TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Bee Cave discusses upcoming RM620 project with TxDOT
BY JENNIFER SCHAEFER
an environmental review and rights of way acquisition. The city has tentatively agreed to provide $5 million toward the project, in accordance with state code, which requires local participation of 10% of the rights of way acquisition and util- ity relocation costs. Currently, the city is only required to pay $2.5 million of the contribution with the remaining portion of the funding due later in the improvement process. Semora said the rights of way need to be bought early on. Of the $5 million the city has set aside for the project, $2.4 million will go toward rights of way purchases with the remaining funds deferred until construction begins. Semora said it is hard to say when
the state will fund the project, but that the state usually waits until the project is “shovel-ready.” “[RM] 620 is a high priority,” Semora said. “Everyone recognizes its need.” Semora said if the project continues on its current pathway, the city could see utility work begin in late 2023 or early 2024.
Bee Cave City Council held a discussion about the state of Texas road system and asked questions of a Texas Department of Transportation engineer at its Feb. 22 meeting. Council Member Andrea Willott requested the discussion, and South Travis Area Engineer William Semora Jr. was on hand to explain progress TxDOT has made toward a project to improve safety along RM 620 through Bee Cave and its neighbors. This project will install an advanced tra c-management system along RM 620 at its intersection at Hwy. 71 to its intersection with Anderson Mill Road at the Williamson County line. Semora said TXDOT is currently conducting preparation work such as
A portion of Redbud Trail was closed in February due to an ongoing project by Travis County.
GRACE DICKENS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
UPCOMING PROJECTS
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ONGOING PROJECTS lines as part of the Redbud Trail bridge project. The Redbud Trail bridge proj- ect will replace the existing bridge at Redbud Trail over Lady Bird Lake. Timeline: February 2022-24 Redbud Trail bridge Redbud Trail underwent closures Feb. 14-23 while the city of Austin completed studies of underground
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Traffic deaths increase in Austin year over year; Vision Zero’s work ongoing
In 2021, data showed a 26% increase in local tra c fatalities from 2020 and a nearly 32% from 2019, according to Austin Trans- portation Department representatives. There was a more than 23% increase in pedestrian tra c fatalities and more than double the number of motorcyclist tra c fatalities compared to 2020, according the data. ATD attributed the increase to a rise in tra c violations. “Humans make BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
mistakes, but those mistakes don’t have to be fatal,” ATD Transportation Safety O cer Lewis Le said. Through a strategy called Vision Zero, the city will continue using street improvements, policy changes and education to reduce deaths and injuries, Le said. Austin City Council adopted the plan in October 2015, and funding comes from the 2016 mobility bond, which allocated $15 million for Vision Zero.
Tra c deaths in have increased in Austin since 2020, speci cally involving pedestrians and motorcycles. Vision Zero aims to reduce tra c fatalities by improving safety. AUSTIN TRAFFIC FATALITIES, 2017 21 Motorist Pedestrian Motorcyclist Bicyclist Other Total fatalities 2017 XX
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 8. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LTWNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Oak Hill Parkway Crews will be active along the Oak Hill Parkway Corridor through March 31. There will be a continuous temporary closure at the US 290 entrance to Alis- ter Oak Hill at Fox Hill Way until March 23, according to the project’s website. Timeline: July 2021-26
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SOURCE: AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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