A Dream of Streetcar

City of Austin with Modifications by Shilli

According to Fox 7, residents who went to the first public meeting to discuss the proposed streetcar system were concerned that the city's plan to run the streetcar in the same lane as car traffic on Manor would slow the streetcar down and make it less popular. The city says that at 60 feet wide, Manor can't support a streetcar and regular car lanes. We're no mathamagicians, but 60 feet seems wide enough for two streetcar lanes and two or three car lanes. Some residents suggested that the streetcar run down MLK instead of Manor. That plan would be an improvement over the current one - MLK has more capacity and it would also allow riders to transfer to and from the MLK stop on the commuter rail line.

The Downtown Plan team will be having three more meetings next week to discuss streetcar. Details after the jump.

Riverside Corridor
Monday, Sept. 8, 2008
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Location: Montopolis Recreation Center
1200 Montopolis Dr.

UT/Mueller/Manor Road Area
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Location: Rosewood Recreation Center
1182 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.

Downtown Core Area
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
301 W. 2nd St.

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By Shawn Shillington on September 5, 2008 2:54 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

mdahmus

Many of the funding 'buckets' being proposed for streetcar aren't available for general use (such as TIF districts - if you don't do anything in the area, you can't impose a TIF).

And I don't think the Long Center spur is adding much cost or is the main focus here - it could easily be left out for later.

seth

Asher-

If the city refuses to give the Long Center the $2 million they want for security and lawn care, perhaps it won't be flat broke. And no, light rail / street cars DON'T need a station at the Long Center. Let those fatcats who thought the Long Center was necessary fund it themselves.

Seth

AsherBaruch

Traffic control is a huge issue on Manor. Cars (and big f'n trucks) constantly speed between Airport and Cherrywood for no reason other than they can. There's only one sidewalk (on the N end of the street) up till Larry Lane, and no crosswalks across Manor.

Holy guacamole. M!KE finally convinces me to click to his blog, and here I am agreeing with him. But, Shilli, does the City really have the money for this project? I welcome the idea of any public transportation project, but considering how long it took to remove fallen trees on Eastside due to the May 15 storm, I'm under the impression that this town is flat broke.

Shawn Shillington

I actually did read it back when you posted it and I think it is a reasonable proposal. I just got lazy with the links in this post. Fair point about the sidewalks - I didn't think that was included in the 60 feet.

mdahmus

MLK works only for commuter rail passengers trying to get to Capitol or downtown; it's awful for generating actual ridership of its own, and serves UT poorly (Manor is merely half-assed for UT; MLK 'serves' UT about as well as commuter rail does downtown, which is to say almost completely no-assed).

I suggested reserved guideway with singletrack between stations on Manor and it hurts my feelings you didn't read it! There isn't enough room for two rail tracks and two car lanes in the 40 feet of street; and the city does not want to bite off taking away sidewalks and other stuff built in that 60 foot right-of-way at this time, nor do I blame them.