Proposed Pedestrian-Friendly Projects for Allandale

Sustainable Neighborhoods of North Central Austin (SNAustin.org) has submitted a number of ideas for outdoor amenities to the Allandale Neighborhood Association for consideration and possible recommendation to the City. These projects would improve the safety and access of pedestrians and bicyclists to nearby destinations.  The projects are intended to improve quality of life, and to offer alternative ways to get places that don’t add cars to area streets.

Neighbors can provide feedback on the projects at the Allandale Neighborhood Association executive committee meeting on October 22, or as comments to this article. Additional projects can also be proposed.  If you suggest new projects, please define the project as a need.  We can certainly offer ideas on how to solve the need, but any concrete solution will require detailed analysis from City engineers.  

The Allandale Neighborhood Association Executive Committee at its meeting on Thursday October 22 will make revisions to the project list, and decide whether to endorse the list.

Similar projects are being defined for the Brentwood, Crestview, Highland, North Shoal Creek and Wooten neighborhood associations.  SN and representatives of the neighborhood associations will present the combined list to City staff in November for consideration as Capital Improvement Projects to be funded in an upcoming bond package.  SN and the neighborhoods will push for the projects as part of the Comprehensive Planning Process, and will also be pushing for reform of zoning ordinances so that developers contribute public open space as well. Please review each of the proposed projects by clicking on an image above and leaving a comment for that respective project. You can leave a general comment about all of them by clicking on the comment link below. Your input will help guide the ANA Executive Committee. 

Steven Zettner

Mid-Town Trail

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

PROJECT CONCEPT

1)     No park for Allandale residents south of 2222. 2)     Safety issues for children walking to NW Rec Center 3)     Safety issues for children walking to Gullett 4)     Safety concerns for walkers, bikers crossing 2222 at Shoal Creek Blvd.

     Add path, amenities to existing parkland on Shoal Creek Blvd south of 2222.       Widened, shaded sidewalks near NW Rec Center on both sides of 2222      Safe pedestrian crossing to NW Rec Center across 2222      Bike lane under 2222.       Bike lane from Gullett to NW Rec Center using Great Northern ROW.       Northwest Park bike path improvements, especially around turtle pond, down hill from Vine St

Anderson Urban Trail

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED	PROJECT CONCEPT
1)    Can’t walk or bike to numerous destinations along Anderson Ln. 2)    High risk that apartments will be built along Anderson, but future residents will have to drive everywhere	   Greatly improved bike and pedestrian connectivity throughout Anderson Ln district, with shaded sidewalk or bike lane access to library, grocery stores, fitness centers, ice rink, restaurants.      Use areas along creeks to provide trails, pocket parks, outdoor dining.

Pocket Parks and transit plazas on Burnet and Anderson

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

PROJECT CONCEPT

1)    Numerous areas zoned for apartments that have no outdoor space to support community, child play, or to encourage walking to transit or nearby destinations.

   Funding for a pocket park at any of the following locations: Anderson near Shoal Creek, Anderson at Burnet, Burnet near Cullen, the Farmer’s Market on Burnet, 6400 Burnet, or Burnet at North Loop.    Funding for a transit plaza at any of the following intersections: Anderson-Burnet, Burnet near Farmer’s Market, Burnet-2222, Burnet-North Loop.    Developers must contribute in order for the City to contribute.    Pocket parks should be highly visible, near transit, with things to do for people of all ages, and with viable maintenance plan    Transit plaza should provide safe, shaded pedestrian/bike access from transit to nearby destinations.

Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Burnet, Anderson

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

PROJECT CONCEPT

Unsafe, uninviting walking/biking environment near Lamar Middle School, HEB grocery store, other destinations along Burnet, Anderson. Risk of more traffic from new residents, even to nearby destinations that should be walkable.   3. City of Austin is required by law to provide ADA compliance to public facilities.

   Add shaded sidewalks on Burnet and Anderson, especially near transit and near major destinations.    At 2222 and Burnet, and at White Horse Trail and Burnet, implement short-term improvements (better visibility, shade), and long-term improvements (dedicated turn-lane, shaded pedestrian islands in the intersection, deeper sidewalks.)    Sidewalks along Nasco, White Horse Trail to Lamar MS. Replace Yield sign with Stop sign at WHT and Wynona.

Comments

[Kerry Kimbrough]

Re Midtown Trails...

Here's a bike path improvement that would provide better access to NW Park, as well as a non-intrusive route for cyclists to travel between SCB and the neighborhoods east of NW Park.

Consider the segment at the north edge of the tennis courts. Here, there is a well-worn footpath leading up from the main park road to the sidewalk above the west edge of the courts. What if that segment was graded or paved or otherwise made bike-able, with a cut in the curb for access? Then you could cruise down the road, up the slope, down the sidewalk, and across the bridge. A confident cyclist could do all this without stopping, and even a novice could do it with only a pause at the turn onto the bridge. Same goes for a trip in reverse.

All of this would avoid high-traffic pedestrian areas. Moreover, it's a great route to pedal to the pool from SCB. And it's not an expensive piece of work.

[Amy Strong]

This is all wonderful stuff. When might we start seeing improvements?

[Donna and Duncan Fox]

We support - and really like - SN's concept for pocket parks. This is a feature everyone loves about many larger cities; we think it would add to quality of live in Allandale. Also, the intersection improvements SN proposes at Burnet/2222 and Burnet/White Horse Trail are needed. We walk those intersections frequently, and know how dangerous they are currently.