Antone's Nightclub
Wants Unbiased, Accurate Reporting
RECEIVED Tue., June 13, 2006
Dear Editor,
The fast moving targets of Fix290 and Oak Hill neighborhood planning efforts make it difficult for reporters and readers to stay abreast of current developments [“Can the Y Be Fixed?,” News, June 9]. Apparently it is also difficult for TxDOT staff to stay abreast of current efforts because Ms. Reeves quotes Don Nyland (TxDOT) talking about roundabouts and limited access across 290.
For the record, Fix290 efforts have not referenced roundabouts for some time now. Austin Neighborhood Planning efforts document improved connectivity and mobility across U.S. 290. Fix290's only focus is a parkway concept and the viability of that design to carry the traffic projected in CAMPO's 2030 Mobility Plan. The latest report from Smart Mobility Inc. states: “Using guidelines in the Highway Capacity Manual, and accepted traffic engineering practices for determining conceptual design, the proposed 8 lane parkway can provide sufficient capacity for the projected year 2030 traffic volumes in the CAMPO model for 290 to operate at Level of Service D/E.”
It is our hope that two things will emerge from the Oak Hill neighborhood planning and Fix290 efforts. The first is a highway design that provides adequate traffic capacity, saves money, promotes community, and doesn't just protect the environment but also improves water quality in Williamson Creek. The second thing is that transportation agencies, local governments, and neighborhoods will discover a path to transportation solutions faster and with less rancor through cooperation. These are ambitious goals. I would hope Austin residents and institutions will see these efforts as worthy goals regardless of personal cynicism.
Since we all drive, we all consider ourselves transportation “experts.” This leads to many “expert” opinions. Too often, professional engineers dismiss “lay experts” out of hand. Austin needs a calmer environment for transportation conversations to take place. We invite the Chronicle to support these efforts with, at the least, unbiased, accurate reporting.
The fast moving targets of Fix290 and Oak Hill neighborhood planning efforts make it difficult for reporters and readers to stay abreast of current developments [“Can the Y Be Fixed?,” News, June 9]. Apparently it is also difficult for TxDOT staff to stay abreast of current efforts because Ms. Reeves quotes Don Nyland (TxDOT) talking about roundabouts and limited access across 290.
For the record, Fix290 efforts have not referenced roundabouts for some time now. Austin Neighborhood Planning efforts document improved connectivity and mobility across U.S. 290. Fix290's only focus is a parkway concept and the viability of that design to carry the traffic projected in CAMPO's 2030 Mobility Plan. The latest report from Smart Mobility Inc. states: “Using guidelines in the Highway Capacity Manual, and accepted traffic engineering practices for determining conceptual design, the proposed 8 lane parkway can provide sufficient capacity for the projected year 2030 traffic volumes in the CAMPO model for 290 to operate at Level of Service D/E.”
It is our hope that two things will emerge from the Oak Hill neighborhood planning and Fix290 efforts. The first is a highway design that provides adequate traffic capacity, saves money, promotes community, and doesn't just protect the environment but also improves water quality in Williamson Creek. The second thing is that transportation agencies, local governments, and neighborhoods will discover a path to transportation solutions faster and with less rancor through cooperation. These are ambitious goals. I would hope Austin residents and institutions will see these efforts as worthy goals regardless of personal cynicism.
Since we all drive, we all consider ourselves transportation “experts.” This leads to many “expert” opinions. Too often, professional engineers dismiss “lay experts” out of hand. Austin needs a calmer environment for transportation conversations to take place. We invite the Chronicle to support these efforts with, at the least, unbiased, accurate reporting.
David Richardson
[News Editor Michael King responds: We're delighted to have David Richardson's updates on the evolving Fix290 proposals, which apparently no longer formally include roundabouts – although we've received other communications from neighborhood participants still defending the idea (about which we take no position). We do find it puzzling that by "unbiased, accurate reporting" Richardson appears to mean not quoting anyone who disagrees with him.]