Southern Walnut Creek Hike and Bike progress pics and vid

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Originally Posted by June Bug

Several weeks ago I took some photos of the surveyors route on Outer Log Loop at Walnut Creek Metro Park. However, my latest ride this past week showed there is considerably more slicing and dicing of Outer Log than originally shown in the photos.

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If all stays as currently planned, it won't be bad at all. Only 2 trail crossings, one on the outer loop where you took photos before, and the other near the 4-way intersection just past the entrance to the inner log loop. A 50' section (or so) of the fast "road" section between the inner log loop and that 4-way intersection will be paved. But this is good because it gives us the opportunity to build a new shady, singletrack section that will sort of parallel the new pavement.

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Originally Posted by Nixon

who dreams up this expensive shit? i know who pays for it.

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Amen. When my wife and I read this article, she laughed at the "1.5 million dollars per mile" cost. She said, "You would make that trail for like $100/mile."
True.

lol

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Originally Posted by The Tip

Amen. When my wife and I read this article, she laughed at the "1.5 million dollars per mile" cost. She said, "You would make that trail for like $100/mile."
True.

lol

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Well the concrete trail will allow road bikers to ride it as well. That will most likely increase ridership tremendously.

The other benefit is that it will now be easier to get access to interior trails at WC faster for trail work on the West side of WC. Nothing worse than scheduling a 2 hr work day, and 40 minutes of it is hiking in and hiking out to sections that need work.

The other benefit is that it can and will open up the trail sections and Balcones Park that is home to about 3 to 4 miles of trails right now that just need some work and grooming.

Rich
Walnut Creek Trail Steward
www.austinridgeriders.com

More traffic at WC sounds awesome! If people could number off odd/even to decide which direction they'll go it would be even better.

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Originally Posted by RMBL

More traffic at WC sounds awesome! If people could number off odd/even to decide which direction they'll go it would be even better.

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isn't this the current system?

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Originally Posted by lostinatx

isn't this the current system?

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I think the current system has dog walkers with no baggies to pick up their dogs feces going "backwards" while mtbikers go forwards unless they have created a opposite direction segment on strava in high grass areas.

Why won't the planners just gravel the trails instead of concrete?
O.P. Schnabel in S.A. was divided to pieces by the concrete highways.

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Originally Posted by Endo-err

Why won't the planners just gravel the trails instead of concrete?
O.P. Schnabel in S.A. was divided to pieces by the concrete highways.

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fed money requires fed specs...10 foot wide with 2 feet on either side.

Plus it doesn't wash away. I recall Brushy Creek had this problem last year...

I wish there was a box to check for local government, not federal pork.

I think Ridgeriders could connect the parks quicker and cheaper. Toll bridge?

Washed out trails get fixed by the ones using them, ideally.
Rant over.

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Originally Posted by jmhix

fed money requires fed specs...10 foot wide with 2 feet on either side.

Plus it doesn't wash away. I recall Brushy Creek had this problem last year...

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The wash out at BC is mostly due to stupidity, poor planning and short-shortsightedness. The big wash out a few years back was the dam spillway (as the Strava bois know it: Dam Descent). That area will wash out again since they just redeposited earth and granite there. There should be a slightly elevated synthetic wood section below the dam overflow. The area is designed as the overflow, but not designed well. Instead of designing/redesigning problem areas correctly they just keep paving or resurfacing the washout areas. At least the public outcry stopped Wilco's plan to pave the Dam Descent section.

I was heading back to Bastrop from Austin today and as i crossed over Onion Creek (i think its Onion Creek) i noticed they were installing concrete sidewalk/trail along the creek there.

Its on 71 East of 973 and 130. It goes right under the bridge. I wasn't able to stop and check it out, but I am curious if it is part of the trail system you guys are discussing in this thread. I need to get my bike and gopro and check it out. Just wish i didnt have work to worry about this week, ;)

Here is a map showing the general location (purple pin)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/03/a4a3e6a2.jpg

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Originally Posted by kerryp

I was heading back to Bastrop from Austin today and as i crossed over Onion Creek (i think its Onion Creek) i noticed they were installing concrete sidewalk/trail along the creek there.

Its on 71 East of 973 and 130. It goes right under the bridge. I wasn't able to stop and check it out, but I am curious if it is part of the trail system you guys are discussing in this thread. I need to get my bike and gopro and check it out. Just wish i didnt have work to worry about this week, ;)

Here is a map showing the general location (purple pin)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/03/a4a3e6a2.jpg

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not the same trail "sidewalk" this one starts near Bolm & Shady ln (East Austin) and heads east along the creek, then heads North along an abandoned rail line between freescale semiconductor & Walnut Creek

Gotcha. I have no idea where this one goes. Probably a trail leading from the neighborhood on the south side of 71 to the soccer fields on the north side maybe. I'll have to check it out some time and see if it goes anywhere.

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Originally Posted by kerryp

Gotcha. I have no idea where this one goes. Probably a trail leading from the neighborhood on the south side of 71 to the soccer fields on the north side maybe. I'll have to check it out some time and see if it goes anywhere.

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That makes sense. Behind the soccer fields is Southeast metro park with trails. The park is the wooded area that goes from 71 to the confluence of Onion Creek & the Colorado River.

Then that is probably it. Now if they can just route that trail on over to the race track, people could ride their bikes to the races. Oh, and get it connected East to Bastrop, so I csn ride in :)

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Originally Posted by kerryp

Then that is probably it. Now if they can just route that trail on over to the race track, people could ride their bikes to the races. Oh, and get it connected East to Bastrop, so I csn ride in :)

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71 has a nice shoulder - go ahead, ride in! :)

Was in Austin today driving down South 183 and saw the pathway as i drove over walnut. There was a cyclist riding down the path. Did they open that section?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

A bit of a hi-jack, but is there any action happening on the north section of the Multi-Use Path--from Balcones Park/MoPAC? Nothing happening on the part in Walnut Creek Park proper. The surveyors laid out the right of way, a bit of clearing was done, but nada in the last month or two. Wish they would just get it done. considering the recent history of this project, it makes me nervous when there is no visible progress.

Somewhat related: We did an ACA Sunday ride out of Hutto a few weeks ago. The ride begins at the grade school on the north side of town, then heads south and crosses four lanes of busy Hwy 79, which is definitely stressful and scary even with a traffic light at that intersection, then through a neighborhood and out into the fields and rural scenery. The route then loops back to cross Hwy 79 at the same intersection.
We were just getting back into town on a little rural road that parallels Hwy 79 and the railroad tracks, when I noticed what looked like a sidewalk crossing under the railroad tracks to our right. A sidewalk came out of the neighborhood to the left and there was a very small but bright (kinda neon yellow/green) crossing sign.

I caught up to Mr. June Bug and we decided to check it out. It just got better and better -- it was a neighborhood connectivity path/sidewalk that got kids (and grownups) from the neighborhood under both the highway and railroad tracks safely and to the Hutto town park, walking path, athletic fields and then to the elementary school. It is a safe route to school crossing only one very lightly traveled road, and then no roads/streets at all as the path traverses the park. This has so many implications from both a safety and health perspective -- it also invites families to walk/ride to the park with their kids and never get in a car or have to deal with traffic. It just gave me an insight into what the Walnut Creek multi-use path can do. Projects like these are just little dents, but important ones, in the megalith that is American car culture; any time people have access to nature out their door on foot or by bike without having to navigate scary roads and highways -- they are mentally and physically healthier. I was so relieved to be riding through a restful and enjoyable park environment and not having the c**p scared out of me crossing a very wide, busy highway.

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Originally Posted by June Bug

A bit of a hi-jack, but is there any action happening on the north section of the Multi-Use Path--from Balcones Park/MoPAC? Nothing happening on the part in Walnut Creek Park proper. The surveyors laid out the right of way, a bit of clearing was done, but nada in the last month or two. Wish they would just get it done. considering the recent history of this project, it makes me nervous when there is no visible progress.
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I drive by a couple times a week on Park Bend Dr between Metric and Mopac and then onto Mopac service road. I havent seen any progress being made lately. I dunno what theyre waiting for....