Any plans on a highway loop?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

But if you go back to the OP, the OP never mentioned that she or he was from either Houston or DC, he or she was just asking about whether there would be a loop. The OP also never said Austin sucked. I agree, there are a few people on this board that b*tch and moan about Austin shortcomings and cannot wait to get out, but they are very much in the minority. However, you are often quick to jump on anyone that has a question or suggestion, painting him or her as a malcontent or accusing him or her of wanting to turn Austin into wherever they came from. That's what I mean by a bee in your bonnet - a rush to judgment where the judgment isn't supported by the facts.

And getting anywhere you want quickly, I gotta say, driving from SW Austin to Phils Ice House on Burnet last Tuesday night at 5 PM took about an hour and 10 minutes. That was 15 miles in 70 minutes. Not very quick.

You're right that I might be hypersensitive about that after a couple of years on CD. I'll try to keep an eye on it. However, going back to the OP, they clearly were comparing Austin to those two cities and suggesting that we change to be more like them, whether they said they were from there or not (they appear to be from Tampa, FL).

[atxcio]

It's Austin 101: There will be no highway loop in the city, ever. Just forget about it. Don't even ask. Don't even think about it too loud.

Other topics in the Austin 101 course -

* Sports: There shall be no sports team bigger than the Longhorns
* How long you've lived here and how much you love it: a qualification for your next job in Austin
* Getting around: Why public transportation doesn't exist in the "good parts" of town
* Style: How to wear camo shorts and a t-shirt on any occasion
* Food and Drink: Why you can never have too many iconic Tex-Mex establishments
* Environmentalism: Why we like development now but still don't like roads
* Politics: How to stay liberal, but only by Texas standards
* Neighborhoods: Why you need to warn your friends about Williamson County

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

You're right that I might be hypersensitive about that after a couple of years on CD. I'll try to keep an eye on it. However, going back to the OP, they clearly were comparing Austin to those two cities and suggesting that we change to be more like them, whether they said they were from there or not (they appear to be from Tampa, FL).

I think the OP was just using those loops as an example of what he or she was talking about. It is quicker to write something like that then to explain what a loop is. Believe it or not, before I'd moved to Austin in 99, I'd never heard of a loop because I'd never lived anywhere that had one. The OP was just asking if there are plans for one, that's not really a comparison of cities.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

I think the OP was just using those loops as an example of what he or she was talking about. It is quicker to write something like that then to explain what a loop is. Believe it or not, before I'd moved to Austin in 99, I'd never heard of a loop because I'd never lived anywhere that had one. The OP was just asking if there are plans for one, that's not really a comparison of cities.

exactly!

tis a shame there is no plans to finish it. can make getting around MUCH quicker...

[twange]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

exactly!

tis a shame there is no plans to finish it. can make getting around MUCH quicker...

Well if you look at Google maps, between 45N/130, there's a pretty good half-moon around the city right now(45 S now connects directly to 35 S near Creedmoor). The only way I see that connecting all the way around Austin would be to make 71 (west) and FM 620 a freeway/toll road. I don't think that will happen, nor do I think it necessary. That's some nice country out there and cutting a highway through could really be counter-productive to keeping with Austin's (hopefully)anti-sprawl plans moving forward.

As mentioned on another recent thread, I think completing several unfinished interchanges/connections combined with a more vigorous campaign (possible price cuts and mandates) to woo thru-traffic and truckers onto 130 would help the area tremendously.