[Stop] Signs Of Progress In Rainey Neighborhood

I was expecting the City to share with stakeholders a draft of an “in the works” plan for Downtown Austin’s Rainey neighborhood. There’s not much to report. Instead, stakeholders were met with City staff taking notes on what the stakeholders had to say.

Staff from several City departments were in attendance, including: Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Austin Energy, Transportation, Planning & Development, Austin Police. Also present was perennial sustainability advocate and Austin City Council member Chris Riley.

What’s next? Each department will organize their feedback and report to…. nobody is sure. I’ve asked the City to create a dedicated web presence for Rainey Street (e.g. www.cityofaustin.org/raineystreet) to better organize and distribute information. Here is pdf scan of the handouts. And, I’m glad to share that there is real progress to report.

The most evident sign of progress in the Downtown Austin neighborhood was, in fact, a stop sign. Two stop signs actually. This small but difficult win is a result of Rainey neighborhood advocates like Phyllis Fletcher, Mike Abraham, and Lora Herring – all residents at the Villas On Town Lake.

A couple of months ago, Phyllis [who is a Board Member of the Rainey Neighbors’ Association], did a little hand holding of with the City of Austin Dept. of Transportation. Prior to this, despite impassioned pleas by neighbors at the Downtown Commission, residents from The Shore Condos and Villas on Town Lake were denied a stop sign at the intersection of Red River Street and Davis Street, which is also where the two building’s drive ways intersect. Phyllis walked city staff around the neighborhood and pointed out traffic nuances that were not so evident on paper or based on pneumatic traffic counts.

I feel safer already. Thanks, Phyllis!

-Jude