Comment on the City’s Seaholm Area Improvements at Shoal Creek and 3rd Street
February 19, 2025 | By Shoal Creek Conservancy
The City of Austin is now collecting community and stakeholder input for a series of major improvements in the Seaholm area near Shoal Creek and 3rd Street. These infrastructure projects represent a long-time Shoal Creek Conservancy priority and will improve a downtown nexus of three important trail networks in Austin: The Shoal Creek Trail, the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, and the Butler Hike and Bike Trail.
Shoal Creek Conservancy, in partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance, developed the Cypress and Shoal Creek Public Space Strategy in 2021 with a community-guided plan for the area around Shoal Creek and 3rd Street (originally known as Cypress Street). Three concepts from that strategy are moving forward in some way as part of the City of Austin’s Seaholm Area Multimodal Connectivity Improvements, which includes the following projects:
Seaholm Area Multimodal Connectivity Improvements
(1) A new urban trail along Cesar Chavez Street connecting to the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
(2) Signage and pedestrian crossing improvements at the Cesar Chavez intersections with West Avenue and Walter Seaholm Drive
(3) A redesign of Power Plant Drive (in front of Merit Coffee and Trader Joe’s) and the intersection at 3rd Street and West Avenue
(4) A new segment of the Shoal Creek Trail under the pedestrian bridge and 3rd Street Trestle
(5) An improved bicycle and pedestrian bridge and trestle over Shoal Creek at 3rd Street
In the City’s public input survey, project 3 improvements to Third Street and Power Plant Drive are under consideration. The Cypress and Shoal Creek Public Space Strategy reimagines Power Plant Drive as a pedestrian and bicycle plaza called Market Plaza. This was a clear priority for the community in the public engagement process, and the citizen comment with the greatest support from survey responders said, “Love the removal of the slip street (which is the root of all the current problems in this area). Also love that the market/popup programming is separate from the bike path.”
This vision is best achieved in the Alternative 1 proposal of the City’s public input survey (shown below). Alternative 1 would create a safer environment for those walking and cycling, reduce confusion at the 3rd Street and West Avenue intersection, create a multi-purpose public space, and improve landscaping. Alternative 4 would achieve a very similar result, with provisions for a loading zone. While Alternative 2 would also close Power Plant Drive to motorists for the benefit of cyclists and pedestrians, the back angle parking would limit the green space that could be accommodated in the median. Alternative 3 does not accomplish the community-led vision set forth in the Cypress & Shoal Creek Public Space strategy or offer the same safety benefits. All options would keep emergency vehicle access and direct motorists to the plentiful, existing parking in the area.
We believe the City has proposed an important upgrade in the Seaholm and Shoal Creek area that will improve connectivity, economic activity, and safety for users of all transportation modes. These improvements reflect the preferences of the community and Shoal Creek Conservancy recommends all relevant parties participate in this critical community engagement effort.
We encourage you to take the survey by March 23, 2025 and support Alternative 1 for the greatest benefit of multimodal transportation and downtown public space activation.
Suggested comments to include in your survey response:
“I strongly support Alternative 1 with the inclusion of a distinct, separated bike path between West Avenue and Walter Seaholm Drive and the addition of at least one ADA accessible parking spot on 3rd Street.”
Additionally, join staff from the Transportation Public Works Department for a pop-up event in front of the Independent building (301 West Avenue) on March 1, 2025 from 10am-12pm to hear/see more details about the proposed improvements and share your feedback with the project team in person. Coffee and tacos will be provided. And, Shoal Creek Conservancy staff will be in attendance as well.
Email [email protected] if you have questions or comments for SCC.
Thank you for helping to improve the Shoal Creek Trail and surrounding area!
