• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
Search
You are here: Home / News / Protected Bike Lanes and Other Goodies Are on the Way at East 51st Street
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

Protected Bike Lanes and Other Goodies Are on the Way at East 51st Street

James Rambin December 17, 2021 Comment

A slightly weird rendering that we believe dates back all the way to the 2012 vision plan for East 51st Street, showing a vibrant streetscape and protected bike lane — it kinda looks like renderings for the Great South Lamar Road Diet. Image: City of Austin

The streetscape improvement plan by the Austin Transportation Department known as the East 51st Street Mobility Project is moving towards a groundbreaking after presenting its completed site plan by global engineering firm Atkins to the city’s Design Commission earlier this week, with a number of significant mobility and pedestrian features on deck for East 51st Street between I-35 and Berkman Drive. 


A typical street view looking east on East 51st Street.

The project, dating all the way back to City Council’s approval of the East 51st Street Vision Plan in 2012 and a successful transit bond that same year, hopes to bring an urban environment to 51st Street closer to what you’d see just south of here inside the Mueller neighborhood, creating a more cohesive link between that region’s streetscapes and the adjacent Windsor Park neighborhood — upgrades include a protected bike lane on the north side of the street, a second fully off-street bicycle lane on the south side, and the replacement of the street’s current center turn lane in this area with a landscaped median offering more limited turning locations.

Image: City of Austin / Atkins

Image: City of Austin / Atkins

Parallel parking will be offered on both sides of the street in areas east of its intersection with Lancaster Court, which isn’t exactly the most glamorous feature but could provide a bit more protection for its bike lanes and sidewalks. Improved pedestrian crossings at East 51st Street’s intersections with Mueller Boulevard, Lancaster Court, and Berkman Drive will also be added, along with some sort of public art through the city’s Art in Public Places program:

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) panel selected artist Olaniyi Akindiya, also known as Akirash, in Summer 2019 to design artwork for this project. The artwork intends to encourage slower vehicle speeds and create a safe, lively space for everyone who uses the street, including people on bikes and people walking. 

— City of Austin

The project plan includes significant new landscaping along the length of the improvement area — plantings are set to include oak, bald cypress, and numerous other trees. New rain garden installations for the improvement of water quality along with detention ponds for runoff in the area are also shown in the project’s site plan:

Image: City of Austin / Atkins

Image: City of Austin / Atkins

Image: City of Austin / Atkins

The presentation of the completed plan to the Design Commission this week isn’t the final step, as its construction still needs to be approved by City Council. We actually aren’t sure precisely what the Design Commission said in response to this week’s presentation, since a video of the meeting held at the city’s new Permitting and Development Center inside the Highland redevelopment hasn’t been posted online — we certainly hope that won’t always be the case, since viewing these meetings online is kind of important to citizen involvement when it’s not feasible to attend in person.


A “desire path” on East 51st Street that will see a new sidewalk connection as part of this plan.

Still, it’s the most progress we’ve seen on this longstanding plan in some time, and with ongoing development both in Mueller and across the street inside Windsor Park, it’s a necessary upgrade for public safety in this district — with designs for the project currently at 100 percent completion, we should see the start of construction next year.

Related

Filed Under: News

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

301 West Avenue #1109
Austin, TX
Photo of 301  West Avenue #1109, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5111893)
$1,200,000
38
  • Lot Size
    166 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,106 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour
Previous Post: « Can Austin Take Back the Drag?
Next Post: One Real Estate Company Now Owns More Than 30 Properties on East Sixth »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

Featured Buildings

  • Milago Condos
  • The Independent
  • Seaholm Condos
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • 5 Fifty Five @ The Hilton
  • The Shore
  • 70 Rainey

FEATURED Listings

300 Bowie Street #3006
Austin, TX
Photo of 300  Bowie Street #3006, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3104817)
$650,000
21
  • Lot Size
    88 sqft

  • Home Size
    698 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

800 W 5th Street #401
Austin, TX
Photo of 800 W 5th Street #401, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2630237)
$1,225,000
26
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,506 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

301 West Avenue #1206
Austin, TX
Photo of 301  West Avenue #1206, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3815054)
$1,850,000
25
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,490 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

202 Nueces Street #2504
Austin, TX
Photo of 202  Nueces Street #2504, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8171058)
$1,070,000
28
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    921 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

360 Nueces Street #2906
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #2906, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5683599)
$625,000
35
  • Lot Size
    88 sqft

  • Home Size
    748 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

austin condo report

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Austin Condos For Sale

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Avenue Lofts
  • Brazos Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Austin city life since 2007 · Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2022 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...