Federal Stimulus - Local Projects
Posted: January 22nd, 2009, 1:14 pm
Here's the wish list from CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization - the conduit for federal transportation funds) for Austin Transportation related Infrastructure spending (note that hike & bike trails of a certain width can be classified as commuter routes and are thus eligible for transportation funds):
You will see that this list differs from the list generated by the City in November, 2008, in
response to the request from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for Austin infrastructure projects.
CAMPO’s request was for transportation projects only, rather than the broader “infrastructure”
projects, and CAMPO’s definition for “shovel-ready” is that projects would be ready to bid by
August 2009, rather than the USCM’s requirement of completion by end of 2010.
• E. 7th St. Corridor Project (Pleasant Valley to Pedernales St) to include street
reconstruction and drainage and utility upgrades, streetscape amenities (sidewalk,
landscaping, lighting), and ADA improvements. $8,120,000
• Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements (a package of ready-to-install bicycle lanes, sharedused
bicycle and pedestrian paths, and minor infrastructure improvements to remove
barriers on bicycle routes). $2,600,000
• Bicycle, Shared Paths, Connected Trails and Sidewalk Project. $2,500,000
• Burnet Road Sidewalk Project: sidewalk to be installed on both sides of Burnet Rd
between Koenig/Allendale and US Hwy 183, providing an ADA-accessible route along
an arterial. $10,000,000
• ADA Title II Handicap Facility-Compliant Upgrades. $5,000,000
• Sidewalk along Wm. Cannon Drive, IH 35 to Pleasant Valley Rd. $3,000,000
• Boardwalk along Lady Bird Lake: The project will close a 1.3-mile gap in a heavily-used
pedestrian and bicycle trail system, improving safety and providing additional access to
the Pfluger Bridge, major bike and pedestrian facility in downtown Austin. $18,000,000
• Brazos Street Utilities and Road Reconstruction Project (from Cesar Chavez to E. 11th
St). $9,700,000
• Wells Branch Roadway Project. $2,000,000
• S. First St. Sidewalk Project: sidewalk on both sides of S. First from Slaughter Ln. to
Wm. Cannon, providing an ADA-accessible route along an arterial. $5,000,000
• Brodie Ln. Sidewalk Project: sidewalk on both sides of Brodie Ln from Travis County
line to Slaughter Ln. $1,500,000
• Westgate Blvd Roadway Project, Cameron Rd. to Cohoba Drive. $2,000,000
• Intersection/Safety Improvement Projects (various Austin locations). $1,500,000
• Purchase and Install Transit Fare and Parking Mgmt Kiosks: solar powered, cell phonebased
travel fare machines to be installed on-street along proposed Austin Urban Rail
Corridor and at MetroRail stations, to dispense transit tickets and manage station parking.
$5,000,000
• Austin Safe Routes to School Supplemental Funding. $3,000,000
• Austin Urban Rail Project: purchase vehicles and maintenance equipment necessary to
jumpstart high capacity rail investment in Central Austin. $60,000,000
• Trail Enhancements at Lady Bird Lake (to include, for example, trail resurfacing, 5
restroom replacements, retaining wall replacement, 25 water fountain replacements, 2
park shelter replacements, etc.). $7,000,000
• Davis/Deer Ln Roadway Improvements. $1,000,000
• Purchase and install Computer technology necessary to allow web access to existing
200+ arterial traffic cameras and other traffic information devices, resulting in improved
driver information and system efficiency. $800,000
• 20 signals at various Austin locations. $2,400,000
• Purchase and install variable message signs on major highways and arterials to manage
special events in Central Austin and provide improved driver information. $5,000,000
• Purchase and install vehicle detection stations using toll-tag registration tags, creating a
real-time congestion information system accessible by Austin citizens. $6,000,000
• Asphalt Overlay Projects Citywide. $1,500,000
______________________________________________________________________________
The following projects are not on the list because they cannot meet the federal requirement of
being ready to bid by end of August, 2009:
• Pleasant Valley Road Extension: to close a gap in S. Pleasant Valley Rd. between Button
Bend and St/ Elmo Rd.). $2,500,000
• North Lamar Sidewalk Project: sidewalk on both sides of N. Lamar from Rundberg Ln to
Braker Ln, providing a high-priority ADA-accessible route along an arterial. $6,500,000
• Pfluger Bridge Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge Extension: an extension of the existing
bycicle/pedestrian bridge built in 2001. The bridge provides a safe, effective crossing of
Lady Bird Lake in the city’s downtown area. $2,300,000
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Tunnel (Bowie St. Underpass): sponsored by the City’s Economic
Growth and Redevelopment Dept and the Public Works Bicycle & Pedestrian Program,
the project will provide bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in downtown Austin adjacent
to an arterial. $3,500,000
• Todd Lane Roadway Improvements Project, St. Elmo Rd. to Ben White Blvd: upgrade an
existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane arterial with center turn lane, bicycle lanes,
sidewalk on both sides, and drainage improvements. $2,000,000
