City unveils mobility improvements to two corridors

The Austin Transportation Department unveiled preliminary recommendations Jan. 19 for mobility improvements to North Lamar Boulevard between Howard Lane and US 183 and on Burnet Road from MoPac to Koenig Lane.

"The big picture is to have sidewalks on both sides, bike lanes, medians and landscaping with trees," said David Freidenfeld, a transportation planner with Houston-based engineering and planning consulting firm CDM Smith.

Both stretches of road are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation and do not have the appropriate drainage systems required by the City of Austin, said Alan Hughes, project manager with the city.

A portion of the improvements would be to install the drainage systems, level off the old drainage ditches and put in sidewalks.

Hughes said new curbs would provide a safer route for pedestrians to cross at busy intersections.

Committee to recommend faster bag ban timeline

The City of Austin Environmental Board will recommend to Austin City Council that it adopt the single-use plastic bag ban drafted by city staff but with a more aggressive timeline and the elimination of an exemption for beer, wine and spirit retailers, among other changes.

"Looking at the environmental impact, this is an opportunity to do what's best for the environment, to save the city taxpayers money and to really try to begin getting away from our throw-away society; that's the main thing," board member Mary Ann Neely said.

The Environmental Board, a committee of seven citizens elected by City Council members, debated at its Feb. 15 meeting one proposed modification that would have moved forward the date of implementation to Nov. 1.

As drafted, the ordinance requires that a full ban would begin March 1, 2014.

The modification was changed to say that implementation of the ban should begin 12 months after the ordinance is adopted. City Council is expected to vote on the ban in March.

For more information on the proposed bag ban, visit www.austintexas.gov/bags.