For over three decades, Austin developers and citizens have been dreaming up something big for the Waller Creek corridor, the area along Waller Creek downtown from Lady Bird Lake up to the University of Texas campus, and it looks like things are finally rolling.

According the City of Austin official page on the project, urban planning firm ROMA is working on the master plan for the area and will finish it by around December and there will be “plenty of opportunities for community input, including more workshops, focus groups, and town hall meetings.” It will be incredibly important for the cycling community to be involved and expressing their ideas and wishes during this period.

over sixty riders attended the ride on Saturday, August 1

Along with those plans for development come questions about cycling and pedestrian access in the area when things are in progress and then built out. On August 1, a community ride was held to evaluate improvements that could be made to increase access for cyclists along the corridor. The ride was incredibly well attended with over sixty cyclists, Councilmember Chris Riley and members of the Waller Creek Commission and ROMA participating.

Councilmember Chris Riley and Waller Creek Commission Member Jeb Boyt talk to the crowd

I talked to Waller Creek Commission member Jeb Boyt about access for biking along the corridor in the future project and he gave me a great detailed answer:

Cycling will always be an important part of the project. Both along its length, from the lake to 15th Street, and for the cross streets, particularly the connections across I-35. The challenge will be in providing a safe bikeway for portions of the project in conjunction with the pedestrian way along the creek. Between 5th & 6th streets, the existing development presses right up to the creek and the existing trail has several stairs and tight turns in that segment. Unfortunately, there is not likely to be any redevelopment of those properties in the foreseeable future.

To provide for connectivity in this area, we are looking at using Sabine Street between 4th & 7th streets as a dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists. This also offers the opportunity for a focused and manageable project were we can implement some of the Waller Creek Master Plan’s recommendations fairly quickly (at least for government time and funding allowing).

The other good news is that below 4th Street the floodplain from the lake will prevent development within the creek. So, we can look forward to a nice bikeway there through a natural segment of the creek.

To learn more about the Waller Creek project, I recommend the city’s project page. We will be providing more info on the master plan progress and other developments in the future as things progress and, especially, meetings and events for cyclists to attend.