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Projects for ANA consideration

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. SN's focus is to support areas zoned for more apartments so as to mitigate likely problems with adding thousands of new residents, but we have also included projects in the interior of the neighborhood that reduce area car trips.

Other project ideas that meet these goals can and should be proposed.

Similar projects are being defined for the Brentwood, Crestview, Highland, North Shoal Creek and Wooten neighborhood associations. The intent is to have representatives of the neighborhood associations 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.

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.

5) Hard to bike east-west from Far West around NW Park to Burnet

q Add path, amenities to existing parkland on Shoal Creek Blvd south of 2222.

q Widened, shaded sidewalks near NW Rec Center on both sides of 2222

q Safe pedestrian crossing to NW Rec Center across 2222

q Bike lane under 2222.

q Bike lane from Gullett to NW Rec Center using Great Northern ROW.

q 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

q 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.

q 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.

q 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.

q Funding for a transit plaza at any of the following intersections: Anderson-Burnet, Burnet near Farmer’s Market, Burnet-2222, Burnet-North Loop.

q Developers must contribute in order for the City to contribute.

q Pocket parks should be highly visible, near transit, with things to do for people of all ages, and with viable maintenance plan

q Transit plaza should provide safe, shaded pedestrian/bike access from transit to nearby destinations.

Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Burnet, Anderson

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

PROJECT CONCEPT

1) Unsafe, uninviting walking/biking environment near Lamar Middle School, HEB grocery store, other destinations along Burnet, Anderson.

2) 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.

q Add shaded sidewalks on Burnet and Anderson, especially near transit and near major destinations.

q At 2222 and Burnet, and at White Horse Trail and Burnet, work with AISD to contribute land for shaded pedestrian islands in the intersection, shaded sidewalks to Lamar MS.

q Safety improvements along Nasco, White Horse Trail to Lamar MS.

See slides and other documents attached below.

NC Austin Projects Map is a high-level description of proposed pocket parks, transit plazas and trails in North Central Austin, including Allandale.
Anderson Trail Project Concept Map shows a route for an "urban trail", which in Allandale would be sidewalks, bike lanes and provisions for shading on Foster and on Northcross Drive from Foster to Anderson. There may be room for a small pocket park/green trail along the creek on the north side of Anderson.
Anderson Trail Vision and Goals explains intent of Urban Trail, mainly with focus on North Shoal Creek improvements.
OS Projects is the original list of projects, which can be unfiltered to show projects in other neighborhoods.
Standifer is a letter from a parent of a Lamar MS student describing the challenges of crossing Burnet.
Larsen is a letter from a parent and resident on Pegram proposing a safer route for kids trying to reach Gullett.
LamarMS1 is a map showing concepts for pedestrian improvements near Burnet and Allandale Rd.
LamarMS2 is a map showing concepts for pedestrian improvements near Burnet and White H Tr.
Brent letter. Letter from Brent Sjolseth describing what he'd like to see for park space south of N Sh Crk/Allandale Rd.
Midtown Trail 1. Shows Midtown Trail improvements throughout Allandale.
Midtown Trail 2. Shows Midtown Trail improvements in Northwest Park.

Description of Midtown Trail project, including map -

http://sites.google.com/a/snaustin.org/snaustin-external-site/shoal-creek-master-trail

A few answers to anticipated questions:

1. The Anderson Urban Trail in its initial phase mainly involves improvements on the North Shoal Creek side of Anderson. The proposed changes on the Allandale side would be improved sidewalks along Northcross Drive between Foster and Anderson. There will be a bus terminal along this stretch so sidewalk improvements are needed regardless. Phase 2 would focus on the area along Shoal Creek, but this would only happen if redevelopment took place. A phase 3 concept was floated to provide bike access across Mopac using storm drains, but it's unclear how practical that would be.

2. Pedestrian safety improvements are needed all around Lamar Middle School. I have some ideas, for instance providing pedestrian islands on the north and west sides of the intersection to simplify crossing, but details of safety improvements should be left to engineers. The intent here is to get these improvements prioritized and funded, perhaps as part of the federal Safe Routes to Schools program. However, we can brainstorm specific proposals at the meeting and pass it along for consideration.

3. Proposed transit plazas would obviously be located at MetroRapid stations, which CapMetro is proposing on Burnet at Anderson, Koenig and North Loop. I've attached documentation on ideas for station area improvements that have some positive impact on transit use.

4. Any pocket park should be located within the central area of a district where it could encourage more pedestrian traffic, and not out on the edge where it won't do much good and might attract transients. There are some ideas for specific sites, but it's unclear how much control we'd have over site selection except in pushing back on inappropriate locations.

5. The Midtown Trail project was initiated by former ANA board members Brent Sjolseth and Linnea Anderson (our beautification chair). Sharon Blythe is opposed to putting a trail through the cemetery to the rear side of the rec center. We are therefore proposing improvements to the existing route along Northland (2222), along with sidewalk improvements and safer crossing of 2222 in front of the recreation center.