To: the City of Austin
Courtyard at Capital of Texas
We, the undersigned, call on the City of Austin to improve West Courtyard Drive to 3 lanes approaching Loop 360, and to solicit feedback from the community on how to best accommodate that.
Why is this important?
Besides West Courtyard Drive, the Bridgehead neighborhood includes businesses on Bridge Point Parkway and housing units on Shepherd Mountain Cove and beyond. For those who live or work in this area, Courtyard at Capital of Texas (Loop 360) is one of only two possible exit points. The existing two outbound lanes are so inflicted by traffic congestion during the rush hour peak that it typically takes several long light cycles to reach the highway. The other exit requires traveling through a residential area one to two miles in the opposite direction, to Ranch Road 2222. Besides an incredible inconvenience to employees and residents alike, it's a safety issue with regard to emergency vehicle access.
Ideally the roadway would be expanded from the stop sign at Bridge Point Parkway to include a right-turn-only lane stretching toward the highway, which would also allow more vehicles to turn left while the traffic light is green. This might require removing the median on West Courtyard Drive for half of its length, or shifting part of the median to reduce inbound traffic to one wide lane, or carving back the rockface behind the southern wall. Officials should work with the community to determine which solution is most desirable. While other measures like a more favorable light cycle may help in the short term, ultimately this improvement is required regardless of any anticipated or proposed upgrades to Loop 360 itself.
Ideally the roadway would be expanded from the stop sign at Bridge Point Parkway to include a right-turn-only lane stretching toward the highway, which would also allow more vehicles to turn left while the traffic light is green. This might require removing the median on West Courtyard Drive for half of its length, or shifting part of the median to reduce inbound traffic to one wide lane, or carving back the rockface behind the southern wall. Officials should work with the community to determine which solution is most desirable. While other measures like a more favorable light cycle may help in the short term, ultimately this improvement is required regardless of any anticipated or proposed upgrades to Loop 360 itself.