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City of CS Traffic Division Wants Your Opinion

6,746 Views | 58 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by ak451ag
techno-ag
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In reply to Hammerheadjim • 12:57p, 8/1/24
AG
Hammerheadjim said:
Whether we are looking at gas powered vehicles, electric vehicles or futuristic vehicles, we will always be needing valid roads for autos. Unless you build a grid of expandable mass transit that need will always exist. Not saying we should reduce bike lanes, but the focus should be on auto and pedestrian traffic, because neither one is going to go away. In my opinion the survey hit a few good notes and missed a few things, but it's always good for the city planners to seek input.

Agreed. I'm not opposed to bike lanes at all, but they should never be built at the expense of auto lanes. They should always be added in addition to car lanes. Car lanes should not be taken away to make more bike lanes.
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woodiewood
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In reply to Bob Yancy • 1:17p, 8/1/24
Bob Yancy said:
PS3D said:
Bob Yancy said:
PS3D said:
The survey is rigged to add more bike lanes at the expense of existing traffic flow.


I respectfully disagree. The city of CS once was very prohibitive in bikes mixing with cars. Back in the 90s for sure. In recent decades that policy swung dramatically toward favoring bike and pedestrian mobility.

Now I think we are grappling with the right balance. How to promote bikes and pedestrian paths in the appropriate way. Part of that research is determining just how many folks are walking and riding bikes. I think that's why you're seeing those questions, particularly in a time of strained resources.

My $.02, respectfully

-yancy
Mr. Yancy:

The City of College Station has grown dramatically since the 1990s, primarily in the north-south direction, and existing corridors like Texas Avenue and Wellborn are regularly crowded, while there has been general resistance to create any relief corridors.

Welsh Avenue was once planned to connect to George Bush Drive (formerly Jersey Drive) due to neighborhood resistance, and when those same houses were demolished for newer housing, the City did not take advantage and buy ROW to make Welsh a relief route. Similarly, Dexter Drive once was slated to be a major corridor, to the point where an extension to Southwest Parkway was deliberately crippled with a 50-foot gap between the two segments.

Holleman Drive West with its apartment complexes regularly gets congested as well, yet even with the railroad rebuild it did not accommodate two lanes in each direction. I realize this is less useful when FM 2818 construction cut off Holleman Drive South and Holleman Drive West from each other, but it seems to have not even been considered.

Many years ago, even before the infamous road closure, Munson was to be expanded to six lanes as a major thorughfare. Now, even Dartmouth doesn't have four lanes beyond Southwest Parkway East anymore, let alone connecting to Munson Avenue and University Drive East.

While I'm not expecting the city to blast through neighborhoods with new roadways (the time has closed for that unfortunately), it looks like to me the city has fallen for ideologues and trendy urban planning ideas like "traffic calming" (making existing roads worse) and wasting valuable tax money on bike lanes while refusing to address the growing city and its congestion problems.


There's a lot to unpack there, but I will. It sounds like you have really looked at these issues and I appreciate the analysis.

Respectfully yours,

-yancy
I totally agree with this. Welsh was planned to go to Jersey Street, but not where George Bush is. Jersey at one time went west Teeing into Fairview and ended. When it was decided to straighted out Jersey to connect to the gravel road that went across Wellborn road and the RR tracks going past the horse arena (where Bluebell is now) they straighted out Jersey and the section of Jersey that connected to Fairview was renamed Old Jersey which now begins at the bike bridge and extends to Fairview.

Many of the homes on Dexter, Pershing, and Lee were faculty housing originally. Each of the lots were originaly 50 foot wide and most were replatted into wider lots when the large homes were being built.

Many of the smaller homes on Fairview, Ayshire, etc. were moved from campus where the old bonfire site was and where the music building is now,. I had a friend who purchase four of the homes and moved them to Fairview.

The "taffic calming" new traffic design on 2818 is absolutely asinine. That must have been some strong stuff when someone came up with that design.




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CS Iron 25
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1:18p, 8/1/24
Appreciate the survey and opportunity to speak.

The survey also needed a way to say to stop building round-a-bouts.
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PS3D
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In reply to CS Iron 25 • 3:48p, 8/1/24
CS Iron 25 said:
Appreciate the survey and opportunity to speak.

The survey also needed a way to say to stop building round-a-bouts.


There's only two roundabouts in College Station I know of...Scott & White Drive (where it intersects with the hospital parking lot) and Arrington Road (near Tower Point).

There are also a handful in Bryan.
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AggiePhil
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In reply to woodiewood • 5:36p, 8/1/24
AG
woodiewood said:
The "taffic calming" new traffic design on 2818 is absolutely asinine. That must have been some strong stuff when someone came up with that design.

If you're referring to TXDOT's super street design, that isn't for traffic calming.
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atm86
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In reply to PS3D • 8:47p, 8/1/24
AG
PS3D said:
CS Iron 25 said:
Appreciate the survey and opportunity to speak.

The survey also needed a way to say to stop building round-a-bouts.


There's only two roundabouts in College Station I know of...Scott & White Drive (where it intersects with the hospital parking lot) and Arrington Road (near Tower Point).

There are also a handful in Bryan.


Traffic is so much better when roundabouts are used. People need to stop complaining about them, and know some changes are for the better.
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CS Iron 25
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In reply to PS3D • 9:27p, 8/1/24
Lincoln Avenue is getting one currently and HWY 30 gets one at Associates with new highway expansion.

I admire some posters faith in the drivers in our community, but I do not share it. They still haven't learned to merge onto a highway so I am skeptical about adding new traffic control measures.
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dr_boogs
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In reply to AggiePhil • 9:55p, 8/1/24
AG
AggiePhil said:
woodiewood said:
The "taffic calming" new traffic design on 2818 is absolutely asinine. That must have been some strong stuff when someone came up with that design.

If you're referring to TXDOT's super street design, that isn't for traffic calming.


I was just about to post and ask who is responsible for the "Americas's test kitchen - road design edition" of the 2818 expansion. Is it TxDot, the CS city council, or both?

It's tongue in cheek (I try to find humor where I can) but I almost feel like the t-sips at TXDot in Austin come up w the most ridiculous traffic solutions to try out on the Aggies as pranks, and they sell it to CoCS as a progressive traffic solution, all the while laughing about how gullible the Aggies are. I mean, the diamond overpass is within direct eyesight of this next abomination.

I've lived here since '94 and my emotions on the 2818 renovation have run the gamut from gratitude, to frustration, to confusion, to bewilderment, to horror as I have seen the construction unfold. I mean what in the actual tarnation? No one will be able to cross 2818 in a straight line path from GB through Holleman?

If you want to go straight across 2818 you will have to turn right, then move hard left into sometimes 1 lane, but other times 2 lanes, make another hard left essentially completing a big U turn, then veer right and merge again into 1-2 lanes, then take another right, thus completeth the lesson on how to get across 2818. By the way, drivers will also have to make this maneuver while keeping their heads on a swivel for drivers running red lights from their left, and 1-2 sets of lights (that will surely always be timed perfectly) as they navigate this nonsense.

If you zoom out each one of these crossings/ontersections is now nothing more than a giant disfigured roundabout with multiple sets of lights. And this is being built in a town full of college kids "rolling coal" in daddy's hand me down diesel (complete w a lift and LED underbody lights), or the rest of them staring at their phones while completing the traffic thunder dome…..and add to that a huge influx of brand new drivers every semester who have never seen or driven anything like this before.

Yeah, what could go wrong? Now seriously, who is responsible for spending my tax dollars on this?
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etmydst
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In reply to dr_boogs • 10:25p, 8/1/24
AG
Here's an idea, wait until the project is complete before complaining, then you can tell everyone how smart you think you are.
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dr_boogs
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In reply to etmydst • 10:41p, 8/1/24
AG
So 2027? Thread bookmarked for the thread policeman.

Edited to add - the thread title is "CoCS traffic division wants your opinion". This is a message board. I gave my opinion.
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PS3D
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In reply to dr_boogs • 10:41p, 8/1/24
dr_boogs said:
AggiePhil said:
woodiewood said:
The "taffic calming" new traffic design on 2818 is absolutely asinine. That must have been some strong stuff when someone came up with that design.

If you're referring to TXDOT's super street design, that isn't for traffic calming.


I was just about to post and ask who is responsible for the "Americas's test kitchen - road design edition" of the 2818 expansion. Is it TxDot, the CS city council, or both?

It's tongue in cheek (I try to find humor where I can) but I almost feel like the t-sips at TXDot in Austin come up w the most ridiculous traffic solutions to try out on the Aggies as pranks, and they sell it to CoCS as a progressive traffic solution, all the while laughing about how gullible the Aggies are. I mean, the diamond overpass is within direct eyesight of this next abomination.

I've lived here since '94 and my emotions on the 2818 renovation have run the gamut from gratitude, to frustration, to confusion, to bewilderment, to horror as I have seen the construction unfold. I mean what in the actual tarnation? No one will be able to cross 2818 in a straight line path from GB through Holleman?

If you want to go straight across 2818 you will have to turn right, then move hard left into sometimes 1 lane, but other times 2 lanes, make another hard left essentially completing a big U turn, then veer right and merge again into 1-2 lanes, then take another right, thus completeth the lesson on how to get across 2818. By the way, drivers will also have to make this maneuver while keeping their heads on a swivel for drivers running red lights from their left, and 1-2 sets of lights (that will surely always be timed perfectly) as they navigate this nonsense.

If you zoom out each one of these crossings/ontersections is now nothing more than a giant disfigured roundabout with multiple sets of lights. And this is being built in a town full of college kids "rolling coal" in daddy's hand me down diesel (complete w a lift and LED underbody lights), or the rest of them staring at their phones while completing the traffic thunder dome…..and add to that a huge influx of brand new drivers every semester who have never seen or driven anything like this before.

Yeah, what could go wrong? Now seriously, who is responsible for spending my tax dollars on this?
I've noticed that TxDOT uses super streets as a "stop gap" measurement. On US-281 in northern San Antonio, from approx. 2012 to 2020 roads like Evans Road and Stone Oak Parkway were cut off from each other, or from 2013 to 2017 FM 973 in Austin.


Of course, the question "why all this construction if they're just going to rip it up in ten years" is a valid one, but they didn't ask me.
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ukbb2003
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In reply to Hammerheadjim • 10:57p, 8/2/24
Hammerheadjim said:
Whether we are looking at gas powered vehicles, electric vehicles or futuristic vehicles, we will always be needing valid roads for autos. Unless you build a grid of expandable mass transit that need will always exist. Not saying we should reduce bike lanes, but the focus should be on auto and pedestrian traffic, because neither one is going to go away. In my opinion the survey hit a few good notes and missed a few things, but it's always good for the city planners to seek input.


Go all in on flying vehicles. Government could probably give everyone a flying vehicle and still come out ahead on road building savings.
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waltdebord
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In reply to Stupe • 5:03p, 8/5/24
AG
I agree with you on the "Get rid of medians" or at least quit adding them. Expensive and bad for businesses that are cut off from access unless you are going the right direction. More U-turns for everyone. Perhaps someone on the council has a curb company or a friend who has a curb company.
Walt DeBord
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zachsccr
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8:35p, 8/5/24
AG
CS is a pretty good bike town as far as infrastructure. I've lived in 5 towns in the last 3 years and it is the best by a long shot.

The only reason I don't bike more is because we live in Satan's hot, humid, arm pit and I don't like be soaked when I get to work.

Real needs: a true loop to facilitate East/west travel without lights.
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KidDoc
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In reply to Stupe • 5:12p, 8/6/24
AG
Stupe said:
Quote:
The number of car/bike accidents could be reduced 98% if,

1. Bike riders would know the traffic laws.

2. Bike riders would follow the traffic laws.

In three instances I have come within a foot of running bike riders over, twice due to them just running stop signs and a third time riding the wrong way on George Bush Drive.
Completely accurate.

Mr. Yancy,

Have the cops enforce the laws for bikes.


I'm in Boston touring today and we rented bikes to get around downtown. A pedestrian cop actually pulled over a biker that whizzee by us and ran a red light and wad ticketing him! I was impressed.

Of course even Boston has the problem of the suddenly disappearing bike lane. It also helps that it was 70 degrees in August today.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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91_Aggie
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7:40p, 8/6/24
AG
My opinion on trying to promote cycling as a method of moving around the city for commuting to work is that starting in March and deep into October is that cyclists would be soaked in sweat. So they might only be good/useful for about 4-5 months


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PS3D
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4:15p, 8/9/24
As for traffic circles I would legitimately want to see more traffic circles in those four-way stop areas in Southwood Valley, so that you could just keep going in most of those places. If traffic circles were added along Deacon at Welsh, Rio Grande, Brothers, and Longmire, I wouldn't have to worry about stopping on Deacon between Texas and Wellborn except maybe in rush hour.

I don't think it's justified at this point, though. If I were to pick one it would be that annoying light at Longmire and Deacon with that hard dip.
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TyHolden
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4:26p, 8/9/24
AG
We saw a dozen or so cowboys riding scooters through Century Square the other night. It was around 10pm and there was nobody around. One of the weirdest things I've ever seen. They looked like some kind of gang at first.
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AggiePhil
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1:54p, 8/12/24
AG
Why is Wellborn still posted as a work zone between Balcones and Rock Prairie? Looks finished to me.
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Bob Yancy
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In reply to AggiePhil • 3:19p, 8/12/24
AggiePhil said:
Why is Wellborn still posted as a work zone between Balcones and Rock Prairie? Looks finished to me.


I saw that. Waiting on a final state inspection or something?
My opinions are mine and should not be construed as those of city council or staff. I welcome robust debate but will cease communication on any thread in which colleagues or staff are personally criticized. I must refrain from comment on posted agenda items until after meetings are concluded. Bob Yancy 95
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doubledog
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7:40a, 8/13/24
Bob, you are aware of this Brazos County Traffic map, with Driver comments.

Some of it is just complaints, but there is also a lot of good input, if only someone was paying attention.

https://engagekh.com/bcssafety/map#/
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Bob Yancy
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In reply to doubledog • 8:03a, 8/13/24
doubledog said:
Bob, you are aware of this Brazos County Traffic map, with Driver comments.

Some of it is just complaints, but there is also a lot of good input, if only someone was paying attention.

https://engagekh.com/bcssafety/map#/


Wow! Thanks! That is pretty cool and I was unaware of it. I'll forward to our traffic division and confirm they use it.

Thank you!
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ak451ag
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In reply to Bob Yancy • 9:27a, 8/13/24
Bob Yancy said:
AggiePhil said:
Why is Wellborn still posted as a work zone between Balcones and Rock Prairie? Looks finished to me.


I saw that. Waiting on a final state inspection or something?
It should fail inspection for the poor drainage alone.
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ak451ag
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In reply to woodiewood • 9:56a, 8/13/24
woodiewood said:
tu ag said:
In a city with 70k college students, we need bike lanes. Every year there are major accidents with bikes and cars, some have been fatal.

I just wish TxDot would allow us to give input on their decisions, because they are the real annoyance on traffic issues in the area. Good gracious. Medians. Hwy 6 exits. Construction timing. Etc.
The number of car/bike accidents could be reduced 98% if,

1. Bike riders would know the traffic laws.

2. Bike riders would follow the traffic laws.

In three instances I have come within a foot of running bike riders over, twice due to them just running stop signs and a third time riding the wrong way on George Bush Drive.


Happens all the time. I saw a skateboarder going the wrong way on GB and went over the hood of a car turning right off of Highlands St. There is a big arrow showing the legitimate traffic direction of the bike lane.
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