Austin Transportation and Austin Public Works are are installing safety and mobility improvements on West Gate Boulevard between William Cannon Drive and Cameron Loop.
Funding
Austin City Council allocated $426,000 as the primary funding source for improvements to West Gate Boulevard through the City of Austin’s Quarter Cent Program, which funds local transportation and mobility infrastructure projects throughout the City.
Project Background and Goals
Austin Transportation and City Council District 5 staff have discussed existing safety and mobility challenges along the project limits with Austin residents over the past few years. The planned improvements are informed by those community conversations and national best practices for speed management and street design.
The project is expected to:
- Encourage slower motor vehicle speeds and reduce high-risk speeding
- Improve access to transit (Capital Metro’s Crosstown Route 318 and Flyer Route 103)
- Improve predictability and safety for everyone using the street
Design and Construction Schedule
Updated December 2020
The West Gate Boulevard Project will be built in phases beginning in winter 2020. Austin Transportation staff have identified several improvements anticipated to be complete by summer 2021 as part of “Phase 1” of the project.
Phase I planned improvements include:
- Larger and more frequent speed limit signage along the project limits
- An all-way stop at West Gate Boulevard and Manassas Drive
- ADA-compliant curb ramps + pedestrian safety islands (example below) near existing bus stops at three locations:
- West Gate Boulevard and Manassas Drive
- West Gate Boulevard and Grennock Drive
- West Gate Boulevard and Willet Trail
- Relocation of southbound bus stop 4430 further north/closer to the crossing at William Cannon Drive
- A sidewalk segment + ADA-compliant curb ramps at West Gate Boulevard and Cameron Loop (alternative funding source: Transportation User Fee)
Example of an existing pedestrian safety island on West Gate Boulevard.
After Phase I improvements are installed, staff will evaluate motor vehicle speeds and yielding behaviors along the project limits. If further measures appear to be needed in order to achieve project goals, staff will explore installing additional improvements as part of a “Phase II” of the project. Such improvements may include Dynamic Speed Display Devices (speed feedback signs), enhanced crossing treatments, modifications to on-street striping, rumble strips, or additional ADA-compliant curb ramps and pedestrian safety islands.
October 2021 Update:
Austin Transportation will install “checkpoints” with plastic delineators at various locations along West Gate Boulevard along with edge line striping to encourage appropriate driving speeds. Existing striping and raised reflective pavements markings will also be refreshed to improve visibility. Checkpoints are points in the roadway, typically marked with vertical elements, to encourage motorists to drive at safe speeds. This treatment along with effectively narrowing lane widths with edge lines is intended to lower vehicle speeds. Artistic renderings, not shown to scale, are included above to demonstrate the final state of the roadway following installation.
Installation is scheduled to be completed in Winter 2021. Striping is estimated to be installed this month and expect flexposts to be installed in the months to follow.
June 2021 update
Weather permitting, Austin Transportation will begin construction of safety and mobility improvements along West Gate Boulevard at the following cross streets:
- William Cannon Drive: relocation of bus stop and construction of new bus pad.
- Grennock Drive: New ADA curb ramps and pedestrian island.
- Manassas Drive: New ADA curb ramps and pedestrian island.
- Willet Trail: New ADA curb ramps and pedestrian island.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Austin Transportation anticipates that construction will begin by mid-June and last three to four weeks.
March 2021 update
Austin Transportation crews will install two sets of Dynamic Speed Display Devices (DSDDs) along West Gate Boulevard in April. One set of signs will be installed between Willet Trail and Manassas Drive. The second set of signs will be installed between Grennock Drive and Alderwood Drive.
January 2021 update
Austin Transportation crews installed an all-way stop at West Gate Boulevard and Manassas Drive.
Austin Public Works crews installed new ADA-compliant curb ramps at the southwest corner of West Gate Boulevard and Cameron Loop.
December 2020 update
Austin Public Works crews installed a new sidewalk segment and ADA-compliant curb ramps at the northwest corner of West Gate Boulevard and Cameron Loop.
Contact
For questions about the project, email Leslie Altamirano or call (512) 974-7990.
For media inquiries, email AustinMobility@AustinTexas.gov or call (512) 974-8000.