Problem #5
Anderson Lane

Problem Report Index Title Problem Number Date Location Report contact Summary Details Problem and Solution Exhibits Comments Suggestions Status Status History Solution Thank you... Title: Anderson Lane has many problems between Shoal Creek Blvd and Lamar Blvd. Problem Number: 5 Date: Mar 1, 1998 Reported by: Steve and Marilyn Rogers

Location: West Anderson Lane From Shoal Creek to Lamar Blvd., Both North and South sides of the street. Move to Index for Problem #5

Summary: Although there is a good infrastructure of sidewalks along west Anderson Lane in North Austin, there are several significant problems which remain. A project by the City of Austin, funded by Capital Metro under the Build Greater Austin program, will repair the street and "do work on sidewalks" along this Anderson Lane between Shoal Creek Blvd. and Lamar Blvd. this Spring/Summer. We do not know what aspects of the project will include fixing up the sidewalks, but we wish it to be known what problems exist so that they can be fixed if possible. Move to Index for Problem #5

Details: There are several catagories of problem along Anderson Lane: First off, there are several large gaps in the sidewalks which break the accesibility of the street: The south side of Anderson Lane across from the post office, the mail drop off drive through area serves as the pedestrian path (you walk with the cars). Along the north side of Anderson Lane between Brockman and Burnet, next to the Jack In the Box. There is no wheelchair access to the NE corner of Burnet and Anderson, except if crossing the street twice with this corner as a stop over point. A large gap exists on the eastern end of Anderson Lane, between Lamar Blvd and Watson St. on the south side of Anderson Lane, in front of Gary Pools and some other businesses. Since there are no wheelchair accessible crossings of Anderson Lane between Watson St. and Woodrow Ave (west, across the tracks), this gap is a significant barrier to accessibility. A smaller gap exists on the south side of Anderson Lane between Mullen Dr. and Rutgers Ave. This one does have a navigable path which allows some access. On each side of the proper gap, the "sidewalk" is not discernable from the parking lots. Curb cuts are missing or are poorly designed so as to be ineffective. At Shoal Creek and Anderson Lane, on the SE corner, crossing shoal Creek, the curb cut deposits a wheelchair user into a depression deep enough such that some motorized wheelchairs lose contact between the ground and drive wheels. Many curbcuts along Anderson Lane are at angles such that a wheelchair is aimed into Anderson Lane traffic in order to descend or ascend it squarely. Curbcuts are missing at Woodrow, on the SW corner to cross Anderson Lane. The pedestrian crossing of the tracks is "broken" on both the north and south sides. Curbcuts are missing on the south side of Anderson Lane in both of the crosswalks at Burrell Drive. Many "interior curbs" are not cut or are only partially cut. There are many breaks in the sidewalk due to driveways for businesses etc. To a wheelchair user, a curb is a barrier, no matter if it is on a street or a in a driveway. Obstructions are in the sidewalk Utility polls, hydrants, signposts, business signs and parked cars. A stretch of sidewalk is dangerously high next to Northcross Mall Almost none of the crosswalk activation buttons are easily accessible to wheelchair users. Many are completely out of reach, too high, or aimed towards inaccessible areas. This means that most wheelchair users and sight impaired people must cross without a WALK signal, even at "protected" crosswalks. Exhibits Move to Index for Problem #5

Comments: Hopefully any Build Greater Austin projects which can incorporate fixes to these problems will not neglect to do so! Move to Index for Problem #5

Suggested Solution: Build sidewalks in all of the gaps. Build ADA curbcuts at crosswalks, and mid-block curbs. Fix all curbcuts to be straight with the path of the wheelchair traveler. Move obstructions out of the pedestrian right of way. Do not require a button to be pushed in order to have a protected crossing. Require engineers to traverse the entire area in a wheelchair (or at least with someone in one) before finalizing their plans. Move to Index for Problem #5

Current Status:Discussing Solutions with City Officials Initial report Mar 1, 1998 Move to Index for Problem #5

Status History Mar 1, 1998: Report published on web. Mar 2, 1998: 4 Color printouts were built from these pages and delivered to: Keith Snodgrass, Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Austin, and via Keith Sondra Creighton, project coordinator on the Anderson Lane Build Greater Austin Project for the City of Austin, as well as . Mar 2, 1998 Gave a hard copy of the printed pages to Chip Harris, president of the Crestview Neighborhood Association. Mar 16, 1998 Steve Rogers spoke to Sondra Creighton about the document and made an appointment to walk the Anderson Lane area and discuss what types of remedies might be possible, set the appointment date at April 1. April 1 1998. A meeting took place at 9:00 AM on Anderson Lane near mail box driver through (#4 on our map)attending were: Steve Rogers (WALK Austin), Sondra Creighton (project Coord. City of Austin), Keith Snodgrass (Pedestrian & bike Coord. City of Austin), (Another gentleman who's name I cannot remember who will be the inspector on the Anderson project for the City of Austin), Nancy Crowther (CMTA), King Kaul (CMTA). We walked around the western half of the area, discussing what kinds of things can and cannot be done. Nancy Crowther, being a wheel chair user, was able to demonstrate to all some of the accessiblity problems depicted in the report. The attitude was very positive, Sondra clearly had the attitude that we were helping, not hindering the project. The group found at least two more problems which are not mentioned in the original report (6a, 6b). Many of the items we pointed out will be taken care of in the project. The following is my recollection of what we discussed on the walk: ( #1), the intersection and drainage are to be redone, the curb cut should no longer be in a rut, (#2 ) This is an example of a mid-block curb cut, many of these are out of the scope of the project, which will not break the curb execept where necessary. It may be possible for some of the more problematic angular curb cuts to be fixed however. ( #3) This is the high area above the parking lot. A railing was discussed. (#4) The post office is moving anyway (similar time frame to project ) it was discussed to close off the driveway. We must contact the postmaster about this. ( #5) These bad curb cuts might get fixed, since they are at a stop light which makes it like an intersection. (#6) The sidewalk gap at the Jack in the Box depends upon the width of the right of way, there are problems with utilities and obstructions in what appears to be a very narrow right of way. Near Brockman, a portion of sidewalk will be put in (it does not have these issues). (#6a) There is another bad curb cut which we noticed crossing with Nancy Crowther, on the NW corner of Anderson Lane and Burnet Rd. Sondra indicated that this could be fixed (here that means straighten it out). (#6b) Also on the N side of Anderson Lane, just East of Burnet Rd. is another "big drop off" which needs a rail. This one is next to the large drainage ditch as it comes out from under Burnet Rd. A railing was discussed. ( #7) They will fill this gap (#8) These curb cuts are already planned (#9) The tracks are a seperate capital metro project but King Kaul assured me that they will build good pedestrian crossings. (#10) These curb cuts are also planned already. (#11) The gap by Gary Pools looks to have plenty of right of way and should be filled. Aug 13, 1998. The project has been completed except for the addition of several pedestrian "refuge islands" which were discussed. One of these "refuge islands" has been added already at the intersection of Hardy and Anderson Lane. There also remains to be done some painting of crosswalk markings onto the street, especially where the alignment of the crossing was adjusted. Move to Index for Problem #5

Solutions: Many of the reported problems have been entirely or at least partly addressed by the project. Several of the gaps in the sidewalks were filled in: The south side of Anderson Lane across from the post office, the mail drop off drive through area now has a sidewalk which is separate from the car lane. The gap on the eastern end of Anderson Lane, between Lamar Blvd and Watson St. on the south side of Anderson Lane, in front of Gary Pools and some other businesses has been filled The on the south side of Anderson Lane between Mullen Dr. and Rutgers Ave has been filled and on the West endthe sidewalk is now a proper sidewalk, distinct from the parking lot. Curb cuts are missing or are poorly designed so as to be ineffective. At Shoal Creek and Anderson Lane, on the SE corner the curb cut was rebuilt with the rest of the intersection, eliminating the problem with its slope. Curbcuts were added at Woodrow, on the SW corner to cross Anderson Lane. The pedestrian crossing of the tracks is repaired up to the actual right of way. The right of way itself is still very rough, but it is slated to be addressed by a later project by capital metro to improve the crossings. Curbcuts were added on the south side of Anderson Lane in both of the crosswalks at Burrell Drive. Many "interior curbs" are still not cut or are only partially cut. This remains a problem to wheelchair users on Anderson Lane. However several bad examples were fixed with this project. These occurred wherever there was a need to rebuild the driveway aprons at businesses. Wherever this rebuilding happened, the curb cuts have been greatly improved. A curb cut was added to the Jack in the Box driveway at the corner of Burnet and Anderson as a consolation to not adding the sidewalk between Burnet and Brockman. This curb cut, as far from ideal as it may be, helps people access the intersection immensly. Obstructions are in the sidewalk The stretch of sidewalk which is dangerously high next to Northcross Mall has had a railing added to prevent anyone from falling off. Other features Some pedestrian "refuge islands" were added at new unguarded crossings on Anderson Lane. Move to Index for Problem #5

Thank you... We did not get everything we wanted, but we were for the most part quite happy with the results on this project. The purpose of the project was to fix the roadway of damage done by heavy capital metro buses, and to make the road stronger to prevent future damage. So the project was really a road improvement project, not a pedestrian one. We were very lucky to have City Officials on the project who listened to our input and actively sought out ways to meet our requests within the defined confines of the budgeted project. Sondra Creighton, project manager for the City of Austin, deserves special thanks. She did a great job of listening to citizen input and actually taking action upon it. The sidewalk near the post office drive through is a prime example. While trying to decide what the best remedy would be to that situation, the postmaster was asked if closing that drive through was likely since the P.O. will be moving soon. This did not work out and the ball bounced back to the city. Meanwhile the project was advancing and there might not be time to come up with another solution. At this point, we figured that there would be no response possible for the sidewalk gap. To our pleasant surprise, Sondra picked the ball back up again and we have a new sidewalk adjacent to the drive through. This does not happen automatically!! We are very appreciative of the job people like Sondra Creighton are doing. Other individuals we would also like to thank are King Kaul of Capital Metro, and Keith Snodgrass, City of Austin Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator. Working with these people left us with a positive feeling. It IS possible to work with amicably the city; it IS possible to accomplish results, there DOES exist an attitude of listening, there ARE city officials who can apply creativity to problems, it IS worth the trouble to get involved!!