While I was away the city erected the temporary barriers on Burning Avenue to gauge how it would affect traffic at the notoriously awful five way stop at Duval and 51st Street. With Bruning closed to cars the now four way stop is back to being just a flashing red stop. It does seem silly that the city wouldn’t have tested this first before they spent the money putting all those traffic lights in, but whatever. The question about what to do with this intersection and Bruning in particular isn’t new, there was a heated debated to even put those traffic lights up to begin with!
I can say that from what I can tell I think traffic is flowing very nicely. There are not a ton of cars backing up on Duval or 51st and everyone seems to waiting their turn patiently. I drive through this intersection whenever I can convince Daniel to take me to work at around 7:45am and I definitely think I like it more now than with the traffic light.
There are some questions being raised about whether closing Bruning will have a negative impact on Snappy Mart. Those on the Northfield listserv that have spoken to the owner says he claims that he can definitely feel the negative effects financially. There is an entrance to Snappy Mart on 51st and hopefully with less traffic backing up this entrance will be easier to use.
The war of Neighborhood Associations is definitely on though. The Northfield Neighborhood where Bruning is located is pretty receptive to closing off the street, where the Hyde Park Neighborhood opposes it. The Austin Chronicle even did a funny tongue and cheek story about Hyde Park residents using Bruning as a convenient cut through to Quality Seafood.
We do need to remember that this is just temporary and this is a great test to figure out what is best for the neighborhood and for Bruning. I think permanently closing off Bruning to through vehicles could make it into a nice bike avenue that would be a safe cut through to Airport. Tell me what your opinion is on the Bruning closure!
It seems ironic the the HPNA would fight against another neighborhood’s attempt to improve its quality of life just to preserve a “shortcut” that cuts a few seconds off its own residents driving time.
Reminds me of suburbanites who complain about traffic calming measures that might force them to slow down when they use central Austin residential streets to avoid traffic on the highway.
I think Bruning Ave. should remain open. I was never aware the 5-way intersection was viewed as such a ‘problem’. Every time I’ve used the road (over 10 years) cars never seemed confused (and yes, it’s been my shortcut to Airport Blvd.) And I can definitely tell you that the Snappy Mart is losing alot of business, it was always easier for me to take a right into the parking lot eastbound from Bruning. I can’t do it now and I haven’t stopped by the convenient store since they’ve put up the barriers.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s what I think.