I saw that further south on Airport Blvd near Goodwin Avenue there is a pedestrian / bicycle bridge that crosses over Airport Blvd.
I'd like to try to pursue getting one of those at 38 1/2 St or Wilshire / Aldrich or Schieffer/ Zach Scott
crossing over Airport Blvd
I've mentioned it at one of the meetings with Catellus at Mueller Central, but Greg Weaver had said it was too expensive. I don't know if he was referring to Catellus or City of Austin when he said that.
Quote: I saw that further south on Airport Blvd near Goodwin Avenue there is a pedestrian / bicycle bridge that crosses over Airport Blvd.
I have used pedestrian bridges a few times and have always thought afterward that walking up and down all of the ramps just to cross the street was more time consuming that waiting for a break in traffic. The ramps were always filthy from the homeless that use them as homes. The amount of ramp needed to get the bridge high enough above traffic ends up tripling the length of the journey. (To me, pedestrian friendly means sidewalks insulated from traffic and shortest distances possible) The pedestrian bridges will see minimal use late at night and become havens for the homeless.
I recognize that crossing a wide street as an adult is considerably different than crossing that same street with a child. I just hope there is a better solution to the problem.
I would love to have people use the pedestrian bridge near Goodwin and then post their impressions.
Quote: I saw that further south on Airport Blvd near Goodwin Avenue there is a pedestrian / bicycle bridge that crosses over Airport Blvd.
I have used pedestrian bridges a few times and have always thought afterward that walking up and down all of the ramps just to cross the street was more time consuming that waiting for a break in traffic. The ramps were always filthy from the homeless that use them as homes. The amount of ramp needed to get the bridge high enough above traffic ends up tripling the length of the journey. (To me, pedestrian friendly means sidewalks insulated from traffic and shortest distances possible) The pedestrian bridges will see minimal use late at night and become havens for the homeless.
I recognize that crossing a wide street as an adult is considerably different than crossing that same street with a child. I just hope there is a better solution to the problem.
I would love to have people use the pedestrian bridge near Goodwin and then post their impressions.
I 2nd Mike's concerns about pedestrian bridges (at least the ones constructed like the one further down Airport). They seem like such a good idea, until you actually are standing there deciding, 'is it worth hiking up and down all that ramp or stairs, or just making a dash across the very busy road.' Especially if there is a median in the middle of the road, the answer is an easy one. I have 2 little ones and I might do the trek across the pedestrian bridge with them, but they are not nice places to walk.
Quote: I saw that further south on Airport Blvd near Goodwin Avenue there is a pedestrian / bicycle bridge that crosses over Airport Blvd.
I'd like to try to pursue getting one of those at
38 1/2 St or
Wilshire / Aldrich or
Schieffer/ Zach Scott
crossing over Airport Blvd
I've mentioned it at one of the meetings with Catellus at Mueller Central, but Greg Weaver had said it was too expensive. I don't know if he was referring to Catellus or City of Austin when he said that.
APD Commander does not recommend the ped bridges. Said they are not often used by peds; attract vagrants; cause increase in crime.
Why do people want a light at Zach Scott and Airport? I go that way every morning and I'm never behind anyone, and I never have any problem crossing to make the left. There is already a light for you bad Texas drivers to go out at - 38 1/2 and airport. If your driving skills are not good enough to cross 3 lanes then go to 38 1/2 st. Adding a light will only bother the Mueller community, it will seemingly be red all the time as Airport is a much bigger road and it will slow down Airport as well as slowing down the amount of traffic that leaves Mueller. I can't even think of 1 possible benefit from this light. It seems extremely stupid and a waste of money and time. Why don't we teach people how to enter the roundabout properly and quit worring about a light where one isn't needed. What is the thought process, is it honestly wanted by all or is it just wanted by a few key memebers deciding this crap. I hope it is the later because that would at least mean most the people I'm living with are sane and wouldn't want a light but a few entitled people want to get what they want.
How many people with little children are actually walking across Airport at Zach Scott? A ped. bridge may not be worth the expense.
I cross there nearly every day, but on my bicycle. I rarely see anyone else crossing there, except for other bicyclists. At times traffic is heavy, but there is always a good break in the traffic if you wait for it. The median is substantial, and I feel safe there, as an adult.
We also occasionally cross there with our almost 10 year old as well, and have plenty of time to get across with all three of our bikes. Sometimes we ride them, some times we jog them across. We have to be patient and wait for the right moment, of course. At other times we forego crossing there and trek up to the light by Mosaic if it seems too sketchy.
I think a pedestrian bridge can only be justified if there is a lot of foot traffic, which I haven't seen yet. I've lived in cities where they worked *really well,* but they were being used constantly. If there isn't going to be a steady stream of foot traffic, it probably would open itself up to be a gathering place for vagrants.
Thanks to Betsy for her transportation work. Let me tout the wonders of the #20 bus. There are two close inbound stops: one near the corner of Manor Road and Manorwood (to the east of the intersection) and one at Anchor and Manor. This bus heads west on Manor, South on Red River, turning west toward the Capital Building,and then south on Congress to the Bridge and a little beyond. It's a great bus to take for concerts at the Long Center, to LBJ Library, to the Capital, for biking or walking Lady Bird Lake, and for downtown nightlife. There are numerous stops on Congress Avenue for the return trip. We have taken it on New Year's Eve for First Night and for other downtown events that require parking because parking downtown has become very sparse.
For the reasons several have cited (among others), pedestrian bridges are rarely installed anymore. They are expensive and generally rarely used, unless they connect upper floors of buildings across the street, etc, where there is a LOT of pedestrian demand. They also require a lot of room at each end for ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, although many with disabilities find it very difficult to ascend those ramps. Most people just won't travel the extra distance, disabled or not. Heck, people won't even walk 10' out of their way to use a crosswalk!
There have also been cases where fatalities actually increased after installing a pedestrian bridge. Pedestrians didn't use the bridge for the reasons noted by others, and drivers weren't expecting people to be crossing the roadway at grade. Not a good recipe for safety.
I will mention the discussion here at the next meeting because I do want to bring forward everyone's concerns. We have already talked about how to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing Airport. I think there are probably a few small things that would help, but major improvements won't happen until Airport can be completely rebuilt as an urban boulevard rather than a major arterial into town.
