The city of Austin is in the midst of designing $53.2 million worth of improvements on Burnet Road between Koenig Lane and MoPac and needs input from residents to help craft those recommendations.

During a Thursday night open house meeting, residents and business owners weighed in on the proposed projects being funded through the 2016 Mobility Bond.

City staffers have started the design phase, which will take one to three years to complete, and are completing the preliminary engineering work. This work includes a field study of the roadway to test soil and pavement samples as well as determine the right of way, said Sara Behunek, communications manager for the city’s Corridor Program Office.

Behunek said the proposed projects will be refined based on results from the fieldwork and public feedback, and staffers will need final approval from Austin City Council in 2019 before moving into final design.

Corridor Program Office Director Mike Trimble said overall, the city is on track to complete all bond projects within eight years by 2024. He said feedback this point in the design of corridor projects is critical because staffers can still incorporate changes based in residents’ input.

“As we gather information, if we do want to make refinements, now is the time,” he said.

The city is also coordinating with other city departments and Capital Metro to see what projects could be completed together.

Gregg Murphy, who owns Friendly Car Care on Burnet Road north of US 183, said he has a concern about a proposal to relocate a Capital Metro bus stop from near the 7-Eleven and Exxon Mobile gas station closer to the intersection with US 183 where a right-turn lane appears.

“We have an enormous amount of vehicle accidents,” he said. “People [already] swoop around the bus.”

He said he is glad the city is proposing to add a center median that would deter left turns onto Burnet and likely reduce the number of accidents he sees.

Since Friendly Car Care opened on Burnet in 1996, Murphy said the traffic flow north of US 183 has changed drastically with the opening of The Domain.

“Now there is so much daily traffic headed out to The Domain,” he said. “It’s now being used as a thoroughfare.”

Kristen Heaney, who owns Yard Bar on Burnet near Justin Lane, said the city is proposing to add a median on Burnet in front of her business that would restrict would drivers could make left turns.

“I’m concerned about accessibility to our property,” she said. “Currently, folks can access our property pretty easily. What’s being proposed would block a direct left turn.”

Heaney said she appreciates that the city is reaching out to business owners.

“That is the best thing they can do,” she said.

Anyone who was unable to attend the Burnet Road open house may visit the project website at www.austintexas.gov/burnet and provide feedback online or view an interactive map.