03-1: IH-35 Capital Express Presentation - Hancock Golf Course — original pdf
Backup
CHAPTER 26 APPLICATION IH-35 CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL IMPROVEMENTS REQUESTED PARKLAND DECLARATIONS OF USE Hancock Golf Course Austin Parks & Recreation Board September 2026 Mark Stanko, Project Manager, WSP Kevin Koeller, P.E. A D N E G A 1. Project Summary 2. Project Objectives 3. Stakeholder Engagement • Bi-weekly meetings • On-site meeting • Public Involvement (PI) interagency meeting • Community engagement 4. Parkland Declaration of Use • Hancock Golf Course / Recreation Center – East 41st and Peck Ave • Temporary Construction Declaration of Use • Scope of Parkland use • Alternatives Assessment 5. Summary of Requested Parkland Declaration of Use WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 2 1. Project summary The Capital Expressway Austin Water Standalone Utility Project (CAPEX-AWS) requires relocation of over 45,000 linear feet of water and wastewater utilities to mitigate conflicts with the proposed improvements to IH-35 by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). These relocations are primarily in City of Austin right-of-way (ROW) but some work on private property and parkland is required. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 Proposed Water and Wastewater lines for the CAPEX AWS project 3 2. Project Objectives • Improve safety and mobility in Austin • Provide Austin Water customers with a reliable water and wastewater system that is accessible • Relocate water and wastewater lines impacted by proposed IH-35 CapEx Project WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 4 3. Stakeholder Engagement Meetings held to date: ▪ Bi-weekly meetings Austin Parks and Recreation (APR), Austin Water (AW) and TxDOT ▪ An on-site meeting with APR, AW, Hancock Golf Course representatives and TxDOT for the Comal Street, Hancock Recreation Center and East Avenue Declaration of Use areas on May 29, 2026. ▪ Public Involvement (PI) interagency meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, with AW, APR and TxDOT. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 5 SUMMARY OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS April 2026 Onwards • Email correspondence between TxDOT, Austin Water, City of Austin APR, Forestry and other city departments relating to the proposed use of Hancock Golf Course and other parkland. July 2026 • Elected officials, stakeholder organizations and neighborhood associations were notified about the project and parkland use by email during the week of July 27. • Property owners near and around the affected areas received mailed notification letters during the same week. August 2026 • On Thursday, Aug. 13, TxDOT conducted a block walk at properties around the Hancock Golf Course to share information on the upcoming utility work and easement needs in that area. Residents, property owners and stakeholders were provided with a project fact sheet and TxDOT contact information. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 4. PARKLAND DECLARATION OF USE HANCOCK GOLF COURSE AND RECREATION CENTER (EAST 41ST STREET AND PECK AVENUE) WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 7 Parkland Declaration of Use Use of City of Austin parkland is required at Hancock Golf Course. Declaration of Use Request Area (sq. ft.) Temporary Construction 9,482 EAST 41ST STREET I H - 3 5 P E C K A V E N U E Hancock Golf Course EAST 38TH STREET WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 8 Waller Creek HANCOCK GOLF COURSE N Existing wastewater flows cross IH-35 to the east. Due to the lowering of IH- 35, WW flows will be diverted to the west, tying into the network on East 41st Street north of Hancock Golf Course. Wastewater inflow Receiving WW Network Existing WW conflicts Proposed Breakout Project Wastewater Line 9 I R E T A W E T S A W N O T A C O L E R WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER ALIGNMENTS WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 10 Wastewater Relocation – Alternative Route 1 Three alternative wastewater pipeline routes were assessed, which would not require work on 41st Street west of Red River or the construction easement. Connect to existing wastewater network on Park Boulevard to the north. Reasons not selected: • Would require work within Waller Creek and associated environmental impacts • Not desired by Austin Water as this option would require downstream improvements in a section of the wastewater network that is difficult to access Waller Creek N CapMetro Crossing WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 Hancock Golf Course Proposed TxDOT ROW Existing TxDOT ROW 11 Wastewater Relocation – Alternative Route 2 Two alternative wastewater pipeline routes were assessed, which would not require work on 41st Street west of Red River or the construction easement. N Connect to the existing wastewater network to the east of IH-35 using a lift station or siphon to cross IH-35 Reason not selected: • Wastewater catchment east of IH-35 has insufficient capacity to accommodate the wastewater flows WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 Proposed TxDOT ROW Existing TxDOT ROW 12 Wastewater Relocation – Alternative Route 3 N to the existing wastewater Connect network within the Perry Commodore Perry Hotel Property. Reason not selected: • Would require excavation close to Waller Creek and removal of large trees with associated environmental and permitting impacts WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 HANCOCK GOLF COURSE Proposed TxDOT ROW Existing TxDOT ROW 13 PARKLAND USE WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 14 Hancock Golf Course Parkland Use N Installation of 36” diameter wastewater tunnels on East 41st and Red River streets adjacent to Hancock Golf Course. Multiple wastewater structures (siphons, chambers) need to be installed for the crossing of Waller Creek on East 41st Street. Construction space required for: • • Loading/unloading of equipment Temporary storage of construction materials • Handling of spoil and slurry from tunnelling operations • Setup of electric generators for tunnel boring machine power supply • Other tunneling-related activities For tunnels of this size, a minimum construction work area of 0.5 acres is required adjacent to the construction area. Area needs to be of practical shape and not too narrow. The northern portion of the Hancock Golf Course meets all requirements. The trees within the golf course, including Heritage Trees, will be fully protected in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 15 Hancock Golf Course Parkland Use • Established trees to be fully protected • Golf—teeing ground to be reinstated by golf course • Shared user trail on southern boundary to be temporarily relocated to a crushed granite trail adjacent to the golf cart path • Newly—planted trees to be transplanted out of easement area prior to construction. Replanting to be completed by APR / Forestry following construction. • Irrigation pipes within the construction area in the golf course to be removed and reinstated. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 East 41st Street Temporary closure to vehicle traffic between this location and Hancock Recreation Center access road. 16 Hancock Golf Course Parkland Use Image shows approximate property boundary and proposed area of temporary parkland use. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 17 ALTERNATIVE TEMPORARY WORKSPACE LOCATIONS WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 18 Temporary Workspace Alternative 1 Hancock Recreation Center Soccer Field The soccer field in Hancock Recreation Center meets the requirement to be used as temporary construction area, but: • The field is heavily used year-round for sports and youth programming • Its closure to serve as a temporary construction area would significantly affect Austin Parks and Recreation’s ability to provide essential services to the community Soccer field in Hancock Recreation Center WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 19 Temporary Workspace Alternative 2 East 41st Street Reasons not selected: Area within street closure is approximately 0.5 acres, but: • A large portion of this space will be taken up by the construction excavation so it provides insufficient area • This area includes the bridge over Waller Creek which removes this area from construction storage use • This area is too narrow to be practical • Access to Hancock Recreation Center would be restricted to one bi-directional lane requiring stop/go traffic control 41st Street west of the Hancock Recreation Center access road and an area of parkland use to north of soccer field WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 20 Temporary Workspace Alternative 3 710 East 41st Street (Commodore Perry Property) Reasons not selected: • Both areas are within the flood plain of Waller Creek • Additional permitting processes required for work near creek • Area to east is uneven and would require earthworks near creek • Both areas would require vegetation clearance • Access constrained by existing stone wall (potentially heritage) and narrow gate which would need to be demolished • Not viable due to access constraints and impacts to creek WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 21 Temporary Workspace Alternative 4 Hancock Commercial Center Reasons not selected: • Temporary easements would be required for private commercial property with impacts on operation of businesses • The shape of the construction area would be narrow and spread-out making it infeasible for use to support tunneling operations Southwest corner of the Hancock Commercial Center WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 22 Temporary Workspace Alternative 5 East 41st and Red River Street More extensive road closures in East 41st and Red River Streets with a mixture of full road closures or restrictions to one- directional traffic to provide additional working space. Reasons not selected: • The project approach is to limit impacts by avoiding full street closures and maintaining two-directional traffic wherever possible • There would be significant negative impacts to bus routes, removal of access to Hancock Recreation Center, removal of access to local businesses WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 23 Full street closures in Red River and East 41st streets to provide sufficient working space. 5. SUMMARY OF REQUESTED PARKLAND DECLARATION OF USE WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 24 CHAPTER 26 OF THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE (PWC) DUE DILIGENCE FOR UTILITY ASSIGNMENT Section 26.001 A department may not approve any project that requires the use of any public land designated as a park unless the department, acting through its duly authorized governing body or officer, determines that: Hancock Golf Course 1. There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or Confirmed taking of such land 2. The program or project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land, as a park, recreation area, scientific area, wildlife refuge, or historic site, resulting from the use or taking Confirmed WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 PROJECT COORDINATION & PARTNER SUPPORT Prior to Construction: • Golf course to disconnect and cap the irrigation system • Newly-planted trees to be transplanted off the area During construction: • Temporary trail diversion and construction fencing • Signage to direct trail users • Coordination with APR regarding park events and traffic control • Tree protection and coordination with APR for heritage trees adjacent to and within the easements • Reinstatement of path and grass areas by TxDOT Post-Construction: • Reinstatement of golf teeing ground by golf course • Reinstatement of irrigation system by golf course • Replanting of trees by APR/Forestry WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 SUMMARY OF REQUESTED ACTION Austin Water requests a recommendation to City Council for approval of: • Temporary Work Area Use of 9,482 sq. ft. of parkland at Hancock Golf Course not to exceed 549 calendar days Total mitigation to be paid by Austin Water is $188,215. WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 NEXT STEPS May 2027: • Estimated construction start for wastewater main relocation in East 41st Street October 2028: • Estimated construction end and park open to the public WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 PROJECT TEAM Managing Engineer Kevin Koeller, P.E. P: 512.972.2055 | E: kevin.koeller@austintexas.gov Project Sponsor Mueen Chowdhury, P.E. P: 512.972.0209 | E: mueen.chowdhury@austintexas.gov Project Design Manager Mark Stanko, PMP P: 214.893.4121 | E: mark.stanko@wsp.com WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 THANK YOU WSP | CAPEX Chapter 26 Application | September 2026 wsp.com 30