20260520-003, Barton Springs Road Bridge Project Draft Recommendation — original pdf

Backup

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Environmental Commission Recommendation 20260520-003: Barton Springs Road Bridge Project WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission was given a briefing by Austin Capital Delivery Services on May 6, 2026, regarding the update for the Barton Springs Road Project; and WHEREAS, the bridge is noncompliant with current ADA standards; and WHEREAS, the Zilker Park area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as the Zilker Park Historic District with the existing historic bridge as a contributing feature to the Historic District; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Austin approved a Bond package in 2020, funding $11.1 million for the Barton Springs Road Bridge over Barton Creek; and, WHEREAS, the Austin City Council voted on May 2, 2024, to authorize a professional services contract for engineering services for the design of Barton Springs Road Bridge over Barton Creek in the amount of $9 million; and, WHEREAS, Austin Capital Delivery Services presented to the Environmental Commission on May 6, 2026, the preliminary plan for the new Barton Springs Road Bridge over Barton Creek; and, WHEREAS, the Historic Land Commission, on May 6, 2024, voted to request Council reconsider its decision to demolish the existing Barton Creek Bridge; and, WHEREAS, the Section 106 document supplied by Capital delivery services states, “Removal and replacement of the existing bridge would have as significant an impact on Zilker Park…and the larger mass and scale of the bridge and new design elements would not be complementary to the historic district’s existing physical aesthetics and would impact the historic district’s integrity of design, setting materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. As such, it is recommended that the bridge replacement option would have an adverse effect on the NRHP-listed Zilker Park Historic District.” WHEREAS, the carbon dioxide (CO2) impact of replacing the current bridge is twice the impact of repairing the existing Bridge; and, WHEREAS, construction of the new Bridge may require up to seven acres of Zilker Park to be “taken” for the purposes of constructing the new Bridge; and, WHEREAS, the Bridge is currently rated as a “6” and is “satisfactory” with “minor to moderate deterioration, such as cracks, rust or spalling, which may benefit from maintenance”; and, WHEREAS, the Bridge deck is in need of replacement, and subsequently, some of the spandrel . beams may need to be replaced, and other critical repairs made for the purposes of safety and utility; and, WHEREAS, the City must legally show that there is “no feasible and prudent alternative” to removing a historic bridge; and, WHEREAS, significant redactions have been made in the public documents concerning construction phases and load capacity of the existing Bridge; and, WHEREAS, demolition and reconstruction of the Bridge with a larger highway-style bridge would directly disturb and damage archeological resources in the State-designated and protected Vara Daniel archaeological site; and WHEREAS, demolition and construction of a new bridge would cause substantial traffic problems and bring damage to the riparian, aquatic, historic, and archeological resources that would otherwise be damaged or entirely lost. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Environmental Commission recommends to Austin City Council that the Barton Springs Road Bridge be registered as a local historic landmark and rehabilitated with the following additions: • During the rehabilitation process, all efforts will be made to preserve the environmental integrity and health of the Area of Potential Effects (APE): o Monitor and mitigate noise pollution using decibel meters o Monitor and mitigate air pollution, particulate matter, and runoff in an effort to ensure the health and safety of parkgoers and endangered species in the springs below o Buttress the riparian habitat below with native species and protected areas o Ensure respect, protection, and care of all historic archaeological artifacts in the APE • Build a separate pedestrian bridge that is aligned aesthetically with the existing historic bridge, utilizing natural materials where possible, and consider a future in which the existing bridge is entirely for pedestrian and non-vehicular traffic • Maintain the sense of place and integrity of the original design that also creates an entrance and sets the tone for Zilker Park • Demonstrate the need or justification for the increase in lanes on the bridge that do not match the lanes on Barton Springs Road • Deputize a public liaison for this project, create an easy-to-use online, public portal with relevant project documents, and hold more frequent, targeted meetings in the community for continued stakeholder engagement Improve Barton Creek bank protection to prevent additional major damage. • • Review alternative traffic plans proposed by the 2023 Zilker Park Vision Plan, which recommended reducing the number of lanes of vehicular traffic through Zilker Park to a single lane in each direction via Barton Springs Road and diverting pedestrian and bicycle traffic through paths north of Barton Springs Road and adjacent to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden . Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Seconded By: Attest: _____________________________________________ Mariana Krueger, Chair Chair Krueger, Vice Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, Commissioners Brimer, Changsut, Fierro, Fleury, Luecke, Morrison, and Sullivan