BIKE: Crossing I-35 at +/-42nd St (Hancock Center)

[Jeb Boyt]

----Original Message Follows----
From: Mike Dahmus <mdahmus>
When Eric talks about commuter rail enabling barrier crossings, the 
assumption is that the route uses the commuter rail ROW itself.
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That might be a first thought, but in some instances the trail will clearly 
need to deviate from the alignment in order to provide a safe crossing.

- As noted, at I-35 there are existing signals where the street crosses from 
the neighborhood into Hancock Center.  This will likely be the crossing.

- At Mopac, the Walnut Creek Trail will cross the rail line just east of 
Mopac.  Access will probably be along the trail to west of Mopac.  
Construction on this trail project, approved as part of the 1998 bonds, 
should begin next year.

- At 620, the rail line crosses the highway via a concrete bridge where 
there is barely room for the rail vehicles.  Here, the trail will likely 
need to be run along Parmer in order to join up again with the rail 
right-of-way where it crosses Parmer just northwest of 620.

- The crossing of 183 is both one of the most important and one of the most 
challenging.  The right of way through the Wooten neighborhood is one of the 
most narrow portions of the corridor.  However, there is a school just south 
of 183 as well.  This portion of the trail will be challenging to design due 
to both technical and political concerns.

All of these crossings and other elements of the rail-trail will need to be 
carefully planned and designed, and as advocates for safe and efficient 
cycling, we will need to be vigilent in working with Capital Metro to ensure 
that the designs meet the needs of cyclists of all abilities.

Jeb