The CC HOA board is continuing to utilize off-duty Travis County deputy constables to patrol our neighborhood streets to promote awareness that traffic and pedestrian safety is a high priority in our community. These paid deputy constable patrols are in addition to non-paid patrols by other law enforcement agencies such as APD and Travis County Sheriff’s Department. The purpose of any citations is for traffic calming and safer, more cognizant drivers not monetary punishment.

As previously reported, Austin City Council passed a speed limit ordinance (# 20200611-045) that was signed by Mayor Steve Adler on June 11, 2020. The new ordinance restricts speed limits on all Austin neighborhood streets to 25 mph max after posting of new speed signs unless a different speed limit is determined by the City of Austin Traffic Engineer. The only basic exception is for larger neighborhood streets and major arterials (36 + feet wide) such as Boulder Lane. New speed limit signs will be placed on hundreds of Austin neighborhood streets in the 2020-2021 timeframe, but central Austin will get priority on installation of the new speed limit signs. We currently anticipate speed limit sign changes in Canyon Creek sometime later this year (will advise further).

The following charts shown below represent speed data from each of the two radar speed units (DSDD’s) recently installed on Chestnut Ridge in January 2021. One unit is installed near the Tularosa intersection and the other is near the Bramblecrest intersection. Surprisingly, the total vehicular count for the period Jan 28, 2021 to April 14, 2021 was significantly higher at the Chestnut Ridge/Tularosa location (39,796 vehicles) than at the Chestnut Ridge/Bramblecrest location (27,130 vehicles). Also of note, was the fact that essentially all vehicles had recorded speeds during this period of less than 50 mph in 30 mph posted zones (no egregious speeders doing more than 40 mph over the posted speed limit like we have seen on Boulder Lane).

Our Canyon Creek neighborhood will get improved high visibility intersection improvements at four intersections (Boulder/Ember Glen, Calavar/Ember Glen, Boulder/Chestnut Ridge, and Boulder/Crossland) near the Canyon Creek Elementary School later this year. A grant application for these intersection improvements was submitted to the city by the TAPS committee last year and our application was approved for funding. This project is now part of the Austin Transportation Dept (ATD) program called “Safe Routes to Schools”. The biggest intersection improvement will be at the Boulder/Ember Glen intersection where significant intersection redesign and construction will take place to make the intersection more visible and safer for both pedestrians (especially school kids) and motorists. Our committee and ATD believe these intersection improvements will offer a strong visual signal to drivers to slow down, watch for pedestrians, and come to a full stop at the Boulder/Ember Glen intersection. This intersection improvement project was originally planned for completion in the spring of 2021, but Covid-19 and other schedule set backs, such as limited availability of crews to perform concrete work, have resulted in an estimated project start date of early June 2021 and completion in July 2021.

Note: Click on the following link to access previously issued TAPS Committee Newsletters:

Reminders:

Respect the right-of-way of pedestrians in our neighborhood – Note: it is state law that vehicles must yield the right of way to pedestrians standing at the entrance of or in crosswalks. To yield, vehicles must come to a complete stop and wait while pedestrians enter, cross and exit the crosswalk.
Drive within the posted speed limits for safety (trying to save a few extra seconds by speeding is not safe or smart and it can cost you a lot of money). Note speed limits are set based on ideal driving conditions so wet roads, heavy traffic or pedestrian presence warrants reducing speed below the posted limit.
If you see someone driving recklessly or if you experience “road rage”, call 911 immediately and report as many details of the reckless driving as possible such as the nature of the event, license plate number, make/model/color of vehicle, location, driver description, etc. Please do not chase or confront the driver.