AUSTIN -- Curb islands going up along one North Austin street have some residents flashing back to a similar, but unsuccessful attempt just a few blocks away.
The purpose of that previous project back in 2005 was to reduce speed along Shoal Creek Boulevard. But it only made drivers, cyclists and homeowners unhappy. This time on Rockwood Lane residents are the driving force behind the reduced speeds.
The posted speed on Rockwood Lane is 30 mph. But residents here say drivers don't always obey the limit.
"There's too long a distance to cruise at 20 even 30 miles an hour," said Frank Ivy. "They just don't do it."
Ivy's lived at the same house on Rockwood for 52 years and has witnessed traffic speeds increasing significantly over the last few years.
"They come through here too fast," he said. "I mean it's like a raceway."
Many other Rockwood residents agree. The city monitored traffic flow here and determined vehicles need to slow down. So crews put in curb extensions or islands from Steck to Ashdale.
"I'm just curious... what is the intention," said Shelley Holman.
Holman used to live in the neighborhood and has family that still does.
"I don't get this at all," she said. "This is exactly what they did on Shoal Creek with the curb islands."
Almost a decade ago the city constructed 37 curb islands on Shoal Creek at a cost of almost $300,000 in an attempt to reduce speeds, an unpopular move with drivers, bicyclists and homeowners. The city ended up removing the curb islands.
The issue with the Shoal Creek project was the curb islands actually covered the bike lanes. Here along Rockwood, while these may look like bike lanes the neighborhood association has never designated them as such.
Cyclists are encouraged to use Shoal Creek instead. Ivy says this curb island project makes a lot more sense here.
"I've noticed a difference already," he said.
The cost of the Rockwood project is $78,000 from Ashdale to Steck, but the project will eventually continue past Steck all the way to Stillwood -- one block from Burnett.
The city project director says less expensive speed humps are not an option because Rockwood is a fire evacuation lane, meaning fire trucks and other emergency vehicles have to be able to travel the street unimpeded.
