North Austin News

Austin Mobility News: May 15, 2023

Your weekly news update from the City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department

In this week's edition:

•    Seasonal street maintenance begins across Austin

•    Gear up for Bike to Work Week May 15-19

•    May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

•    Calendar Corner: May 16 – May 22, 2023

Para obtener más información en español, vea este correo electrónico en su navegador y haga clic en la esquina superior derecha para la traducción al español.

Seasonal street maintenance begins across Austin

Crews with Austin Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) are beginning seasonal street maintenance in neighborhoods around the city. With summer approaching, temperatures are suitable for surface treatments to be applied. 

Residents can expect to see crews in neighborhoods through the early fall. These maintenance activities help preserve Austin's streets and extend their lifespan.

One of the more noticeable street applications taking place this summer is sealcoat. Sealcoat is a quick process involving spraying a layer of oil and spreading an asphalt material on top. Crews then sweep excess rock and may return to do additional sweeping if needed. The sealcoat process results in a smoother surface, eliminating hairline cracks that lead to potholes.

To help make this a smooth process, TPW is offering the following tips: 

•    Vehicles must be removed from streets scheduled for maintenance for two days.

•    Expect loose gravel once the work is complete. Some loose rock that remains on the road will settle into the new asphalt material with time.

•    Avoid hard braking and sharp turning until the surface hardens to prevent flying gravel.

Please note that vehicles not removed prior to scheduled maintenance will be towed to a nearby street.

The treatment must be done in warm, dry conditions, so the work is usually done between May and October as weather permits. On most streets, the treatment can be done in 30 minutes per lane, per block. Crews work during daylight hours from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and some weekends. 

To see streets scheduled for maintenance, visit TPW's Street Preventative Maintenance webpage.

Gear up for Bike to Work Week May 15-19

Ditch the four wheels this week and opt for a bike instead! It’s Bike to Work Week! According to The League of American Bicyclists, 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get around.

This week will be highlighted by Bike to Work Day! Join Get There ATX, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, Movability and more on Friday, May 19, 7-9 a.m. This year's Bike to Work Day will include over 40 fueling stations around Austin. Fueling stations will be handing out free treats such as coffee, tacos, waffles, snacks, and complimentary bike tune-ups for bicycle commuters.

Click here to see a full map of fueling stations and get more information on Bike to Work Day 2023. 

Don't have a bike? No problem! MetroBike Austin has stations throughout Downtown Austin and will be offering free day passes on Friday with the code BTWD2023.

Can’t join us in the morning? Stop by Central Machine Works for the Bike to Work Day After Party for food, fun and live music. To plan a comfortable bike ride to the event, see the online Austin Bike Map, which displays available routes by reported comfort level. The fun begins at 6 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and share stories with other bike commuters.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Crashes killed 21 motorcyclists in Austin in 2022 – the highest total in recent memory. Additionally, 74 motorcyclists were seriously injured in crashes, also the highest total in recent memory.

Drivers can help protect motorcyclists by slowing down, driving sober, and avoiding distractions on the road. Motorcyclists are going as fast as your car but don’t have the protection of a steel cage. Driving at slower speeds can protect motorcyclists from serious or fatal crashes.

Motorcycle riders can protect themselves by wearing a DOT-compliant helmet and high-visibility gear that protects your body adequately. That means your arms and legs should be completely covered, boots and shoes should cover your ankles and hands should be protected with gloves, which also help provide better grip.

In addition to protecting the body, motorcycle riders should remember to slow down and stay vigilant when riding near other vehicles. Eight of the 21 fatal motorcycle crashes mentioned above involved single motorcyclists losing control, so maintaining a safe speed and driving responsibly are crucial.

For more information on motorcycle safety, please visit the National Highway Traffic Association motorcycle safety website.

Calendar Corner: May 16 – May 22, 2023

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Councils

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Councils advise the City of Austin and other jurisdictions on all matters relating to biking and walking, respectively. The two groups will hold a joint meeting.

•    Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023

•    Time: 6 p.m.

•    View: Agenda | Watch live meeting | Austin Transportation and Public Works, 901 S. MoPac Expy, Plaza V Suite 300

Bond Oversight Commission

The Bond Oversight Commission monitors the implementation of projects approved in bond elections and ensures efficiency, equity, timeliness and accountability in the implementation of existing and future City bond programs.

•    Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

•    Time: 2 p.m.

•    View: Agenda | Watch live meeting | Austin City Hall,

301 W. Second St.

Austin Transit Partnership Board

The Austin Transit Partnership is an independent local government corporation with the authority and resources to design, construct and implement the Project Connect program.

•    Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

•    Time: 2 p.m.

•    View: Agenda | Watch live meeting | Project Connect, 203 Colorado St.

CapMetro Board of Directors

The CapMetro Board of Directors discusses and takes action on operations of the region's transit system. CapMetro services include fixed-route buses, MetroRapid, MetroExpress, MetroRail, Metro Access, MetroRideShare and Pickup. The agency also operates UT Shuttle and a host of other services.

•    Date: Monday, May 22, 2023

•    Time: Noon

•    View: Agenda | Watch live meeting | CapMetro, 2910 E. Fifth St.

Original source can be found here.