Dear Members of the Urban Transportation Commission:
The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) supports city
staff’s recommendation to enhance bicycle mobility on the Rio Grande
and Nueces corridors. We recognize the challenges of balancing the
passionate views of stakeholders on all sides of the issue and applaud
the efforts of the Original Austin Neighborhood Association (OANA)
leadership and city staff to find a compromise that will benefit
downtown and the rest of Austin.
DANA recognizes the negative effects that reliance on motor vehicles
has on our built environment, air quality, health, convenience, and
sustainable economic prosperity. Accordingly, we support
infrastructure that encourages other mobility options, including
bicycles.
To make bicycle use a viable mobility option, it must be safe,
inviting, and pleasant for people of all ages. The staff proposal
makes significant strides in this direction.
The traffic impact analysis shows that the staff recommendation will
improve bicycle mobility downtown by:
1. Reducing the number of stop signs along Rio Grande and Nueces,
thereby reducing the amount of time and effort cyclists must expend to
bike on the corridors.
2. Discouraging motor vehicle through-traffic by using traffic
calming measures and slower speed limits to increase motor vehicle
travel times.
The traffic impact analysis shows no change for bicycle and pedestrian
safety. Going forward, we support further enhancements that would
address the safety issue and further improve the bicycle experience.
If you have any questions for us, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Thank you,
--
Jamie Lagarde
President
Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
jlagarde@gmail.com
