- Minutes for Special Joint Meeting
between the Bicycle-Pedestrian Subcommittee of Urban
Transportation Commission and the University of Texas
Bicycle Committee
-
- Thu., May 6, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. Trinity
Parking Garage (TRG) at 1815 Trinity St. Conference
Room
-
- UTC members present: Tommy Eden, chair Mike
Dahmus
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- UT Bicycle Committee members and UT staff
members present: Gordon Novak Colleen Fisher David
Rea Bob Harkins
-
- Others present: Bob Sessa Preston Tyree
Stuart Werbner
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- The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.
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- 1. BICYCLE ACCESS BETWEEN AUSTIN AND
UT
-
- Gordon Novak and Bob Harkins explained that the
East Riverside area has a significant number of
University of Texas students living there--about 7,000
to 10,000. The discussion focused around possible
routes from E. Riverside Dr. to the UT campus. Among
the suggestions were Pleasant Valley Rd., Waller Creek
downtown, and the long proposed boardwalk on the south
shore of Town Lake for crossing Interstate 35.
Although some bicycle lanes for Pleasant Valley Rd.
are already funded, other solutions, such as the
boardwalk, are longer term.
-
- Colleen Fisher reported that all UT shuttle buses
are now equipped with bike racks.
-
- Gordon Novak suggested the need for bicycle lanes
on W. 21st St. between Guadalupe and Speedway. He
added that there was a hole in the pavement--not a
pothole, but a deep hole for a utility access--on W.
21st St. halfway between Whitis St. and University
Ave. For eastbound W. 24th St. at Guadalupe St., he
explained that there is a right-turn-only lane. He
suggested that bicycles be permitted to continue
straight from the right lane there.
-
- Tommy Eden reported that the UTC had recommended
sharrows for Guadalupe and Lavaca Streets downtown,
and that these routes are important transportation
routes for bicyclists commuting to and from the UT
campus. Mike Dahmus suggested that sharrows could be
an option for W. 24th St., where the four lanes are
especially narrow.
-
- Tommy Eden was concerned about the need for
cooperation between the University of Texas and the
City of Austin in order to get bicycle lanes on Dean
Keeton St. (26th St.). Mike Dahmus said that the UTC
had been told that the University Master Plan called
for angle parking on 26th St., but that the UTC had
suggested that angle parking was not compatible with
bicycle lanes, and that bicycle lanes would be
preferable. Bicycle lanes have a tendency to reduce
the speed of the traffic. David Rae explained that
the Master Plan did not specifically state that Dean
Keeton should have angle parking, but that any effort
to reduce traffic speeds would be welcome. He said
that angle parking was not currently being considered
for Dean Keeton St. Mike Dahmus suggested that the
City of Austin should propose a plan and the City
should get concurrence from the University before
proceeding. Tommy Eden agreed to prepare a proposal
for Dean Keeton St.
-
- 2. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
PROPOSED UT BICYCLE HUB
-
- Time did not allow thorough discussion of this
issue, but the subcommittees will meet again later
this year. There was brief discussion about the issue
of bicycle theft on campus and the need for more
secure bicycle parking. This issue should be on the
agenda at the next joint meeting.
-
- 3. PRESENTATION OF THE UT CAMPUS MASTER
PLAN
-
- This presentation was brief, because time was
running short. David Rae explained that the UT Campus
Master Plan and the Transportation Plan focus on
pedestrian traffic. Speedway was closed with the idea
that San Jacinto St. would take the vehicular traffic.
UTC members were concerned that closing Speedway has
not encouraged bicycling on campus.
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