Bluebonnet Lane
Whether you drive, roll, or walk, the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) works to improve your transportation options. ATD is evaluating Bluebonnet Lane from Del Curto Road to Melridge Place and Melridge Place from Bluebonnet Lane to Rabb Road for changes to enhance the safety and mobility of everyone who uses these streets.
Bluebonnet Lane and Melridge Place provide access to Zilker Elementary School, Little Zilker Park, businesses, and the Zilker and South Lamar neighborhoods. Funding for this project is available from the 2016 Mobility Bond Bikeways, Corridor, and Safe Routes to School programs.
Project Updates
March 2020
Phase one of project implementation between Del Curto Road and South Lamar Boulevard is complete. During phase one, the protected bikeway was installed in this segment in a one-way configuration until phase two is ready for implementation.
- Planned improvements between
Del Curto Road and South Lamar Boulevard during phase two include
converting the new bikeway to a two-way protected bikeway, plus the
addition of a pedestrian crossing and shared use pathway.
- Planned improvements in the
section between South Lamar Boulevard and Rabb Road are expected to
include upgrading the existing two-way protected bikeway as well as all
proposed pedestrian crossings. A full list of planned improvements for the
segment between South Lamar Boulevard and Rabb Road will be shared with
stakeholders in a future project update.
February 2020
After reviewing community feedback received during the comment period for this project, ATD
is moving forward with the project in two phases in coordination with
planned street maintenance. Phase one of the project will be underway in
the next few weeks.
Project Open House
ATD hosted an open house on January 23 for the community to learn more about the project.
Project Background and Goals
ATD has received requests from local residents for upgrades to the existing protected bikeway and pedestrian crossings for Bluebonnet Lane and Melridge Place. There is also an opportunity to extend the protected bikeway south on Bluebonnet Lane in coordination with routine street maintenance (resurfacing and restriping) between South Lamar Boulevard and Del Curto Road. The proposed changes were identified from recommendations in the Austin Bicycle Plan, the Corridor Mobility Program’s South Lamar Corridor Improvement Program, Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Reports, and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.
Proposed Changes
- Bluebonnet Lane/Melridge Place (Rabb Road – Rabb Glen Street): Upgrading the protection in the existing two-way protected bikeway to concrete traffic buttons. Planters are also under consideration, pending a maintenance agreement with neighborhood partners.
- Bluebonnet Lane (Rabb Glen Street – South Lamar Boulevard): New extension of the two-way protected bikeway on the west curb. This proposal would replace the existing one-way bicycle lanes, maintain one general travel lane in each direction, and consolidate parking to the east side of the street.
- Bluebonnet Lane (South Lamar Boulevard – Del Curto Road): New extension of the two-way protected bikeway on the west curb across the intersection of Bluebonnet Lane and South Lamar Boulevard to Del Curto Road, where the bikeway would transition to a shared use path.
- Rundell Place and Ann Arbor Avenue: Shorten crossing distances by adding curb extensions and crosswalks.
- Bluebonnet Lane (midblock between South Lamar Boulevard and Del Curto Road, Arpdale Street, Meadowridge Drive, Ford Street, Anita Drive, Ashby Avenue): New pedestrian crossing islands that enable people walking to stop and scan for oncoming traffic one lane at a time, while slowing motor vehicle traffic and improving driver yielding behavior.
- Bluebonnet Lane (Rabb Glen Street, midblock at Little Zilker Park, Hether Street): Improvements to existing pedestrian crossings by adding crossing islands, crosswalks, curb ramps, and/or curb extensions.
- New and improved pedestrian crossings may result in minor impacts to on-street parking.
Get Involved!
Austin Transportation wants to hear from people who live, work, and travel on Bluebonnet Lane from Del Curto Road to Melridge Place and Melridge Place from Bluebonnet Lane to Rabb Road.
Contact us
For media inquiries, email Emily Tuttle or call 512-974-6509.
Stay Updated
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