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SRNA Board Meeting tonight 7pm Bella Mar ;
Main topic: evacuation / Route B approval / next steps.
Travis County voted today (July 9) to approve Route B as an evacuation only road for Steiner Ranch and Montview from Flat Top Ranch Rd to Montview Rd for $980,000. According to the county, Route F (a proposed open option for $7.5M) remains a preferred option for them in the long term and is included in their transportation plan but would require future approval/funding such as via a bond. The Court amended the proposal for Route B so that it could be deconstructed and the land returned to public use if Route F is constructed.
Many neighbors, mostly from Montview, but also from Steiner Ranch spoke in addition to SRNA chairman Brian Thompto.
Montview residents were universally opposed to Route B due to various concerns including the taking of property, citing Steiner Ranch support for Route F from public input. Residents expressed concern about being cut out of discussion and dialogue since switching back to Route B as a preferred option happened only six days ago.
Steiner Ranch residents that spoke were supportive of Route B as a practical alternative to Route F, which they opposed. They emphasized the reduced impact of Route B as a closed road and the practicality in the cost. It was noted by Commissioners that several of those opposed to Route F has spoken regularly at the Court and had make their voices heard.
The SRNA chairman spoke in the morning and afternoon and asked the Court to consider that additional improvements are needed to make Route B effective if adopted. While the County quoted 750 vehicles per hour for Route B, the low water crossing and cattle guard along the route will inhibit that rate: the cattle guard slows cars to below 5 mph. In afternoon discussion, Judge Eckhardt indicated that additional improvements would be possible as part of the "implementation" of Route B. However, Commissioner Shea was initially negative on improving the cattle guard / low water crossing but did indicate staff could work with the neighborhood to find compatible improvements. No improvements along Route B were included explicitly in the plan.
In side discussion, Commissioner Daugherty brought up a closed option F as an alternative but possibly requiring some portion of community partner funding. This idea was initially rejected by Commissioner Shea, who cited staff comments on increased maintenance costs for a closed road and indicated that the open Route F would remain in future plans. However, if the community desired further exploration of this idea the Court left the door open.
TOMORROW!
SRNA Steiner Ranch meeting w/ TxDOT on 620/2222
Tuesday, June 25th, 7pm
Towne Square Community Center
12550 Country Trails Ln, Austin, TX 78732
* TXDOT update and deep-dive on the on-going 620/2222 project (answer your design questions, access to Vandegrift, etc).
* We will provide new news and a future view on the next rounds of RM620 relief after the bypass project.
* Additionally we will take questions on any follow-up from the recent CAMPO survey and discussion about adding bridges to connect Steiner Ranch across Lake Austin.
SRNA Steiner Ranch meeting w/ TxDOT on 620/2222
Tuesday, June 25th, 7pm
Towne Square Community Center
12550 Country Trails Ln, Austin, TX 78732
* TXDOT update and deep-dive on the on-going 620/2222 project (answer your design questions, access to Vandegrift, etc).
* We will provide new news and a future view on the next rounds of RM620 relief after the bypass project.
* Additionally we will take questions on any follow-up from the recent CAMPO survey and discussion about adding bridges to connect Steiner Ranch across Lake Austin.
CAMPO Arterials Study Clarifications
This is an update to provide clarity on the CAMPO survey, it is an addendum from a previous article posted last Friday (6/14). You can read the full on-line article on this and/or sign up for email (this info went out today on email) on the SRNA website: steinerranchna.org/campo-arterials-feedback/ to get even more information on this topic.
CAMPO has put out a study for envisioning major roadways connecting Central Texas in the long term. The actual study can is available and is 366 pages (see link on our site). The open house documents are more digestible and are found HERE;
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However, these need additional context so please read below.
Your opportunities to provide input include open houses (see full list here: www.campotexas.org/open-house/regional-arterials-study-open-house/):
Open House TODAY:
June 19 - Bee Cave Public Library; 4 - 7 p.m.
4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave, TX 78738
Or online: Presentation & SURVEY
(www.campotexas.org/open-house/regional-arterials-study-open-house/)
and/or email: comments@campotexas.org
Survey input is due July 15, 2019.
[NOTE: SRMA HOA sent out an email on this topic to their residents that referred to the bridges into Steiner in this study as part of an "infrastructure plan" and as a "proposal". This study is NOT a plan or proposal - see below. This is not just about saying what we don't want but what we DO want also.]
CAMPO identified a collection of ideas received from engaging the public and local planners and now want to get public feedback about where we need better connections in our region. The conceptual options shown include many abstract ideas where different areas were connected on a map to get public input.
Some of the theoretical connections shown include bridges connecting Steiner Ranch w/ areas across Lake Austin. These are just lines on a map, not plans, so don't panic :). Planners from all agencies (Travis County, City of Austin, TXDOT) have rejected these ideas already. SRNA has shut down these ideas over the years as well because any connections to areas across Lake Austin would turn Quinlan Park Road into a commuter thoroughfare. Steiner Ranch was not designed for this and cannot tolerate through traffic for many reasons (kids, safety, mobility, every-day access and basic functionality, etc).
You can and should weigh in on your view of the viability of connecting Steiner w/ bridges, but in practice this is a non-starter. If you want to read about wild ideas to connect across Lake Austin see below.
The study as it stands is confusing; but don't be confused that this is important to weigh in on. This is your chance to say how you think our roads should be connected in the long run. For example, SRNA and a coalition of other neighborhoods on RM620 have long advocated for elevated lanes on RM620 that fully connect US183, RM620 south, and RM2222, avoiding all the traffic light and capacity congestion we feel today. You can say how important this and other connections in Central Texas are to you.
Why weigh in? Because this is an opportunity to shape how we (Four Points, RM620 corridor, etc.) fit into the long term investment in roadways such as investing in RM620. Let CAMPO what long term changes we want and let them know what won't work also.
SRNA talked with CAMPO directly and we want to be sure you know what this study is and what it isn't:
IS: a chance to highlight which ideas you like and which you don't for long term ideas to better connect parts of our region (this can include new ideas not shown).
IS: a chance to highlight the importance of turning RM620 into a free-flowing highway that connects with 2222 and US183 - this is critical for future traffic in Four Points and the entire RM620 corridor.
IS NOT: this study is not a plan or a proposal from transportation planners or CAMPO. It is only a collection of ideas from previous public and local jurisdiction input received by CAMPO. The connections you see on the maps going to Steiner are not being proposed or advocated by CAMPO (nor City of Austin, nor Travis County, nor TXDOT). The connections are shown to get feedback on ideas.
IS NOT: this study is not part of the actual road building decision process. This is only an abstract study to determine where our region might be missing chances to better connect our area. It was originally started to give smaller communities (e.g. Lakeway, et al.) a chance to give their ideas and weigh into the planning process.
Summary CALL to ACTION:
* #1 Take the CAMPO SURVEY & email comments@campotexas.org by July 15: or attend an Open House.
* Your feedback is up to you, let CAMPO know ideas you may have to better connect our area and our region, but please consider the following to support points to support our broader community:
--Weigh in on the importance of RM620 elevated / free-flowing lanes between US-183 and connecting RM2222 .
Let CAMPO know that the open Steiner Ranch crossings of Lake Austin are not realistic but also tell them what you do want (e.g. additional RM620 lanes).
-- Weigh in on the "kitchen sink" options CAMPO is showing - what are the wild ideas to really improve connectivity in our region in the long run and which ones don't make sense.
The "networks" CAMPO is showing (including Steiner options) are not constrained by practical, political or financial realism, but instead by more of an academic approach to see what the best connectivity could buy us as a region.
In attached image of purple lines you can see the full network of ideas to see works and what doesn't (none of these are planned):
There is a lot of confusion about this study and the intent of the Open Houses and feedback. The confusion was on display at the CAMPO meeting Monday June 10 when elected officials were trying to understand the maps that CAMPO plans to display at the Open Houses. Discussion at the meeting did make it clear that the maps and roadway ideas are not plans but a collection of ideas intended to generate public dialogue about the good and bad option out there to connect our community based on the options shown. SRNA subsequently talked with CAMPO to confirm this is the case.
Out of the box ideas for Steiner connections (for those who like to dream.... these are conceptual, not very practical):
While open bridges connecting Steiner across Lake Austin would not work (see above), there are some out of the box options which have been proposed previously:
1. Lakeway proposed a road through the BCCP from 620/2222 between Steiner Ranch and River Place and leading to 2244. This road could in theory have an on/off ramp into Steiner. This would connect Four Points with Bee Caves without pushing traffic through Steiner. However, since it goes through the BCCP this has been seen as a non-starter and SRNA's focus has been on fixing RM620.
2. A tolled bridge across Lake Austin could be used to restrict cut-through traffic. If the tolls were set sufficiently high, but set low for Steiner Ranch residents we could have a way to get out in an emergency, have better connectivity and avoid tons of cut-through traffic. To set something like this up would require sophisticated coordination and planning and has not been seen as a practical idea to pursue at this time.