A continuous 15-foot raised median from Lamar to Robert E. Lee, broken only by three left/U-turn lanes, and a roundabout in the middle for cars wanting to double back to restaurants. This plan is all but scrapped because the roundabout would force the city to buy the Good Eats Cafe and demolish it.
The Modified Charrette
This is essentially the charrette plan without the roundabout. There would also be slightly different median openings, including one at Sterzing rather than Barton Blvd. This plan has the support of Councilmember Beverly Griffith and the Zilker Neighborhood Association.
The Nix Plan
This plan rejects the U-turn concept in favor of an almost continuous two-way turn lane, interrupted by three raised medians. The center turn lane would be made of stamped concrete raised one inch above the pavement. This proposal appears to have the largest support from residents and businesses of Barton Springs Road because it allows the easiest access into restaurants and keeps cars out of the neighborhoods.
Good Ol’ Number Four
This compromise between the Nix and Charrette plans includes 11 15-foot-long raised medians – roughly 100 feet apart – but still allows enough space for cars to make left turns into businesses. -B.M.
This article appears in May 15 • 1998 and May 15 • 1998 (Cover).