Overgrowth in the MoPac Jungle

Ben Wear has an informative article in today's Statesman, providing more details (and lots of purty pictures) on TxDOT's plan to expand MoPac. This picture is our favorite, as it shows that the new lane isn't getting added between the current lanes and the train track - it is replacing the existing shoulder (between the highway and the houses). TxDOT has promised a "noise wall," but we'll believe that when we ~~see~~ hear it.

The odd thing about Wear's article is that it contains no indication that anyone thinks the MoPac expansion plan is a good idea. Even proponents agree that the new plan would lead to (1) more accidents and serious injuries (after construction of a similar new lane in Dallas, accidents increased around 50% - there are differences with the MoPac plan, but their effect is not clear); (2) accidents having worse effects on traffic because smashed cars will not be able to pull off to the shoulder - this would have especially congestifying effects in the new lane, where cars won't even be able to use other lanes to go around; and (3) reduced flow in the non managed lanes, both because they will be narrower and because of turbulence created by cars going into and out of the new lane. Worst of all, no one is looking at this as anything more than a stopgap, including TxDOT. So why spend $110 million on it? Leave MoPac alone! Waste TxDOT money somewhere else.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Shawn Shillington in News on April 23, 2007 2:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

steve

IIRC, the entity which owns the RR tracks on MoPac said they would move their tracks to the east of the city for only $750 million.

I think that figure was part of a larger package which involved moving other tracks in the Central Texas area but you can get the drift...they ain't going nowhere.

pzriddle

TxD'OHH!?

Shawn Shillington

OR THAT I CAN'T HELP BUT YELL WHEN I TALK ABOUT TXDOT BECAUSE TXDOT MAKES ME SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M1EK

If you capitalize ALL the letters, you can just claim your caps lock was broked. Or that TXDOT IS JUST THAT IMPORTANT.

Shawn Shillington

Indeed it is. How odd. Why do you capitalize the O? It isn't capitalized when you spell out "Texas Department of Transportation."

In any case, I apologize for the error and will revise the posts, as I am a supporter of grammatical self-identification.

Julio

Austinist,

It's TxDOT, not TXDoT.

Thanks,

A former member of the TxDOT Family

Ed

I agree this is not a good idea. The no-shoulder thing is going to be a huge issue. Ever see a stalled car in the HOV lane in Houston? Theres no way to get around so you have to sit there until the tow truck does its little turn around dance inside of the barriers.

Why are they doing this? Because IH-35 drivers coming down from Roundrock think they are smarty pants by jumping over to Mopac on the toll road trying to sneak into downtown. Mopac is rendered useless (just like IH-35).

M1EK

Evilcornbread,

In the eminent domain game, railroads actually trump TXDOT. Not kidding.

Shawn Shillington

I know, I'm a jerk. I would have linked to your previous post anyway:

http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/archives/000408.html

Evilcornbread

If ever there was a valid use of eminent domain, this is one.

craig

Also, why, exactly, can't we just move the raidroad tracks out of that ultra-prime real estate? Other than the downtown station, it's got no stops -- why not just re-route outside the city somewhere?

Well, for one thing, the city doesn't own the railroad tracks. The railroad company does. Want them to move it? Who's going to pay for that? Not only do you have to buy up the land they sit on, but buy the new land, and then the cost of installation.

Not saying it isn't doable, but theres a price to be paid for everything...

mdahmus

Also, the picture doesn't really tell the story. In the part where the train tracks run down the middle, the managed lanes are indeed being carved out of the middle (with a microscopic 'shoulder' remaining). The latest image shows the managed lanes starting/ending well north of the downtown interchange, with the southbound new lane continuing as a through (general-purpose) third lane over the bridge.

mdahmus

http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/archives/000410.html

Shilli, where's my link love?

Problem is mainly the turbulence factor - especially how it's going to make the managed lane essentially not much faster than the unmanaged lane (imagine trying to merge out of a managed lane going 65 across 3 regular purpose lanes in stop-and-go; yes, you'll have to slow down to a crawl, and so will the guy behind you, and the guy behind him...)

Signed,

Emotionally neglected on business in Northern Virginia (M1EK)

modam

worst infrastructure planning of any of the 5 major cities i have lived in in the US. And I have lived in DC and LA. i could go all M1EK on you guys and say i am glad i can ride my bike to work, but i won't. just givin ya the business M1.

Evilcornbread

Any plan that doesn't including widening the painfully obvious bottlenecks deserves to be killed.

Someone explain to me who came up with the bright idea of MoPac going down to two lanes each way on the bridge over Town Lake. Or to a lesser extent at the (southbound) intersection with 360. Anyone who drives MoPac understands that the backups start every day at the river bridge, grow to most of the extent of MoPac, and then recede.

More lanes in the core of MoPac without increasing lanes over the bridge isn't going to help anything. And it might even make it worse.

Also, why, exactly, can't we just move the raidroad tracks out of that ultra-prime real estate? Other than the downtown station, it's got no stops -- why not just re-route outside the city somewhere?

Shawn Shillington

Excellent link, Jon, thanks! I would love to see some of those ideas implemented in Austin.

Jon

I came across a good article on traffic (de)congestion: http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/decongestion

S

In a way, this is a good thing. At least, for the environment, global warming, et cetera. I mean, if the roads become even more horribly congested in Austin to the point where they are essentially rendered un-usable, then more people will take the bus, or maybe even bike to work! Think of that! An increased use in public transportation!

This is sarcasm.

Tim

Man, after my near miss accident this weekend (that wasn't an accident because of just barely enough room for everyone to swerve out of the way), I'm really looking forward to decreased lane widths. At least I can take the bus to work...