4-1-1 on US 281 EIS - The Super Street is coming!

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Disclaimer

Comments made on these sites (Twitter, Facebook, Socializer, blogs), herein called "social media sites" will not be included or evaluated as part of the ongoing Environmental Impact Statement decision-making process. Opinions expressed on these social media sites and any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not represent the official opinion of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, board members, staff or consultants working on this project. All official documents addressing the Environmental Impact Statement may be accessed through the principle website established for the US 281 EIS itself.

These social media sites are available for and intended to encourage public dialogue about the project and are, as such, provided for outreach and informational purposes only.

To provide official comments for inclusion into the project record for the Environmental Impact Statement click here.

You may also submit your comments through the following methods:

Attend US 281 Public Meetings
Email the US 281 at US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org
Fax comments to
(210) 495-5403
Mail comments to:
Alamo RMA
1222 N Main Ave
Ste 1000
SATX 78212

The Super Street is coming!

Today, March 23, 2009, the San Antonio Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), voted to fund the US 281 Super Street with a combination of federal stimulus funds, advanced transportation district funds, and funds from the City of San Antonio.

The Alamo RMA will be overseeing the design and construction of the Super Street for US 281.

The Super Street will provide increased travel ease on US 281, north of Loop 1604, and construction is estimated to start by mid-summer 2009.

Video simulations showing how the Super Street will work will be added later this week on the Super Street page. Check out the "Hot Topics" section for more information, and to download a copy of the brochure showing the basics of the Super Street concept.

So what does this mean for the 281 corridor?

First, it means that relief is coming. While it's not new lanes, or needed new capacity, the Super Street, with the operational improvements it will bring, according to modeling, will help make getting out of neighborhoods a little easier when complete.

Second, the Super Street will reduce the amount of time we all spend waiting at traffic signals. Instead of having a six phase traffic signal, taking up to 3 minutes to complete each full cycle, and for many, the full cycle isn't enough time to get to the light, much less through it and on to our destinations, the signals will go to a two phase cycle, by eliminating a number of conflicting movements, and directing traffic in a new way, providing much more green time, keeping traffic flowing instead of the stop and go we see today.

Does this mean that 281 doesn't need additional improvements?

No, the Super Street is a good interim fix until the environmental impact statement can be completed and the environmental impact statement will take into account access and operations of the Super Street in all the alternatives when evaluation and analysis starts on this detailed environmental study.

Third, since the Super-Street isn't adding new lanes or new capacity, it can be started without having to wait for the environmental impact statement to be completed. Unlike the overpass proposals, which would need to have additional lanes added, the Super Street is an operational and safety improvement.

This is a new day for the US 281 corridor and the Alamo RMA looks forward to working with everyone to help bring this project forward. It will be a change on how we drive along US 281, and we want to hear your suggestions on how best to keep our community engaged and informed during the construction of the Super Street.