My Daily Drive Down Blood Alley
Despite the fact that I live about eighteen miles away from where I work, the best part about my commute is that I never sit in traffic. In fact, I am constantly moving, ramping up from 30 miles an hour through my neighborhood, to 40 miles per hour through the Y at Oak Hill, and then shiftin from 50 to 60 to sometimes 70 as I head west on Highway 71 past Bee Cave.
My daily commute may be relatively tension-free -- no Office Space moments with an old man walking by with a walker at a speed faster than me -- but it comes with a high risk. Every day I drive to work, I drive down what most people are starting to refer to as "The Highway of Death."
It may sound a little melodramatic to some, but the statistics don't lie. On February 22, 2008, the Statesman reported that 10 people had died on a two-mile stretch of Highway 71, just west of the Bee Creek Road intersection, since October 2006. Most of these fatalities were multiple vehicle accidents that took place when it was raining or had recently rained. On March 3, 2008, a single vehicle accident occurred, killing yet another person, as reported by KVUE News.
These grim statistics have led to increased public outcry and -- finally -- TxDOT intervention. KVUE reported yesterday that the speed limit on the aptly named "Highway of Death" would be lowered by 5 miles per hour -- going from 60 to 55 mph in some areas and from 65 to 60 mph in other areas (where most of the fatalities occur).
I have started to notice an increased state trooper presence along the highway, with the troopers setting up radar traps all along the two mile danger zone, as well as sheriff vehicles driving back and forth constantly. There are also new, somewhat temporary looking digital signs flashing "SLIPPERY WHEN WET - SLOW." To those of us who drive the road daily, this is like saying "THE SKY IS BLUE - LOOK AT IT."
In the KVUE video report, TxDOT rep Marcus Cooper is seen saying "Our main priority right now is to slow traffic down." While I appreciate the effort, slowing down Hummers and gravel trucks and Beamers from 65 miles to 60 is not going to save lives. Anyone who's taken the State of Texas Driver's Education Course and has watched the crash-test dummy videos knows that.
What is perhaps more unsettling is the new housing development going up literally on the shoulder of the road where there would normally be several wooden crosses marking the deaths that have occurred there. The sprawling subdivision is bringing 1,500 new homes to the area; homes that will be settled in a picturesque valley that the Highway of Death dips into, the road sharply descending, becoming the cause of three Round Rock educators' deaths last June (I know -- I drove by the remnants of that one on my way home from work one rainy evening).
The Muckraker called out Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty on his approval of the subdivision in late August 2007:
Last week, as we were coming back from our Friday team lunch, one of my coworkers pointed out a handmade, wooden sign affixed to a fenceline on the north side of Highway 71. The sign depicted a red skull and crossbones with the words "Blood Alley!" underneath. Everyone chuckled in uncomfortable agreement and the driver of the car quietly turned on his right turn signal, moving to the right-hand lane away from the median. Unfortunately, there is no safe lane on my daily drive down Blood Alley.
My daily commute may be relatively tension-free -- no Office Space moments with an old man walking by with a walker at a speed faster than me -- but it comes with a high risk. Every day I drive to work, I drive down what most people are starting to refer to as "The Highway of Death."
It may sound a little melodramatic to some, but the statistics don't lie. On February 22, 2008, the Statesman reported that 10 people had died on a two-mile stretch of Highway 71, just west of the Bee Creek Road intersection, since October 2006. Most of these fatalities were multiple vehicle accidents that took place when it was raining or had recently rained. On March 3, 2008, a single vehicle accident occurred, killing yet another person, as reported by KVUE News.
These grim statistics have led to increased public outcry and -- finally -- TxDOT intervention. KVUE reported yesterday that the speed limit on the aptly named "Highway of Death" would be lowered by 5 miles per hour -- going from 60 to 55 mph in some areas and from 65 to 60 mph in other areas (where most of the fatalities occur).
I have started to notice an increased state trooper presence along the highway, with the troopers setting up radar traps all along the two mile danger zone, as well as sheriff vehicles driving back and forth constantly. There are also new, somewhat temporary looking digital signs flashing "SLIPPERY WHEN WET - SLOW." To those of us who drive the road daily, this is like saying "THE SKY IS BLUE - LOOK AT IT."
In the KVUE video report, TxDOT rep Marcus Cooper is seen saying "Our main priority right now is to slow traffic down." While I appreciate the effort, slowing down Hummers and gravel trucks and Beamers from 65 miles to 60 is not going to save lives. Anyone who's taken the State of Texas Driver's Education Course and has watched the crash-test dummy videos knows that.
What is perhaps more unsettling is the new housing development going up literally on the shoulder of the road where there would normally be several wooden crosses marking the deaths that have occurred there. The sprawling subdivision is bringing 1,500 new homes to the area; homes that will be settled in a picturesque valley that the Highway of Death dips into, the road sharply descending, becoming the cause of three Round Rock educators' deaths last June (I know -- I drove by the remnants of that one on my way home from work one rainy evening).
The Muckraker called out Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty on his approval of the subdivision in late August 2007:
Travis County Commissioner and CAMPO board member Gerald Daugherty (above) voted to approve the development of 1,500 homes in the hill country. The kicker is - it's on a stretch of highway (71W) that everyone agrees is an already overburdened and a very dangerous road. This vote proves that Commish Gerald Daugherty cares more about his contributors profits, than the safety of our families.I'm hoping that the new Democratic nominee for Travis County Commissioner, Pct. 3, Karen Huber, will be able to unseat Daugherty in November. Daugherty certainly will have quite a bit to answer to on the topic of the Highway of Death. I've signed up to block walk or to do whatever I can for her campaign.
Last week, as we were coming back from our Friday team lunch, one of my coworkers pointed out a handmade, wooden sign affixed to a fenceline on the north side of Highway 71. The sign depicted a red skull and crossbones with the words "Blood Alley!" underneath. Everyone chuckled in uncomfortable agreement and the driver of the car quietly turned on his right turn signal, moving to the right-hand lane away from the median. Unfortunately, there is no safe lane on my daily drive down Blood Alley.
Labels:
Texas politics,
Texas roads,
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I can believe it. She's probably has not spent much time listening to the radio.
But I wouldn't give up on her! You can be her pop music teacher; she needs you!
Ugh. Depressing post. I can't believe the road authorities refuse to put up center medians. Please be careful on your commute.
There's nearly zero authority for county commissioners to deny a subdivision - which is why people who care about safety should either be living/driving within city limits or pushing for counties to have some real land-use authority with the state. The dangerous roadway doesn't even come close to enough justification under the actual law involved.
In general, take whatever Sal Costello says with a grain of salt.
anon: I know and I know.
m1ek: I thought they put it to a vote?
From the Statesman article, which I found copied here:
The subdivision, RGK Ranch, will be built on about 1,500 acres along Texas 71, about eight miles west of Austin. It will sit between the Sweetwater Lazy 9 and West Cypress Hills developments, which are in the early phases of construction and will each have a similar number of residents. The county commissioners approved RGK by a 4-1 vote. Their decision came after months of hearings and delays, during which most of the commissioners said they probably could not deny RGK Ranch because it meets the county’s requirements, an assessment echoed by the county’s legal staff. Commissioner Ron Davis was the lone ‘no’ vote Tuesday, saying the county should turn down the subdivision because it presents a general threat to the safety and welfare of people living in southwestern Travis County.
Regarding living/driving within city limits, I fully agree. However they have yet to build an apartment complex anywhere west of 620, and I don't have $350k to throw down on a new home in RGK Ranch or West Cypress Hills. I haven't quite convinced the CEO of the company I work for -- who lives off of 71 -- that we should move the office closer to Austin,as much as my coworkers and I would love it.
I imagine I could live in a shopping cart in the Poodie's parking lot, but frankly I only tolerate the area from 8:30-5:30 and then I try to get back to Austin as quickly -- and as safely -- as I can.
" said they probably could not deny RGK Ranch because it meets the county’s requirements"
That's code-words for "we can't find any reason that will hold up with the courts, even though we're desperately trying, to deny this".
Sooooo here's my gripe about that stretch of road. I grew up in Austin and the bulk of my family lives out past Marble Falls so I have grown up driving this stretch on a monthly basis for over 15 years now. Even as a young driver I never had an issue with the road. But since they have started contruction and there are drivers slowing down from 70 to 45 mph I have had several near accidents. Not a one I would attribute to the curves or hills, but instead the drivers and the new super narrow lanes they have created for construction purposes. The road doesn't cause deaths, the moronic driver's do.