THE DISTANCE OF THE, THE CROSSOVER BRIDGES AT FIFTH STREET, SIXTH AND SEVENTH.
[00:35:01]
IN THE, IN THE BACKGROUND THERE, WHICH IS ON THE, THE WEST SIDE OF I 35, UM, THAT IS OUR, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING OUR BOULEVARD SECTION.SO, UH, WHERE THE, THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND FRONTAGE ROADS WILL BE COMBINED.
UH, THIS IS EIGHTH STREET AS IT IS TODAY.
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE THAT PARKING UNDERNEATH AT EIGHTH STREET GOING TO, UH, TO SIXTH.
THAT WILL BE CLOSED DOWN, UM, LATER THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT CAPS.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CROSS STREET BRIDGES, THE WIDEN BRIDGES OF, UH, OF ALL THESE STREETS HERE THAT ARE SHOWN SEVENTH THROUGH FOURTH.
UM, AND AGAIN, UH, JUST SHOWING YOU THAT WE HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, UM, NOT ONLY IMPROVEMENTS TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, UH, TRANSIT, TRIED TO CONSIDER ALL MODES OF TRAVEL IN OUR IMPROVEMENTS.
AND ON THE, THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT BOULEVARD SECTION THAT THAT'LL BE, UM, ALONG THAT, UM, UH, EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, COMBINING THOSE, UH, NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND FURNITURE ROADS.
THIS IS 12TH, 12TH, AND 11TH STREET BRIDGES AS THEY EXIST TODAY.
AND THEN THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE AND WHAT IT'S EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE AFTER, AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THOSE, UM, WIDENED BRIDGES WITH, UH, VERY WIDE SHARED USE PATH AND AMENITIES, LANDSCAPING, UM, UH, BUFFER, BUFFER SPACES BETWEEN THE PEDESTRIAN PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS SHADE STRUCTURES.
AND WE'LL BE ADDING, UM, SOME AESTHETICS AS PART OF ALL THESE CROSS STREET BRIDGES.
AND NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO, TO HERE.
UM, I'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE UNIVERSITY SEGMENT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GO ON CONSTRUCTION WITH.
AGAIN, GOING FROM MLK ALL THE WAY TO, UH, TWO 90 EAST.
UH, IT'S ABOUT A $1.5 BILLION PROJECT.
UM, AS PART OF OUR FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE GONNA BE BUILDING THE 32ND STREET, 38TH AND A HALF.
AND MANNAR ROAD BRIDGES, WE'RE GONNA BE RETROFITTING THE UPPER DECKS.
SO AS PART OF OUR TRAFFIC CONTROL PHASING, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT PHASE OF LOWERING THE HIGHWAY, WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE UPPER DECK SEGMENT.
AND SO WE'LL NEED TO RETROFIT THAT STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT, UH, IN THE SEVENTIES, UH, TO HANDLE THE THREE LANES AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT.
THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE UPPER DECKS, UH, FROM CONSTRUCTION IN, UH, 1973.
UM, ONE, UH, FUN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LEFT, IT LOOKS LIKE GAS WAS 26 CENTS
HERE'S I 35 AND EDGEWOOD, UH, AVENUE.
UM, SOME OF THIS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S SOME OF THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S BEEN ACQUIRED FOR THE DRAINAGE TUNNEL.
THERE ARE VARIOUS DROP SHAFTS ALONG I 35 THAT ARE BEING BUILT AS WELL.
SO, UM, IF YOU SEE SOME OF THE NOISE WALLS AND THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S THE DRAINAGE TUNNEL PROJECT RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A, A RENDERING OF I 35 LOWERED, UH, WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH 41ST STREET IN THE UNIVERSITY SEGMENT.
SO WHEN IT'S ALL, UH, COMPLETE, THIS IS A FINAL CONFIGURATION.
AND I'LL BE GIVEN AN UPDATE ON OUR DRAINAGE TUNNEL PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.
SO AGAIN, THAT STARTS ALL THE WAY UP NORTH ON THE AIRPORT DROP SHAFT SITE GOES DOWN TO CESAR CHAVEZ IN EAST TO US, 180 3.
IT'S ABOUT A $1.1 BILLION PROJECT.
UM, THE DEPTH OF THE TUNNELS, ANYWHERE FROM 70 TO 200 FEET, 25 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL.
UH, WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SOME OF THE PARTS FROM GERMANY FOR THE TBM TUNNEL BORING MACHINE THAT WILL BE DOWN IN THE AUSTIN SHELL GEOLOGIC FORMATION, UH, MINING THE TUNNEL.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, GETTING GOING WITH THAT TUNNEL VERY SOON.
HERE'S AN AERIAL OF THE DROP SHAFT.
UH, THIS PHOTO DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE.
UH, GOING 200 FEET DOWN, UH, BELOW THE GROUND YOU CAN SEE IN THE BROWN, THOSE ARE THE NOISE WALLS THAT ARE, UM, AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION SITE.
THE BOTTOM LEFT IS WHAT THE TBM UH, WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT'S PUT TOGETHER.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SHAFT, YOU SEE SOME OF THE, UM, IN THE MIDDLE PHOTO IS A SEA CAMP PILE SHAFTS, UH, TO KEEP THE HOLE, UH, WATER TIGHT.
AND THEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE OTHER PIPES GOING DOWN BELOW FOR AIR FOR, UH, PEOPLE WORKING DOWN BELOW.
AND ALL OF ON THAT RIGHT PHOTO, ALL OF THAT ROCK FORMATION IS THE AUSTIN SHELL FORMATION THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
[00:40:02]
NOW, IF WE GO TO THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, THIS IS, UH, THE OTHER END OF THE TUNNEL WHEN YOU GET TO THE PUMP STATION AT CESAR TRAVIS, US, 180 3.AGAIN, THIS PHOTO DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE.
THE RAMP THAT YOU SEE ON THE TOP IS COMING FROM, UH, THE US 180 3, UH, AREA.
UM, IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN THAT RAMP AND YOU KIND OF PEEK OVER, YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE SITE AND IT'S MASSIVE.
UM, WE ARE DOWN TO A FLOOR LEVEL OF THE PUMP STATION, SO WE'RE GONNA START BUILDING THE PUMP FACILITY, UM, ON THIS PROJECT PRETTY SOON.
SO MOST OF THE EXCAVATION HAS BEEN COMPLETE AT THIS SITE.
HERE ARE SOME RENDERINGS OF THE PUMP STATION.
WE'VE ACTUALLY, UH, BEEN ABLE TO SEE, UH, SOME PUMP STATIONS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN DALLAS.
UH, AND THIS IS VERY SIMILAR, UH, DESIGN TO THAT.
IT'S GONNA HAVE TWO CONCRETE VOL BALLOON PUMPS.
UM, ON THE LEFT SIDE, THE, THE BLUE THAT'S GO DIPPING DOWN INTO THE WATER AND COME ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.
THAT'S THE TRASH RACKS THAT HELPS COLLECT THE DEBRIS THAT'S COMING FROM THE STORM WATER, UH, RUNOFF OF THE PUMP STATION.
AND WE ALSO ADDED, UM, WE HAVE A, A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE DID WITH THE CITY AND WE'RE ADDING A CONNECTION, UH, TO A DETENTION POND FOR WATER TREATMENT.
AND LASTLY, THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW.
WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH WAS THE CAPEX CENTRAL PROJECT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE OUT RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF YOU CONTINUE GOING NORTH OUTSIDE OF THAT, OR IF YOU CONTINUE GOING SOUTH OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE ACTUALLY ARE STILL VERY BUSY FROM SH 45 AND THE CEDAR PARK ROUND ROCK AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO S SH 45 AND DUB BUDDA AREA.
THOSE ARE THE CAPEX NORTH AND CAPEX SOUTH PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UM, IN THE CAPEX SOUTH REGION, IF YOU'RE EVER DRIVEN THROUGH THE MOTOR MILE, UH, STRETCH, YOU'LL SEE THOSE BIG PILLARS.
THAT'S PART OF I 35 WHERE THE NONT TOLD HOV LANES ARE BEING RAISED.
UM, AND THE CAPEX NORTH SEGMENT, THAT DARK BLUE, UM, THEY WILL BE AT GRADE.
UM, THEY ARE, UH, SLATED TO COMPLETE IN 28 AND 29.
LASTLY, JUST AN UPDATE ON OUR CPP PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION, UH, PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
UM, REALLY JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE, UM, INCLUDING THE CITY, UM, THAT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROGRAM.
UM, SO NOT JUST, UH, GOOGLE MAPS OR WAZE, BUT THIS WOULD COMMUNICATE WITH THAT.
UM, AND IT'S GATHERING ALL THE INFORMATION, UM, FROM THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY ONES DOING CONSTRUCTION IN TOWN, SO, UH, THIS IS AN EFFORT TO PULL IT ALL TOGETHER FOR, UH, BOTH THE TRAVELING PUBLIC AND, UH, PEDESTRIANS THAT, UH, WANNA KNOW HOW THEIR ROUTES ARE AFFECTED, UH, DURING THIS, UH, MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION UNDERTAKING THAT WE'RE GOING IN TOGETHER ON.
THESE ARE JUST, AND WE WILL SHARE THIS PRESENTATION.
THESE ARE JUST WAYS TO ACCESS.
AND THAT'S THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? LET'S KICK IT OFF WITH VICE CHAIR CADRE.
UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
WE'VE HEARD A, A LOT FROM CONSTITUENTS AS IT RELATED TO THE WOODLAND AVENUE CLOSING.
UM, ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE CONSTITUENT IN, IN, UH, PARTICULAR TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO, UH, GO WITH HIS KID ON HIS BIKE.
UM, AND IT, AND IT STOPPED MANY OTHER RESIDENTS FROM I GUESS THAT CONNECTIVITY AND THAT, THAT THAT MOVABILITY.
UM, SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO THE, THE, YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO THE, THE, THE TEMPORARY, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, IS IT, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE OPENED UP EARLIER THAN 2029 THEN? I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE SLIDE DECK SHOWS.
I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH OUR AREA OFFICE TO GET A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE FROM THEM AND SEE WHEN THAT, UH, CONNECTION, UH, COULD BE COMPLETE.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THAT'S, UH, GOING ON IN THE AREA.
I'M NOT SURE, UH, WHEN IT'LL BE COMPLETE, OBVIOUSLY, UM, A LOT OF THOSE DECISIONS ARE BASED UPON SAFETY OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE VICINITY OF THE AREA, BUT I CAN GET YOU A DATE AND IS IT JUST GOING TO BE FOR PEDESTRIANS PURELY OR WILL IT, WILL BIKES BE ABLE TO BE ON THAT CROSSING AS WELL? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, I PROBABLY WOULD, I WOULD THINK IT'S FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
DO WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER LANE? WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO VISUALIZE AND HEAR MORE UPDATES ON IT.
[00:45:01]
I AM WONDERING THAT FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER WAS, UH, FROM MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS PRETTY FAR FROM 35.UM, AND SO WE WERE POSTED FOR A BRIEFING ON I 35 AND OTHER TXDOT PROJECTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
WILL THERE BE A FOLLOW UP BRIEFING WHERE WE HEAR ABOUT PROJECTS BEYOND 35? YEAH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WAS, UH, MADE AWARE OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND OUR TEAM IS WORKING TO GET UPDATES ON THOSE OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL.
APOLOGIES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
WILL THAT COME AS A BRIEFING WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS? SURE.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I KNOW I HAD SOME FOLKS FROM OFF OF 1826 COME AND SPEAK TO IT.
UM, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAD REFERENCED THAT WE HAD BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A YEAR AGO ON THE TIMELINE AND STRATEGY FOR THOSE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
I'M FULLY AWARE THAT THE FOLKS FURTHER SOUTH REALLY ARE HOPING FOR AN EXPANSION, UM, AND THAT THEY HAVE MAYBE MORE URGENT NEEDS AND DIFFERENT SAFETY NEEDS THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY SIDE OF THAT PROJECT.
UM, WHAT DO THOSE CONVERSATIONS LOOK LIKE TODAY? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE ASKED FOR A MORE MINIMAL FOOTPRINT.
UM, THE INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN A LOT OF THEIR MINDS WITHOUT NECESSARILY TAKING, I THINK IT WAS UP TO 12 BACKYARDS IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF CIRCLE C, UM, TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE IMPROVEMENT.
CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE, THE TWO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS AND ANY ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY CONCERNS? SURE.
UM, AND, UH, TRANSPARENTLY, I, I HAVEN'T BEEN A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I WILL REACH OUT TO OUR PLANNING, UH, TEAM SO WE CAN GET IN TOUCH ON WHAT IS, UH, IN THE WORKS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC OUTREACH, UH, FOR THE PROJECT.
I, I LIVE IN SOUTH AUSTIN MYSELF, UM, AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UH, 1826 AND, UM, IT IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? UM, YOU HAVE THE TRAVIS COUNTY AND HAYES COUNTY KIND OF BORDER, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD IN THAT AREA.
SO DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S, UM, IT'S VERY DIVERSE, UM, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE DOING ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
UM, I WOULD, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR SENTIMENT.
UM, DIVERSITY OF OPINION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THERE.
AND I THINK, THINK THE FOLKS ON THE HAYES COUNTY SIDE HAD REACHED OUT TO THEIR STATE REP FOR HELP ON EXPANDING THE ROAD, BUT THE FOLKS ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY SIDE THOUGHT A COUPLE OF SLIP LANES AND SOME LOW WATER CROSSING ASSISTANCE WOULD SUFFICE FOR THAT ISSUE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S IN A VERY SENSITIVE AREA NEXT TO OUR WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS THAT WOULD END UP WITH SOME DIFFERENT IMPACTS THAT WE MAY NOT BE FORESEEING IF WE TURNED IT INTO LIKE A FIVE OR SIX LANE HIGHWAY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA, BUT I FELT LIKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR TRAFFIC PATTERNS REALLY WELL.
THEY ALL HAVE THEIR FAVORITE WAY OF GOING AND THEY KNOW HOW TO MITIGATE FOR DIFFERENT, UM, CONGESTION ISSUES AND THINGS ALONG THE WAY.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T PUTTING OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, A DOZEN OR SO BACKYARDS THAT WERE ALMOST ENTIRELY TAKEN.
I I THINK THAT TAKE WAS GONNA BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
NOT LIKE A COUPLE OF FEET, BUT LIKE ALMOST THE ENTIRE BACKYARD.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ENTITIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT TDOT'S BEEN TALKING TO ON THAT PROJECT THAT YOU COULD SPEAK TO TODAY, PARTICULARLY 1826? UH, UNFORTUNATELY COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET WITH OUR PLANNING TEAM TO SEE WHICH ENTITIES WE'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING IN PARTNERING WITH ON THE PROJECT.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BEFORE I HOG THE REST OF THE TIME? UH, N NO.
UH, UH, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR FOR CHECKING.
HONESTLY, THE ONLY THING I WOULD, UH, UH, WANTED TO THANK, UH, CAROL LEWIN AND LAUREL CHESKY FOR THEIR TESTIMONY.
I KNOW BOTH OF THEM FROM, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
BUT NO, NO QUESTIONS FOR TDOT.
I, I WILL END ON HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD WE FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THESE PROJECTS? I KNOW THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES IS OUT ON MATERNITY LEAVE, BUT SHE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PROJECTS IN HER DISTRICT.
SO I THINK WE HAD ALL SUBMITTED A HANDFUL OF QUESTIONS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS OR SO MM-HMM
TO HELP UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHAT THOSE TIMELINES AND EXPECTATIONS WERE FOR PROJECTS LIKE PALMER.
UM, 1826, UM, 180 3 SOUTH FROM 71 TO SH ONE 30.
UM, WHERE DO WE GET THAT INFORMATION? HOW CAN WE SHARE UP TO DATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT AND ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS? I KNOW THAT OUR PLANNING TEAM IS, I, I'M, I, I DO REMEMBER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND OUR TEAM IS
[00:50:01]
WORKING ON THEM AND OUR PLAN WAS TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, YOUR STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.AND WHAT I MIGHT ASK, I KNOW THAT OP PUTS THIS INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE 'CAUSE THEY, THEY PUT ALL THE OPEN HOUSE DATES AND PUBLIC COMMENT DATES AND SCHEDULING DATES, UM, UP THERE IN A ROUTINE FASHION.
BUT IF YOU COULD ADD AS A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ASKED, SOME SORTS OF TIMELINES JUST SO THAT WE CAN PUT THEM IN OUR NEWSLETTERS AND SHARE THEM WITH THE HOAS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE ENGAGED ON THESE TOPICS.
I THINK THERE'S SOME THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, THE WAY THAT CAMPO FUNDING COMES THROUGH, WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHEN SOMETHING'S GONNA LAUNCH.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT KNOW THIS HAS BEEN ON A DEFERRED LIST FOR SIX YEARS, OR HEY, THIS MIGHT BE IMMINENT AND WE SHOULD START GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A ROW TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY CAN PINPOINT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THEY NEED.
SOME OF WHICH MAY BE THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE PROJECT, BUT SOME OF THEM MAY BE, HEY, A CROSSWALK WOULD BE HELPFUL HERE.
THIS IS NEAR A SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED BETTER LIGHTING AT NIGHT IN THIS LOCATION.
AND SO I KNOW, I KNOW T OUT'S BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THOSE PRETTY CONSISTENTLY.
UM, BUT I THINK THE MORE WE CAN COMMUNICATE ON THIS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING MORE EMAILS ON THE PROJECTS THAN COME THROUGH THE, THE STATE EMAIL ADDRESSES.
AND SO I, I UNDERSTAND THAT AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HELP GET INFORMATION BACK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE WANNA AMPLIFY THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UM, FOR ANYONE THAT'S GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THEM.
ANY CLOSING REMARKS OR LAST QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
I MEAN, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
I, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IN WHICH WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE ASK QUESTIONS AND HAVE CONVERSATION BECAUSE, UM, CERTAINLY FARMER IS A BIG CONCERN.
UM, THE FIRST SPEAKER SPOKE TO THE NEED FOR SCHOOL KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GET, USE THESE, THESE VERY TDO ROADS TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
UM, AND WE DO GET A LOT OF CONCERNS AND THEN AS THE CHAIR NOTED, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEN GETS SLOWED DOWN, BUT THEN THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE CONCERNS NECESSARILY THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE IT AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
IT SEEMS LIKE I'M GETTING A LOT OF NODDING SO THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO COME BACK.
I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY FAIR.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S UPDATES HAPPENING ON TECH.WORK AND OTHER FORUMS AS WELL ACROSS THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT WORK ON IT.
UM, AND I WILL ADD THAT INTO THE FUTURE ITEMS AGAIN THAT WE'LL CALL FOR LATER IN THE MEETING.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? IT APPEARS THAT IS IT.
[3. Briefing from the Urban Transportation Commission regarding actions from the April 7, 2026, meeting. [Natalie Leone, Business Process Consultant - Austin Transportation and Public Works].]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.WE HAVE A BRIEFING FROM THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGARDING THE ACTIONS FROM THE APRIL 7TH MEETING.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE NATALIE HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M NATALIE LEONE, BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT FOR AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, UM, AT THE APRIL 7TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS APPROVED RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 2 0 2 6 0 4 2 7 0 0 6, UH, 2026 BOND UPDATE, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE 2026 BOND INITIAL DRAFT PROJECT RECOMMENDATION MEMORANDUM SENT TO MAYOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON JANUARY 21ST, 2026.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS POSTED IN BACKUP AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE UTC FOR APRIL? IT DOES NOT APPEAR SO THANK YOU.
WE KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS WE THINK OF SO YOU CAN HELP.
[5. 2026 Bond Program - Phase 3 Community Engagement Summary dated April 9, 2026 [Jessica King, Chief Communications Director - Austin Communications & Engagement].]
THAT TAKES US TO OUR BRIEFINGS BY MEMO.ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE 2026 BOND PROGRAM, THE PHASE THREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY, WHICH CAME OUT ON APRIL 9TH, 2026.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS HAD SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE ITEMS? I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS.
[6. State of Austin Bridges dated April 13, 2026 [Amica Bose, Assistant Director - Austin Transportation and Public Works].]
SIX, STATE OF AUSTIN BRIDGES DATED APRIL 13TH, 2026.QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE ON THAT? ITEM
[7. Construction Partnership Program interlocal agreement dated April 14, 2026 [Jim Dale, Deputy Director - Austin Transportation and Public Works].]
NUMBER SEVEN, CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FROM APRIL 14TH.ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE? THERE'S NONE.
AND THEN THERE IS A PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHICH IS INFORMATIONAL ONLY AND THAT IS FROM APRIL, 2026 ON THE AUSTIN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE.
SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE A LOOK THROUGH THAT.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D REFER YOU TO OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICER FOR UPDATES AND QUESTIONS.
[8. Identify items to be discussed at future meetings.]
THE ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED AT FUTURE MEETINGS.LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER STANDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, NOT STANDING, BUT ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA
[00:55:01]
TO HELP GO THROUGH SOME OF THE OTHER OP PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIMITS SO THAT WE CAN GET BETTER CLARIFICATION.UM, AND WE HAVE A WHOLE LONG LIST OF PROBABLY ABOUT 25 ITEMS THAT ARE QUEUED UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
SO I WON'T BELABOR US WITH READING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE TODAY, BUT FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME OR MY OFFICE TO HELP GET MORE THINGS ON THE AGENDA IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN TIMELY INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER LE I I DO WANNA MENTION, AND I KNOW IT'S A STRUGGLE BEFORE WHEN IT COULD FIT IN, BUT UM, PERHAPS CONSIDERATION OF AN AGENDA ITEM ABOUT E-BIKES.
I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HUB MADISON HAD PREVIOUSLY RAISED, UM, LIKE MANY MONTHS AGO, RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING AROUND MOTORCYCLES OR, AND YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF MOTORIZED THINGS WE ARE SEEING CERTAINLY IN THE SUBURBAN AREA WHERE THAT I REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE USE OF E-BIKES, PARTICULARLY FOR SCHOOL KIDS, WHICH IS NOT LEGAL, BUT ALSO OUR ROADS ARE NOT BUILT NOR IMPROVED IN A WAY THAT IS PARTICULARLY SAFE.
AND SO I WOULD, I I COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM SOME SORT OF A BRIEFING FROM TPW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT APPROACHES COULD BE USED AS THIS IS BECOMING AN INCREASING SAFETY CONSIDERATION OUT THERE.
AND I WILL SAY BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE AGENDA THAT POSTS TOMORROW BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ITEM MM-HMM
AND HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LANDS, PARKS, TPW ON THIS ISSUE.
AND SO I WOULD SAY TAKE A LOOK THERE 'CAUSE WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
AND WOULD DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON IT IF THERE'S ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE MADE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S DEFINITELY AN INCREASE IN YOUNG FOLKS USING THEM AND I THINK THERE'S UM, CERTAINLY SOME REALLY, REALLY YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE GOING VERY, VERY FAST IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO PROTECT CHILD SAFETY ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROADS ARE PREDICTABLE AND CONSISTENT AND SAFE FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, SO I'M GONNA FLAG THAT FOR YOU 'CAUSE I THINK YOU'LL HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD INPUT.
OH, MY TEAM IS SAYING WE HAVE ROOM FOR A CO-SPONSOR, SO IF YOU WANNA WORK IN A SUB QUORUM, WE CAN DO THAT.
ANY EXTRA NOTES OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THAT IS THE END AND IT IS 2:00 PM I ALWAYS TRY TO END ON TIME, BUT NEVER THIS EARLY.
SO, UM, I WILL GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BACK IN THEIR DAY, WHICH I KNOW IS APPRECIATED.
AND IT'S TWO O'CLOCK, THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.