20152016PROPOSEDBUDGET

RESPONSETOREQUESTFORINFORMATION

DEPARTMENT:AustinTransportation
REQUESTNO.:285
REQUESTEDBY:Kitchen
DATEREQUESTED:09/01/15
DATEPOSTED:9/02/15
REQUEST:Pleaseprovidetheamountoffundingneededfortrafficsafetyimprovementsat
Austinsfivemostdangerousintersectionsintermsofbodilyinjury,listedseparatelyinorderof
magnitude(budgetconcept1.26).
RESPONSE:
TheAustinTransportationDepartment(ATD)hasreviewedthetopsixtylocationsandcategorized
theselocationsbasedonthehighestpriority,collisionproneintersectionsandidentifiedwhere
particulartrendsexistthatcanbeaddressedwithengineeringcountermeasures.
Basedonthereviewofthesafetyaspectsoftheselocations,ATDhasidentifiedengineering
improvementsthatwouldaddresssafetyissuesatthetopfivelocations(seeattachedbackup
materialfromConceptItem#1.26forcostbreakoutforeachspecificproposedimprovement):
1. W.SlaughterLane/ManchacaRoad(District5):$1,500,000
Crashesprimarilyhappenatdrivewaysnorthandsouthoftheintersection.Intheabsence
ofraisedmedians,driverscanmakeunsafeleftturnstoandfromthesedriveways.The
projectwouldaddaraisedmedianalongManchacatorestrictdrivewayaccessandimprove
safety.Dualleftturnlaneswouldbeaddedattheintersectiononbothstreetstoreduce
delays.
2. LamarBlvd/RundbergLane(District4):$525,000
Crashesprimarilyhappenatdrivewaysnorthandsouthoftheintersection.Intheabsence
ofraisedmedians,driverscanmakeunsafeleftturnstoandfromthesedriveways.The
projectwouldaddaraisedmedianalongLamartorestrictdrivewayaccessandimprove
safety.
3. LamarBlvd/ParmerLane(District7):$525,000
Mostcrashesarenorthboundandsouthboundrearendsinthechannelizedrightturnlanes.
Theprojectwouldmodifytherightturnlanestoforcedriverstoyield,decreasevehicle
speeds,reducerearends,andimprovesafetyforpedestrianscrossingthelanes.

4. US183ServiceRoad/CameronRoad(District1and4):$900,000
CrashesoccuralongCameronatbothfrontageroadsofUS183.Theprojectwouldadd
anothersouthboundthroughlaneatthenorthfrontageroadtoextendsouthofUS183.It
wouldalsomodifythesouthboundrightturnlanetodecreasevehiclespeedsandimprove
safetyforpedestrianscrossingthelane.
5. IH35ServiceRoadSouthbound/MartinLutherKing(District1):$375,000
Manycrashesoccuronthesouthboundfrontageroadasvehiclescrosslanesapproaching
MartinLutherKing.Theprojectwouldchangeoneofthesouthboundrightonlylanestoan
optionalthrough/rightlane.Itwouldalsomodifytheeastboundrightturnlanetodecrease
vehiclespeedsandimprovesafetyforpedestrianscrossingthelane.
TotalCost=$3,825,000.Thesecostsincludedesignandconstruction.
Background
ATDhasinitiatedanEngineeringSafetyImprovementProgramtoaddressexistingsafetyissuesat
thehighpriority,collisionpronelocationsinAustin.Inordertoidentifytheselocations,ATDhas
collectedcollisiondatafromtheAustinPoliceDepartment(APD)andanalyzeditbasedon
frequency,rate,andseveritylevel.ATDwillusethisanalysistobetterfocusonproblemareas.
NextSteps
Inordertoalleviatesafetyissues,engineering,enforcement,andeducationinitiativesarerequired.
Atsomelocations,collisionsarepredominantlyrandomandmostlyassociatedwithdriverserrors.
However,somelocationshaveparticularcollisionpatternsthatarepreventableandcanbetargeted
withengineeringcountermeasures.ATDisadoptingthisproceduretotargetthepreventable
collisionsandimproveoveralltrafficsafetyinAustin.
Afterapprovaloftheproposedsafetyimprovements,ATDplanstoconductcomprehensivebefore
andafterstudiestoassesstheireffectiveness.Basedontheresultsofthebeforeandafterstudies,
ATDwillcontinuetoapplytheeffectiveengineeringcountermeasuresontheremainingcollision
pronelocationstoimprovesafety.

Item #1.26 Supporting Documentation

Cost estimates for funding traffic safety improvements at Austin's five most dangerous intersections are listed
below. Funding for these improvements could come from reallocating funds from the 2012 Bond Program
(Proposition 12) or the Capital Metro Quarter Cent Program, or from a future bond program.
Top 5 Crash Locations

Cost Estimate

W Slaughter Lane / Manchaca Road (District 5)

Safety Improvements
Addition of Northbound and Southbound Raised Median
Addition of Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound, and Westbound Dual Left Turns
Revision of Right-turn Channelized Islands & Curbs
Extension of Raised Median and Closure of Access on Eastbound Slaughter Lane
Revision of Signal Heads and Controls
Engineering
Contingency
Estimated Cost

$1,000,000

$250,000
$250,000
$1,500,000

Lamar Blvd/Rundberg Lane (District 4)

Safety Improvements
Raised Medians on Northbound and Southbound Approaches
Engineering
Contingency
Estimated Cost

$350,000
$87,500
$87,500
$525,000

Lamar Blvd/Parmer Lane (District 7)

Safety Improvements
Revision of Northbound and Southbound Channelized Right Turn
Engineering
Contingency
Estimated Cost

$350,000
$87,500
$87,500
$525,000

US 183 Service Road/ Cameron Road (District 1 and 4)

Safety Improvements
Addition of Southbound Through Lane
Revision of Southbound Channelized Right Turn
Revision of Intersection Concrete Curb
Engineering
Contingency
Estimated Cost

$600,000
$150,000
$150,000
$900,000

IH 35 Service Road Southbound/MLK (District 1)

Safety Improvements
Conversion of 2nd Right Turn to 3rd Through lane
Revision of Eastbound (EB) Right Turn to Merge the EB Right Turn South on IH 35 Service Road
Engineering
Contingency
Estimated Cost

TOTAL COST

$250,000
$62,500
$62,500
$375,000

$3,825,000