City Of Austin Publishes Austin Mobility News For February 28

Press release from the City of Austin:

March 1, 2022

Following the passage of the 2020 Mobility Bond, Austin Public Works kicked off the design phase for the new Longhorn Dam Bridge project last summer. Once complete, the wishbone-shaped bridge will connect to the existing Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at three points and create a new north-to-south connection over the eastern edge of Lady Bird Lake.

Now that the project has reached 30% design, it’s time for the public to weigh in on whether the design for the bridge is on track. The New Longhorn Dam Bridge 30% Design Virtual Open House, launched last week, reveals updated plans for the bridge’s design with a focus on three areas: the bridge’s plaza, a new underpass under Pleasant Valley Road, and parkland improvements near Canterbury Street.

The open house and project survey are available in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, seven days a week through March 24, 2022. The Urban Trails program will also host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom to address questions from attendees and seek input on potential site-specific artwork for the project.

Residents can learn more and subscribe for project updates at AustinTexas.gov/NewLHDBridge.

Coming out of a year where 116 people were killed on Austin roadways, it can be difficult to see the progress that has been made over the past few years toward Austin's Vision Zero goal. Three murals painted by local artists remind us why eliminating severe traffic crashes is so important. They were inspired by testimonials provided by crash survivors and families of crash victims. Neighbors, friends, co-workers, visitors and other loved ones could be alive today if crashes were avoided or happened at lower speeds.

Austin Transportation's primary strategy to reduce severe crashes is through engineering safer roadways for all users. Alongside those improvements, safe decisions by drivers and all road users can make a life-changing difference. Deciding not to speed, eliminating distractions, choosing to get a safe ride home before a drink and choosing to stop-and-yield to people crossing intersections before you turn will save lives.

Austin has made progress. There were 515 serious injuries on Austin roadways in 2021, the lowest number of serious injuries since 2015 (excluding 2020’s pandemic year). However, 600+ people suffering life-changing injuries and fatalities from car crashes should not be acceptable to anyone who uses the roadways.

Austin Transportation encourages the community to visit the murals at Odom Pavilion and City Star Foods, read the stories and quotes, and remind each other that individual driving decisions matter. It takes everyone in the community working together for everyone to get home safe.

Art enriches lives and transforms public spaces, and can provide a visual reminder of what our community values. Austin Transportation thanks the families and crash survivors who shared their stories, which the artists used to create their murals.

This press release was produced by the City of Austin. The views expressed here are the author’s own.