REGULAR MEETING OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2025, AT 5:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS ASSEMBLY ROOM 4815 MUELLER BLVD. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Urban Transportation Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please call or email the staff liaison in advance at (512)-974-3593 or meredith.rusin@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Monday March 3, 2025, with the following information: name, item number(s) to speak on, telephone number, and email address. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Vacant – (District 2) Arlin Alvarez-(District 3) Susan Somers, Chair-(District 4) Daniel Kavelman-(District 5) Vacant- (District 6) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Varun Prasad- (District 7) Justin Jacobson- (District 8) Spencer Schumacher- (District 9) Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair-(District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on March 4, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion regarding the 2016 Bond Corridor Construction Update. Presenters: Eric Bailey, Capital Delivery Services DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on the CAMPO 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. Presenter: Cole Kitten, Transportation and Public Works Department Facilitator: Susan Somers 4. Discussion and approval of a Right of Way Vacation for 6400 ½ Burleson Road. Presenter: Christopher Bueckert, Transportation and Public Works Department 5. Discussion and approval of a Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget recommendation from the 6. Discussion and possible action regarding officer appointments to the Urban 7. Discussion and possible action regarding an appointment to the Joint Sustainability Urban Transportation Commission. Facilitator: Susan Somers Transportation Commission. Facilitator: Susan Somers Committee (one vacancy). Facilitator: Susan Somers COMMITTEE UPDATES 8. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Downtown Commission regarding actions taken at the March 19, 2025, meeting. 9. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Bicycle Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the March 18, 2025, meeting. 10. …
URBAN TRANSPORTATION MEETING MINUTES URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, March 4, 2025 The Urban Transportation Commission convened in a REGULAR meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, Austin, Texas. Chair Somers called the Urban Transportation Commission Meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Susan Somers, Chair Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair Daniel Kavelman Spencer Schumacher Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Diana Wheeler Deshon Brown Justin Jacobson PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Larry Akers APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on February 4, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 2/4/2025 were approved on Commissioner Schumacher’s motion, Commissioner Somer’s second on a 7-0 vote; Commissioners Smith & Buffo absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion regarding guiding principles for the 2026 Bond. The commission received a presentation from Michelle Marx, of the Transportation and Public Works Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on the Austin Core Transportation Plan. Public Speaker – Adam Greenfield with Safe Streets Austin 1 DRAFT URBAN TRANSPORTATION MEETING MINUTES (Tuesday, September 3, 2024) The commission received a presentation from Cole Kitten, of the Transportation and Public Works Department. Commissioner Kavelman moved to approve the recommendation and Chair Somers seconded the motion. Amendment 1: Chair Somers moved to amend the recommendation to add a first Be It Resolved that reads, “Now, Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that Austin City Council adopt the Austin Core Transportation Plan with some potential revisions,” and Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. The motion was approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner Buffo and Commissioner Smith absent. Amendment 2: Commissioner Schumacher makes a motion to strike the 3rd Be It Resolved (originally the 2nd Be It Resolved) and add the following: Be It Further Resolved, that the UTC recommends the ACT plan continue the protected bike lane on Red River Street from 7th Street to 12th Street, as contemplated by the 2023 Bicycle Plan and the active project listed in the 2025 Local Mobility Annual Plan, to ensure a continuous protected bicycle facility that connects with the protected bike lanes on Robert Dedman Drive; and”. Commissioner Kavelman seconded the motion, and the motion was approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner Buffo and Commissioner Smith absent. Amendment 3: Commissioner Shumacher makes a motion to amend the 6th Whereas …
CORRIDOR PROGRAM Construction Update Urban Transportation Commission April 1, 2025 Eric Bailey, PE Deputy Director Capital Delivery Services Building the City of Austin in collaboration with the community to enrich the experience of all who live, work, and play here. 1 PROGRAM TIMELINE 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Community Engagement Planning Design Construction City of Austin | Capital Delivery Services Department | One City, One Team, One Approach 2 CORRIDOR MOBILTY PROGRAM OVERVIEW RESOURCES • Corridor Program Construction Updates 2016 Mobility Bond website (AustinTexas.gov/2016Bond) • What’s New: Mobility Annual Plan, upcoming public engagement opportunities, press releases (AustinTexas.gov/WhatsNew) • 2016 Mobility Bond monthly e-Newsletter UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS Construction Complete on: • Burnet AE Drainage ($14M) Construction Continues on: • Airport Blvd. – N. Lamar Blvd. to 55th St. • Bike/Pedestrian improvements across corridors • Signal and Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons across corridors • William Cannon Drive – Running Water to McKinney Falls Pkwy (CAMPO grant) Upcoming Bids: • US 183 to Bright Verde Way – April 2025 ($17M) • White Horse Trail to US 183 (IDIQ) – May 2025 ($15M) • Bright Verde Way to Loop 1 – May 2025 ($29M) Recently Awarded: • Slaughter – Mopac to Brodie ($13M) $255M completed, in construction or awaiting notice to proceed • Bike and Pedestrian improvement projects • Signal and Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon improvement projects • Multi-modal improvement projects $100-130M in leveraged funds • Grants • Private sector development • Partnering with Local Mobility Programs for greater impact • Partnering with Utility departments for dig-once opportunities $146M to Construction in 2025 AIRPORT BLVD Completed • Intersection @ Oak Springs Dr • Intersection @ Gunter St • North Lamar Blvd to 55th • Intersection @ E 40th St • Intersection @ Harvey St In construction • 55th St to 45th St Construction upcoming • E. MLK Blvd to Mokan Trail Bridge • Mokan Trail Bridge to US 183 • 45th St to E. MLK Blvd 5 N LAMAR BLVD Completed • Signal @ West Grady Dr • Signal @ Cooper Dr • Signal @ Fairfield Dr • Signal @ Powell Ln Construction upcoming • North of Parmer Ln to Howard Ln • Howard Ln Contraflow Bus Lane • US 183 to south of Rundberg Ln • Braker Ln to south of Parmer Ln • Fill Sidewalk Gaps from Rundberg to Parmer 6 BURNET RD Completed • Koenig Ln to White Horse …
A STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION APPLICATION OF BURLESON ROAD ABUTTING 6400-1/2 BURLESON ROAD Urban Transportation Commission April 1st, 2025 Item #? File #2024-130020 LM District 2 Add location map here Abutting property owner: ZIFS Burleson6300 LLC Add aerial picture from property profile generally outline where the vacation area is 6400-1/2 Burleson Road Paved/Developed Right-of-Way Street View A Street View B Vacation tract is approximately 0.9113-acre tract of land All property owners within 300 feet of the vacation area were sent public notices on February 14th, 2025 add to presentation No objections have been received if objections or support were received and not cleared All affected City Departments and external stakeholders have reviewed and recommend approval of this right-of-way vacation application, subject to the conditions on the Master Comment Report submitted with this presentation The City will retain an Electric Easement, and Water and Wastewater Lines Easement for the entire right-of-way area to be vacated How do you plan to develop the area to be vacated? The land is owned in fee by Travis County. Said tract of land was annexed to the City of Austin on April 23, 1987, and became a public right-of- way. The right-of-way will be conveyed to the adjacent owner for redevelopment No active site plan I am happy to answer your questions regarding the right of way process The applicant can answer your questions regarding the abutting property and the proposed development. Thank you for your time! Christopher Bueckert, 512-974-1780
TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: M E M O R A N D U M Urban Transportation Commission Christopher Bueckert, Real Estate Services Agent Land Development Engineering, Transportation and Public Works Department February 26th, 2025 F# 2024-130020 LM Street Right-of-Way Vacation approximately 0.9113-acre tract of land abutting 6400-1/2 Burleson Road Attached is the Application Packet and Master Comment Report pertaining to the street right-of-way vacation application for an approximately 39,697 square foot (0.9113-acre) tract of land, being the paved/developed right- of-way abutting 6400-1/2 Burleson Road, being out of that certain 1.14 acres tract of land, situated in the Santiago Del Valle Survey, Abstract No. 24, conveyed unto George S. Matthews, County Judge of Travis County, and his successors in office, by Deed recorded in Volume 554, Pages 251-252, Deed Records, Travis County. Said tract of land was annexed to the City of Austin on April 23, 1987, and became a public right-of-way. The proposed vacation tract will be added to the abutting: North Tract – 2.6978-acres of land, out of the Santiago Del Valle Grant, situated in Travis County, Texas, by Deed recorded in Document No. 2021236711, Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas; South Tract – 1.1631-acres of land, out of the Santiago Del Valle Grant, Abstract No. 24, situated in Travis County, Texas, by Deed recorded in Document No. 2021272168, Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas. The abutting properties are owned by ZIFS Burleson6300 LLC, a Texas limited liability company. Per the transmittal letter dated September 25, 2024, received by the City of Austin, the applicant states, “How do you plan to develop the area to be vacated? Response: The land is owned in fee by Travis County and will be conveyed to the adjacent owner for redevelopment.” All affected departments and private utility franchise stakeholders have reviewed the application and recommend approval, subject to the reviewers’ conditions shown on the attached Master Comment Report. Per City Code §14-11-71 – Notice to Interested Property Owners Public notice will be sent to owners within 300’ of the area to be vacated. The director of the Public Works Department may approve the application after the 10th day that the notice is issued; and an affected property owner may submit comments regarding the proposed vacation. Public Notice was sent to appropriate parties on February 14, 2025. No objections have been received by staff as of the date of this memorandum. The …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY MARCH 4, 2025, AT 5:00 PM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 AUSTIN CITY HALL, 301 W 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Urban Transportation Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please call or email the staff liaison in advance at (512)-974-2667 or meredith.rusin01@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Monday March 3, 2025, with the following information: name, item number(s) to speak on, telephone number, and email address. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Vacant – (District 2) Arlin Alvarez-(District 3) Susan Somers, Chair-(District 4) Daniel Kavelman-(District 5) Edward Smith- (District 6) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Diana Wheeler- (District 7) Justin Jacobson- (District 8) Spencer Schumacher- (District 9) Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair-(District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on February 4, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion regarding guiding principles for the 2026 Bond. Presenters: Michelle Marx, Transportation and Public Works Department DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on the Austin Core Transportation Plan. Presenter: Cole Kitten, Transportation and Public Works Department Facilitator: Susan Somers 4. Discussion and approval of a recommendation to the Bond Election Advisory Taskforce from the UTC working group established November 12, 2024. Facilitator: Susan Somers 5. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on I-35 frontage road crossings and 6. Discussion and approval of a recommendation on the Austin Light Rail Draft pedestrian crossings. Facilitator: Susan Somers Environmental Impact Statement. Facilitator: Susan Somers 7. Discussion and approval to amend the 2025 Urban Transportation Commission calendar with an alternate date and meeting venue in November 2025. Facilitator: Susan Somers COMMITTEE UPDATES 8. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Downtown Commission regarding actions taken at the February 19, 2025, meeting. 9. Update from …
URBAN TRANSPORTATION MEETING MINUTES URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, February 4, 2025 The Urban Transportation Commission convened in a REGULAR meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Austin Energy Headquarters Assembly Room, 4815 Muller Blvd., Austin, Texas. Chair Somers called the Urban Transportation Commission Meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Susan Somers, Chair Daniel Kavelman (joined at 5:13pm) Spencer Schumacher Arlin Alvarez Justin Jacobson Deshon Brown Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Diana Wheeler Melissa Ortiz Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair Heather Buffo (joined at 6:37pm) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Scott Johnson APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on 12/3/2024. The minutes from the meeting of 12/3/2024 were approved on Commissioner Schumacher’s motion, Commissioner Somer’s second on a 9-0 vote; Commissioners Smith & Buffo absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Austin Light Rail Update The commission received a presentation from Lindsay Wood, Deron Lozano, and Yannis Banks, Austin Transit Partnership staff. 1 URBAN TRANSPORTATION MEETING MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a Right of Way Vacation for 1114 W 5th Street Public Speaker – Mashell Smith, representing the applicant The commission received a presentation from Joseph Fotinos, Transportation and Public Works. Speakers called: Stephen Griffith and Elenor Holsey. Chair Somers moved to not approve the Right of Way Vacation. Commissioner Schumacher makes a substitute motion to object to the Right of Way Vacation for 1114 W 5th Street. Commissioner Alvarez seconded the motion, and the motion was approved on a 9-0 vote with Commissioner Buffo abstaining and Commissioner Smith absent. 4. Discussion and recommendation responding to City Council Resolution 20241212-133 on the reorganization of certain Boards, Commissions & Associated Entities Commissioner Schumacher’s made a motion to approve the recommendation, and Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Amendment 1: Commissioner Buffo moved to amend the motion to strike the first Now, Therefore Be It Resolved clause and rephrase accordingly. Chair Schumacher seconded the motion. The motion to amend passes on an 8-2 vote with Commissioners Ortiz and Alvarez voting no and Commissioner Smith absent. Amendment 2: Chair Somers moved to amend the motion to amend the third Be It Resolved clause to read “Be It Resolved, that the UTC commits to working with the BAC and PAC and/or City staff...”. Chair Schumacher seconded the motion. The motion to amend passes on an 8-2 vote with Commissioners Ortiz and Alvarez voting …
2026 Bond Development -Guiding Principles- Urban Transportation Commission March 4, 2025 Outline 1. Citywide Strategic Plan Anchors & ASMP Guiding Principles 2. Technical Criteria: • Equity • Affordability • Innovation • Sustainability & Resiliency • Proactive Prevention • Community Trust & Relationships 3. Technical Criteria Summary 2 Citywide Strategic Plan Anchors & ASMP Guiding Principles Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) CSP Anchors How are services delivered Equity Affordability Innovation Sustainability & Resiliency Proactive Prevention Community Trust & Relationships 3 CSP Anchors & ASMP Guiding Principles Crosswalk Citywide Strategic Plan (CSP) Anchors : ASMP Guiding Principles Y T I U Q E Health & Safety Economic Prosperity Affordability Travel Choice Economic Prosperity & Y T I L I B A N A T S U S I Y C N E I L I S E R Sustainability Travel Choice Commuter Delay Health & Safety Y T L I B A D R O F F A E V I T C A O R P N O I T N E V E R P N O I T A V O N N I T S U R T Y T I N U M M O C S P I H S N O I T A L E R & Innovation Affordability Economic Prosperity Sustainability Health & Safety Travel Choice 4 Commuter Delay Equity Technical Criteria • In what Equity Analysis Zone (EAZ) is the project located? • Does the project serve a Title VI Transit Route? TPW addresses Equity by • Directing transportation investments to areas with high equity needs and/or areas with historic underinvestment • Addressing disproportionate health and safety impacts of transportation choices for marginalized residents • Ensuring inclusive access to safe, convenient, and affordable transportation options Equity Analysis Zones and Title VI Transit Routes 5 5 Affordability Technical Criteria TPW addresses Affordability by • Providing affordable and accessible mobility options (bike/ped/transit) to and from where people need to travel • What level of Bicycle Facility Improvement does the project provide? • What level of Existing Transit Service does the project serve? Crossings? • Does the project include High Priority Sidewalks or • Does the project support development in the Imagine Austin Growth Concept map Activity Centers and Corridors? Bicycle Facilities; Access to Transit 6 6 Innovation Technical Criteria • What type of Smart Technology (ITS) does the project provide or is it an …
Austin Core Transportation (ACT) Plan Small Area Mobility Plan of the ASMP: Downtown Austin Urban Transportation Commission – March 4, 2025 Agenda • ACT Plan Purpose and Background • Planning Process • ACT Plan Project Recommendations • Implementation Plan • Next Steps 2 ACT Plan Purpose • The ACT Plan is a Small Area Mobility Plan covering Downtown Austin and will be adopted by Council as an attachment to the ASMP. • It is an update to previous transportation focused efforts Downtown – dating back to 2000 • Why are we updating the transportation plan for Downtown? • changes in transit and bicycle planning (Project Connect / Walk, Bike, Roll) • changes in highway improvements serving Downtown (CapEx 35) • changes in national best practices on urban street design (NACTO) • disruptions to traditional mobility • The ACT Plan will create a unified vision for transportation Downtown and align the many projects and initiatives under one actionable plan to help accomplish the goals in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. 3 Background • Great Streets Master Plan, 2001 • The goal of the Great Streets program is to pursue the vision of streets for people • Downtown Access and Mobility Plan, 2002 • The emphasis of the access and mobility study was on modeling and simulating intersection traffic operations and determining existing and future levels-of- service and operational needs • Downtown Transportation Framework, 2008 • The Downtown Transportation Framework Plan builds on the Great Streets Master Plan, further developing the system of “priority streets by mode”, and developing more detailed streetscape cross sections of all of the different street types and variations • Downtown Austin Plan, 2011 • Established the vision to develop a multimodal transportation system that improves access to and mobility within Downtown 2001 2002 2008 2011 4 Background • New policy • The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) aspires to achieve a 50/50 mode share where 50% of commuters use means other than driving alone to get to work in 2039 • Transit planning • The Project Connect Long Term Vision Plan established a High-Capacity Transit System and was adopted as an element of the ASMP – an initial investment was funded in 2020 2019 • Managing demand • Transportation Demand Management programming, parking policy, and curb management are becoming critical strategies to manage congestion • New street design • The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative shows how …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20250304-005: I-35 Frontage Road Crossings and Pedestrian Crossings WHEREAS, the City of Austin is considering an investment of over a billion dollars to create new public spaces covering portions of an expanded Interstate 35, through the Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch program; and WHEREAS wide, fast moving, frontage roads create physical and mental barriers that would disincentivize visiting the caps and reduce economic development opportunities surrounding them; and WHEREAS, TxDOT’s current designs for the I-35 Capital Express Central Project include frontage roads with up to eight travel lanes that people walking and bicycling would need to cross to access the caps or cross the freeway; and WHEREAS, most urban freeways in the United States are surrounded by city streets, not highway-grade frontage roads; and WHEREAS, in 2002, the Texas Transportation Commission acknowledged significant safety and efficiency concerns with frontage roads; and WHEREAS, street parking protects people walking and bicycling on sidewalks and shared use paths and encourages the use of nearby public spaces; WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Cap and Stitch project is modeled after successful highway caps such as Klyde Warren Park in Dallas and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston; and WHEREAS, the roads surrounding Klyde Warren Park and Rose Kennedy Greenway have two to four travel lanes in total (1-2 travel lanes in each direction) surrounding the caps, in contrast with the proposed frontage roads for the I-35 caps with up to eight travel lanes in some locations; and WHEREAS, the width of the roads adjacent to Klyde Warren Park are 40 feet, and the widths of roads adjacent to the proposed caps for I-35 are up to 100 feet; and WHEREAS, there is limited access to the northern cap due to the design of the frontage roads; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Recommends that, throughout the length of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project, frontage roads should be designed as city streets per the following principles: Design should result in average speeds at or below safe urban speed limits, no higher than 30 miles per hour; The frontage roads should contain no more than 2 travel lanes in each direction throughout the length of the project; Lane widths should generally be 10 feet and no wider than 11 feet; Designs should include street trees along the entire corridor, generally …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation No. 20250304-006: Austin Light Rail Draft Environmental Impact Statement D R A F T WHEREAS, the Project Connect Contract with the Voters defines project connect as “a highcapacity transit system, to address the City's transit needs for safer, faster, and more reliable transportation that will improve access to essential services, such as education, health care, grocery stores, childcare, and jobs, especially in historically underserved and underrepresented communities;” WHEREAS, the ballot language for Proposition A of the November 3rd, 2020 election noted that Project Connect would include “associated road, sidewalk, bike, and street lighting improvements;” WHEREAS, the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) oversees the design, construction, and completion of the Project Connect Light Rail Implimnetation Plan; WHEREAS, on May 2nd, 2023 the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recommended that the City of Austin and ATP engage “in a scoping project for multimodal investments to ensure light rail integrates with and expands Austin's existing and future pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections;” WHEREAS, Project Connect is essential to accomplishing the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan’s 50/50 mode split goal by 2039; and WHERAS, on January 10th, 2025 ATP released the Draft Enviormental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Austin Light Rail Phase 1 Project; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends ATP move forward with all light rail design elements and options suggested in the Draft EIS; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that, in keeping with the Contract with the Voters, ATP should prioritize right-of-way for pedestrians, bicyclists, micromobility users, and other transit options in future design iterations over preserving access for private auto traffic. Motioned by: Seconded by: Date of Approval: 3/4/2025 Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) D R A F T
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Recommendation Number 20250304: Austin Core Transportation Plan WHEREAS, the Austin Core Transportation Plan seeks to create a cohesive and adaptable transportation framework that addresses the unique mobility challenges of downtown Austin while building on previous downtown planning efforts and integrating upcoming major infrastructure projects like I-35 Capital Express Central and Project Connect; and WHEREAS, the Downtown street network is 1% of Austin’s overall network but accounts for 12% of all pedestrian crashes and 17% of intersection-related pedestrian crashes; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan sets a goal of 50% non-single occupancy vehicle mode share by 2039; and WHEREAS, two-way streets are safer and increase economic activity where conversions are implemented; and WHEREAS, street trees and additional shade downtown make walking more feasible and can even reduce vehicle speeds; and WHEREAS, the East side of downtown is not currently slated to have an on-street, high-quality North-South bicycle facility in the current ACT plan; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Austin Alliance Downtown Parking Study was created to comprehensively and holistically find parking management solutions to better serve the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Austin; and WHEREAS, the Urban Land Institute convened a Technical Assistance Panel focused on reducing the growth of parking downtown, improving management of current parking supply, improving the human experience downtown, and improving other transportation modes; and WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 20240201-054 and corresponding ordinances seek to reduce the overall number of new parking spaces built within downtown Austin and create a more pedestrian-oriented built environment; and WHEREAS, the future Austin Light Rail and expanded MetroRapid services are projected to carry tens of thousands additional riders into downtown; and WHEREAS, there are limited resources devoted to transportation infrastructure improvements across the City, with competing priorities, including installing transportation facilities outside of downtown where no current facilities exist; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends the Austin Core Transportation Plan prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and non-car modes of transportation throughout the downtown area over car volume throughput; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UTC recommends that the ACT plan include a north-south, on-street, separated bike facility on the East side of downtown; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UTC recommends additional one-way to two-way conversions on 5th Street, 6th Street, and other streets as is feasible; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UTC …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Recommendation Number 20250304-003: Austin Core Transportation Plan WHEREAS, the Austin Core Transportation Plan seeks to create a cohesive and adaptable transportation framework that addresses the unique mobility challenges of downtown Austin while building on previous downtown planning efforts and integrating upcoming major infrastructure projects like I-35 Capital Express Central and Project Connect; and WHEREAS, the Downtown street network is 1% of Austin’s overall network but accounts for 12% of all pedestrian crashes and 17% of intersection-related pedestrian crashes; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan sets a goal of 50% non-single occupancy vehicle mode share by 2039; and WHEREAS, two-way streets are safer and increase economic activity where conversions are implemented; and WHEREAS, street trees and additional shade downtown make walking more feasible and can even reduce vehicle speeds; and WHEREAS, the East side of downtown is not currently slated to have a new on-street, high- quality North-South bicycle facility in the current ACT plan; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Austin Alliance Downtown Parking Study was created to comprehensively and holistically find parking management solutions to better serve the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Austin; and WHEREAS, the Urban Land Institute convened a Technical Assistance Panel focused on reducing the growth of parking downtown, improving management of current parking supply, improving the human experience downtown, and improving other transportation modes; and WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 20240201-054 and corresponding ordinances seek to reduce the overall number of new parking spaces built within downtown Austin and create a more pedestrian-oriented built environment; and WHEREAS, the future Austin Light Rail and expanded MetroRapid services are projected to carry tens of thousands additional riders into downtown; and WHEREAS, there are limited resources devoted to transportation infrastructure improvements across the City, with competing priorities, including installing transportation facilities outside of downtown where no current facilities exist; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the UTC recommends that the City Council adopt the Austin Core Transportation plan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends the Austin Core Transportation Plan prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and non-car modes of transportation throughout the downtown area over car volume throughput; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends the ACT plan continue the protected bike lane on Red River Street from 7th Street to 12th Street, as contemplated by the 2023 Bicycle Plan and the active project listed …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20250304-005: I-35 Frontage Road Crossings and Pedestrian Crossings WHEREAS, the City of Austin is considering an investment of over a billion dollars to create new public spaces covering portions of an expanded Interstate 35, through the Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch program; and WHEREAS wide, fast moving, frontage roads create physical and mental barriers that would disincentivize visiting the proposed caps and reduce economic development opportunities surrounding them; and WHEREAS, TxDOT’s current designs for the I-35 Capital Express Central Project include frontage roads with up to eight travel lanes that people walking and bicycling would need to cross to access the proposed caps or cross the freeway; and WHEREAS, most urban freeways in the United States are surrounded by city streets, not highway-grade frontage roads; and WHEREAS, in 2002, the Texas Transportation Commission acknowledged significant safety and efficiency concerns with frontage roads; and WHEREAS, street parking protects people walking and bicycling on sidewalks and shared use paths and encourages the use of nearby public spaces; WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Cap and Stitch project proposal is modeled after successful highway caps such as Klyde Warren Park in Dallas and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston; and WHEREAS, the roads surrounding Klyde Warren Park and Rose Kennedy Greenway have two to four travel lanes in total (1-2 travel lanes in each direction) surrounding the caps, in contrast with the proposed frontage roads for the I-35 caps with up to eight travel lanes in some locations; and WHEREAS, the width of the roads adjacent to Klyde Warren Park are 40 feet, and the widths of roads adjacent to the proposed caps for I-35 are up to 100 feet; and WHEREAS, there is limited access to the northern cap due to the design of the frontage roads; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that, throughout the length of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project, frontage roads should be designed as city streets per the following principles: • Design should result in average speeds at or below safe urban speed limits, no higher • The frontage roads should contain no more than 2 travel lanes in each direction than 30 miles per hour; throughout the length of the project; • Lane widths should generally be 10 feet and no wider than 11 feet; • Designs should include street trees along …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation No. 20250304-006: Austin Light Rail Draft Environmental Impact Statement WHEREAS, the Project Connect Contract with the Voters defines Project Connect as “a high capacity transit system, to address the City's transit needs for safer, faster, and more reliable transportation that will improve access to essential services, such as education, health care, grocery stores, childcare, and jobs, especially in historically underserved and underrepresented communities;" and WHEREAS, the ballot language for Proposition A of the November 3rd, 2020 election noted that Project Connect would include “associated road, sidewalk, bike, and street lighting improvements;” and WHEREAS, the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) oversees the design, construction, and completion of the Project Connect Light Rail Implementation Plan; and WHEREAS, on May 2nd, 2023 the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) recommended that the City of Austin and ATP engage “in a scoping project for multimodal investments to ensure light rail integrates with and expands Austin's existing and future pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections;” and WHEREAS, Project Connect is essential to accomplishing the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan’s 50/50 mode split goal by 2039; and WHEREAS, on January 10th, 2025 ATP released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Austin Light Rail Phase 1 Project; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends ATP move forward with all light rail design elements and options suggested in the Draft EIS; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UTC recommends that, in keeping with the Contract with the Voters, ATP should prioritize right-of-way for pedestrians, bicyclists, micro-mobility users, and other transit options in future design iterations over preserving access for private auto traffic. Motioned by: Commissioner Schumacher Seconded by: Commissioner Somers Date of Approval: 3/4/2025 Record of the vote: 7-0 Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
REGULAR MEETING of the URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 04, 2025, at 5:00pm AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS ASSEMBLY ROOM 4815 Mueller Blvd, AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Urban Transportation Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please call or email the staff liaison in advance at (512)-974-3428 or natalie.leone@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Monday February 3, 2024 with the following information: name, item number(s) to speak on, telephone number, and email address. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Heather Buffo - (District 1) Melissa Ortiz-(District 2) Arlin Alvarez-(District 3) Susan Somers, Chair-(District 4) Daniel Kavelman-(District 5) Edward Smith- (District 6) Diana Wheeler- (District 7) Justin Jacobson- (District 8) Spencer Schumacher- (District 9) Ruven Brooks, Vice Chair-(District 10) Deshon Brown- (Mayoral Appointee) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Transportation Commission REGULAR MEETING on December 3, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Austin Light Rail Update Presenter: Austin Transit Partnership Staff DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a Right of Way Vacation for 1114 W 5th Street Presenters: Joseph Fotinos, Christopher Bueckert, and Betty Nguyen, Transportation and Public Works 4. Discussion and recommendation responding to City Council Resolution 20241212-133 on the reorganization of certain Boards, Commissions & Associated Entities Facilitator: Spencer Schumacher COMMITTEE UPDATES 5. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Downtown Commission regarding actions taken at the January 15, 2025 meeting 6. Update from Commissioner Wheeler from the Joint Sustainability Commission regarding actions taken at the January 22, 2025 meeting 7. Update from Commissioner Schumacher from the Bicycle Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the January 21, 2025 meeting 8. Update from Commissioner Kavelman from the Pedestrian Advisory Council regarding actions taken at the February 3, 2025 meeting 9. Update from Chair Somers from the City Council Mobility Committee regarding actions taken at the January 23, 2025 meeting …
