At some point we will have lanes dedicated to driverless vehicles. They'll be much more efficient. Likely higher speed limits.
quote:Think longer term as these ideas come together. Shared driverless cars.quote:I've seen those shared smart cars downtown for years. Folks I know that live down here have access, but consider them expensive for the service.
Driverless cars and car sharing type service is the key. If cars are available on demand at the ends of the bus route, then mass transit becomes more appealing.
Plus, if a car is available when you need it through a car sharing service, then you may see decrease in car ownership as people choose to only have cars as needed.
Also agree that having some of those near a bus stop or rail depot (like the north side of the convention center) would be good.
But car sharing doesn't help daily commuters such as myself.
And still unsure how driverless cars would reduce traffic.
quote:quote:Think longer term as these ideas come together. Shared driverless cars.quote:I've seen those shared smart cars downtown for years. Folks I know that live down here have access, but consider them expensive for the service.
Driverless cars and car sharing type service is the key. If cars are available on demand at the ends of the bus route, then mass transit becomes more appealing.
Plus, if a car is available when you need it through a car sharing service, then you may see decrease in car ownership as people choose to only have cars as needed.
Also agree that having some of those near a bus stop or rail depot (like the north side of the convention center) would be good.
But car sharing doesn't help daily commuters such as myself.
And still unsure how driverless cars would reduce traffic.
User pays a subscription and/or a per usage charge, when they need a car, they request it and the driverless car picks them up and drives them where they want to go. Essentially uber with self driving cars.
Now imagine, someone has an option to take mass transit to/from work, and has access to a car whenever they need it, whatever kind of vehicle they need. And then people decide I don't really need to own a car, making a car payment, paying for gas, paying for insurance, paying for maintenance, so they just stop having a car altogether. It reduces one of the largest barriers to mass transit for people that don't have to use it. They still have the freedom of having a personal vehicle at both ends of the line, but without driving through rush hour.
Alternatively, consider a disruptor to public transportation. Metro buses operate with a fixed schedule and fixed stops. Often with complicated paths requiring switching bus lines. Plus, they aren't exactly luxury. What if someone came along and provided an app and a "bus fleet". Probably smaller than public transit buses, and nicer. You let the system know where you are and where you need to go, a "bus" comes and picks you up and takes you where you want to go, only, there are other people in the vehicle with you and maybe you make a few stops to pick up drop off along the way.
Eassentually, self driving car can be disruptive in ways that may result in less car ownership and more people using shared transportation.
quote:Me calling a car or a bus to take me to work and then bring me home seems like it would double the trips to and from my house. I would have the convenience of not having to drive to work, but it wouldn't alleviate traffic. In my mind it would make it worse.quote:Think longer term as these ideas come together. Shared driverless cars.quote:I've seen those shared smart cars downtown for years. Folks I know that live down here have access, but consider them expensive for the service.
Driverless cars and car sharing type service is the key. If cars are available on demand at the ends of the bus route, then mass transit becomes more appealing.
Plus, if a car is available when you need it through a car sharing service, then you may see decrease in car ownership as people choose to only have cars as needed.
Also agree that having some of those near a bus stop or rail depot (like the north side of the convention center) would be good.
But car sharing doesn't help daily commuters such as myself.
And still unsure how driverless cars would reduce traffic.
User pays a subscription and/or a per usage charge, when they need a car, they request it and the driverless car picks them up and drives them where they want to go. Essentially uber with self driving cars.
Now imagine, someone has an option to take mass transit to/from work, and has access to a car whenever they need it, whatever kind of vehicle they need. And then people decide I don't really need to own a car, making a car payment, paying for gas, paying for insurance, paying for maintenance, so they just stop having a car altogether. It reduces one of the largest barriers to mass transit for people that don't have to use it. They still have the freedom of having a personal vehicle at both ends of the line, but without driving through rush hour.
Alternatively, consider a disruptor to public transportation. Metro buses operate with a fixed schedule and fixed stops. Often with complicated paths requiring switching bus lines. Plus, they aren't exactly luxury. What if someone came along and provided an app and a "bus fleet". Probably smaller than public transit buses, and nicer. You let the system know where you are and where you need to go, a "bus" comes and picks you up and takes you where you want to go, only, there are other people in the vehicle with you and maybe you make a few stops to pick up drop off along the way.
Eassentually, self driving car can be disruptive in ways that may result in less car ownership and more people using shared transportation.
quote:
I just hate to give the city a 720 million credit card. I understand it failed passing smaller bonds but come on ...720 million might work?
Any ideas on where I can see specifics as to what's being spent on what and how much. Most of my googling turns up vague numbers.
quote:
If approved, the $720 million mobility bond would allocate $482 million to implement the cities 7 completed corridor plans, $101 million for regional projects and $137 million to implement other existing master plans for sidewalks, urban trails, bicycle facilities and Vision Zero as well as make other capital improvements.
quote:
$7 million to fix 620/2222 doesn't seem enough, but what do I know. Just glad to see something might get done.
quote:Don't confuse stupidity with balls....
Takes a lot of balls for city council to kick out two successful companies that provide a great transportation service, and then a couple of months later want to raise our taxes because they say our transportation sucks here.
quote:Is that even inside of City Limit?
$46M to build in interchange at 360/Westlake Dr
quote:
Here is the Community Impact piece.
quote:
If approved, the $720 million mobility bond would allocate $482 million to implement the cities 7 completed corridor plans, $101 million for regional projects and $137 million to implement other existing master plans for sidewalks, urban trails, bicycle facilities and Vision Zero as well as make other capital improvements.
Details on the corridor plans can be found on austintexas.gov, such as the $165M North Lamar/Burnet Rd Corridor plan. Other projects include:
- $17M to expand Parmer Ln between SH45 and 1431
- $5.5 M Anderson Ln from Spicewood to 183
- $46M to build in interchange at 360/Westlake Dr
- $7.5M 2222/620 intersection
- $17M expand Spicewood Springs Rd between Mesa and 360
quote:I wonder how much the overpass will help. That intersection is horrible and needs this, but I'm afraid the traffic jam will just get pushed down to the light at Courtyardquote:Is that even inside of City Limit?
$46M to build in interchange at 360/Westlake Dr
quote:
What South Austin roads need help, other than Mopac? I feel like most of the bottlenecks are in North Austin
quote:quote:I wonder how much the overpass will help. That intersection is horrible and needs this, but I'm afraid the traffic jam will just get pushed down to the light at Courtyardquote:Is that even inside of City Limit?
$46M to build in interchange at 360/Westlake Dr
quote:35 & Mopac need to be connected with a freeway between around the 45 area.
What South Austin roads need help, other than Mopac? I feel like most of the bottlenecks are in North Austin
quote:quote:
What South Austin roads need help, other than Mopac? I feel like most of the bottlenecks are in North Austin
Slaughter Lane has bottlenecks all over in the mornings/afternoons. Wm. Cannon is the same, although I "feel" the ones on Slaughter more often on my commute.
I actually think much of Slaughter's backups are due to horrible timing on the lights (although... knock on wood... seems like this week with school starting that the lights are doing better with their sequencing).
quote:It's the olds and stop lights. 620 is worse.
What good does an interchange at 360 and Westlake do when we know that the NIMBYs will never turn that in to a legit freeway?
Also what the **** is so hard about going 60 on 360?