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Speed cushions are planned for Monarch, Crownspoint, Marsh, and Curlew. In addition, Monarch will have two center islands with speed cushions. These will be placed on each end of Monarch (the entrance to Castlewood near Manchaca and at the other end of Monarch near Marsh). It will be a center island (similar to the one on Crownspoint) with speed cushions on either side of the island. The city will landscape and maintain the islands for two years. A private entity has agreed to maintain the islands after that.

There was a public meeting back in February, and interested citizens had the opportunity to sign up to be on the committee and draw up the plan. The committee has approved this plan, and it will now be submitted to the neighborhood for a vote. There will be another public meeting where information about the plan will be available. The plan is final as it stands, but citizens can vote yes or no. If the plan receives approval from 60% of those who vote on it, the plan will be implemented.

Citizens will receive information about the upcoming informational meeting along with a ballot. They do not have to attend the meeting. They may mail back the ballot either before or after the meeting. The vote is up or down on the entire plan.

The following is a Frequently Asked Questions section originally prepared by Dominc, and edited by Ronnie Bell, the representative from the city in charge of our project:

Castlewood/Tanglewood Area
Traffic Calming Plan
Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the area considering a Traffic Calming Plan (TCP)?
Based on previous complaints regarding speed and cut-through traffic and the availability of funding, the city of Austin selected the area for a TCP process.

What was the TCP process?
The TCP process started with a neighborhood traffic survey that was mailed to all households in the planning area. On February7, 2008, the City of Austin held a public meeting to explain the TCP process and solicited volunteers to serve on a work group to study the data and develop the specifics of the TCP. The work group has met 8 times (3/13, 3/20, 4/3, 4/10, 5/15, 6/12. 7/24, & 8/7) over the last 5 months and has developed a plan to present to neighbors for consideration. The plan will be mailed to all households in the planning area with a ballot. Between the time the plan and ballots are mailed and the due date to return the ballots, the City will host another meeting to give area residents/owners an opportunity to ask questions. The plan will only go into effect if 60% of the households that submit ballots approve of it.

What were the results of the neighborhood traffic survey?
More than 3,500 surveys were mailed to neighborhood residents/owners, and approximately 5% of the surveys were returned to the city. Below are the results for the key questions:

1) Which is more important to you?
a) Unlimited/easy access to neighborhood: 20%
b) Reduced speed/cut through traffic: 64%
c) No response: 16%

2) Will you support a TCP with parking restrictions?
a) Yes: 53%
b) No: 41%
c) No response: 6%

3) Will you support a TCP that may increase emergency response time?
a) Yes: 53%
b) No: 41%
c) No Response: 9%

What streets did the survey results identify as the most problematic for speed and/or cut through traffic?
The top 3 streets identified as problems in the planning area included (in rank order):

1. Curlew
2. Monarch
3. Crownspoint

Of the streets identified as the Top 3 problems by residents, what were the speed and traffic count data for them?

Speed (85 percentile)
Curlew: 35.5 MPH (Northbound), 37.2 MPH (Southbound)
Monarch: 36.8 MPH (Eastbound), 35.9 MPH (Westbound)
Crownspoint: 33.5 MPH (Eastbound), 35.0 MPH (Westbound)

NOTE: the 85 percentile data means that 85% of the traffic measured was below the speed indicated above; 15% exceeded the speed above.

Traffic Counts
Curlew: 4,284
Monarch: 2,468
Crownspoint: 1,031-2,167 (depending on segment)

Did the streets identified by residents as problems meet minimum thresholds for traffic counts and speeds to be considered for traffic calming devices?
Yes.

What streets did the TCP work group identify for traffic calming?
Curlew, Monarch, Crownspoint, and Marsh

Why did the TCP work group include Marsh Drive if it was not a top priority identified by the neighborhood survey?
Neither the survey results nor the data suggested that Marsh Lane was a serious problem in the area. However, based on the traffic patterns and the proposed placement of traffic calming on Curlew Lane, the group believed that traffic might be encouraged to divert to Marsh Drive since it is one of the few other North-South alternatives to Davis Lane from Slaughter. Therefore, the group believed placement of traffic calming devices would be a preventative measure against future cut through traffic. Marsh Drive met the criteria for the installation of traffic calming devices.

Why are these four streets more important than other streets in the neighborhood and designated for traffic calming devices?
These streets represent the only streets in the TCP area that provide complete or near-complete access East to West and North to South from the major arterials that bound our neighborhood: Slaughter, Manchaca, Davis and Brodie. Because of this, they see high traffic volumes and speeds relative to other roadways in the planning area.

The purpose of TCP is to reduce excessive speeds and discourage non-local commuters from using neighborhood roads for their travel.

What type of traffic calming devices will these roads receive?
Because of certain restrictions on the placement of some devices, these roads are only eligible for a small selection of devices. After weighing costs and benefits of these type of devices, the group decided to recommend the use of speed cushions on each roadway. Most locations will have cushions installed by themselves. However, two locations on Monarch, one on the east end and one on the west end, will have a raised median with speed cushions installed between the median and the curb.

Will the TCP for these identified roadways reduce parking and/or emergency response rates?
The devices recommended by the work group will have the lowest level of impact on both these areas. Public safety agencies prefer the use of speed cushions, and other than curb space immediately adjacent to the raised medians, curbside parking will not be impacted.

Are there any beautification projects associated with the devices?
Yes. The work group is recommending a raised median island on Monarch a little west of Manchaca as it opens into the neighborhood and another raised median island on Monarch slightly east of Marsh. These would be similar to the existing median at Crownspoint and Manchaca.

Who will maintain the median and landscaping?
The city of Austin will maintain the device for two years. After that, a private entity will maintain the device at no cost to residents.

Where can I learn more about the TCP?
You can call the Public Works Department Transportation Division at 974-1495 to learn more about the city’s TCP process.

(I looked at the traffic calming information on the website and discovered that is it somewhat out-of-date. For example, speed humps are no longer installed and the speed cushions are now installed using asphalt rather than the bolt-down devices shown in the photo. It’s probably best for people who just want to know about the program to just call us and when they tell us the area of town, they will be directed to the appropriate staff member. If someone want to request that traffic calming devices be installed on a given street, they should call the 311 call center. That way, the request will get logged and forwarded to us.)

By Tim Dowling

Do you know anyone that currently is thinking of buying a home and is a 1st timer or has not owned a home in 3 years? A new bill has been signed that provides a $7,500 interest-free loan to an individual or a couple. The government is trying to spur home buying to help the housing market in depressed areas throughout the United States and we get to benefit from the windfall.

Why is it a good time to buy? Generally the buyers currently have the control. In some areas prices have really dropped and the sellers are really motivated to deal if they have to sell. In other areas, the market is holding strong, but the incentives listed below outweigh any reason to wait.

How does the $7,500 loan work? The simple way to put it is if you owe $3,500 to Uncle Sam, the loan pays that and also you receive a check for the $4,000 difference. You also receive whatever withholding you put away to save for taxes. This incentive can be used in the 2008 or 2009 tax season.

What specifically is the $7,500? An interest-free loan from the government. In two years, you start repaying the loan in increments of $500 a year, at tax time, until the loan is paid in full in 15 years. If you sell the home before the 15 years is up you repay the outstanding portion in the sale. If you do not have enough equity to cover the $7,500, the loan is forgiven.

What can you do with the $7,500? Anything but hopefully something that can help your future like placing it in a CD or putting it in the home you buy, if it will help increase the value at a future time.

How long will this program be available and who is eligible? You have to buy the home before July 1, 2009 and there are income limits. The limit for the entire tax credit is $75,000 for a single individual and $150,000 for a married couple.

What if I recently bought a home, am I eligible? Possibly. Did you buy the home on or after April 9, 2008?

To get the full scoop, go to this website: www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com