Steiner Ranch Information Blog

35 responses so far ↓

• 1 Library User // May 5, 2009 at 7:57 am

  The stop sign discussion has been active for years. A non-binding poll was taken over a year ago, and the numbers were about 1/2 for, and 1/2 against. A traffic study completed about the same time showing that the 1st SRB/Quinlan Park intersection met warrants for a traffic signal. However, with no clear consensus from the community, Travis County decided to pass on installing signals. Since then, two new elementary schools have opened nearby (River Place and Grandview Hills) potentially reducing traffic during peak hours. A new traffic study was started a few weeks ago, and those results should be available soon. If you have input on this topic, the Steiner Ranch Facilities Committee meeting is a place discuss the topic with your community.

• 2 Resident // May 5, 2009 at 8:36 am

  I’d rather see them put in traffic circles at the really busy intersections. I don’t mean this as a joke. I know people would need to learn and adjust but I suspect we could actually get better overall throughput to get people out of the neighborhood in the morning if we did this.

• 3 neighbor // May 5, 2009 at 9:32 am

  For now you can buy gift cards to the steiner steakhouse for 1/2 price. Get a $50.00 gift card for only $25.00. They will run out so buy them fast.

• 4 mreddy // May 5, 2009 at 9:41 am

  I agree with Resident… but the only problem is that traffic circles require people to pay attention… and that is not a commodity that happens with kids in the car and cellphones being used. We would need a lot more land to clear out to implement one, but would be worthwhile.

• 5 Poster formerly known as // May 5, 2009 at 11:32 am

  The loss of traffic from River Place residents going to Laura Bush has been more than offset by the development further down Quinlan, and there are more houses to come. The prime time is really the 7:15-8:00 time period, and it’s not going to get any better. If the lights would help the flow, I’m all for it.
  As for other times, I do think lights would help with safety. My wife’s car was almost t-boned by someone running the stop sign, and many people seem unwilling to yield correctly and/or wait their turn.

• 6 No Lights // May 5, 2009 at 3:58 pm

  Overall, a traffic light won’t help with traffic flow. The only time it would help is 7:15 am to 8:00 am. Otherwise, for the rest of the day you are sitting at a light for several minutes while there isn’t any oncoming traffic. Roundabouts are wonderful. Anyone who has driven in Europe can vouch. In the US, I am not sure we are ready.

• 7 Melissa // May 5, 2009 at 4:40 pm

  I really don’t see the need for a traffic light at that intersection – just not enough traffic to warrant it, IMO. It is bad in the morning with people dropping kids off at school, but a light is not going to help that – it’s just too many cars trying to get into a small school lot.

  However, I DO think we need a stop sign at John Simpson and Steiner Ranch Blvd (by John Simpson Park). It’s getting harder and harder to cross that intersection to get to my mailbox or the playground.

• 8 Michelle // May 5, 2009 at 8:21 pm

  I would love to see a traffic circle installed by Steiner Elementary, but I’d rather keep things the way they are than add a traffic light.

• 9 Jim // May 5, 2009 at 8:43 pm

  I have wanted a light there for a long time. Aside from the morning school rush and helping with that, I think it would be helpful with all the construction traffic and large trrucks that barrel through there throughout the day. It can be set to flash in evenign hours which woudl make it the same as a 4-way stop but much more visible to oncoming traffic.

• 10 Melissa // May 6, 2009 at 8:27 am

  I also think the opening of the new middle school will reduce some of the school traffic as well. The folks in River Place, Grandview Hills, etc., won’t be going to Canyon Ridge anymore.

• 11 steveg // May 6, 2009 at 9:34 am

  I think there are a few intersections that need lights. If we could rely on common courtesy in driving, that would be great, but it’s not realistic. I have almost been “T-boned” at the first Quinlan/Steiner Ranch Blvd. intersection many times, after coming to a stop and waiting for what should be right of way (yes, I’m one of those annoying jerks who actually stops at stop signs, pay attention and you won’t have to slam on the breaks to avoid rear-ending me, either). Drivers who are so inattentive they don’t see a car or truck in the intersection before blowing through it may not notice a stop light either, but there is hope.

  I’ve also called on delivery and construction vehicles running that stop sign and usually speeding, too, when the school zone lights are on. I would think implementing something to improve safety in the school zones would have more support.

  I’d also support photo-radar in the school zones, but that’s another topic.

• 12 Paolo // May 6, 2009 at 9:37 am

  First of all, I’m from Italy, roundabout are quite popular there, and I agree that would resolve a lot of traffic issues there. A light stops traffic anyway, a roundabout doesn’t. One more comment: I don’t really understand why they prevented people from taking the “shortcut” from Portobella Dr/Mira Vista DR to get from Quinlan Park to Steiner Ranch Blvd: if people don’t need to go to the school, they can save time and take that shortcut, to get to Steiner Ranch Blvd and go to 620 through the secondary exit, but they put a signal indicating you can’t turn from Quinlan Park into Portobella Dr from 7 to 8am. So we have a much longer line at the stop for this reason, and I’m not too happy about it…. Any thinking on this ?

• 13 Victoria // May 6, 2009 at 10:10 am

  I am all for a stop light at Wag a Bag intersection. My house backs up to Quinlann and it is so loud with cars driving 60 miles an hour along the road by the golf course.

• 14 Victoria // May 6, 2009 at 10:13 am

  Paolo, I totally agree! I am delayed sometimes by 15 minutes at that intersection just to get to 620, its ridiculous. I still make that turn if I leave before 7:30…

• 15 Resident // May 6, 2009 at 11:36 am

  Let’s organize to push for converting the Steiner Ranch Elem and Wag A Bag intersections into roundabouts then – seems like there’s a reasonably large amount of support.

• 16 ME // May 6, 2009 at 12:10 pm

  To Paolo and Victoria – Not for sure, but I’m guessing they put the sign indicating not to turn onto Portobella Dr. in the a.m. b/c of all they were probably tired of all of the people using it as a short cut while they are trying to walk to school or get out of driveways . If people are not patient enough to wait for maybe 5 minutes to get through a stop sign, I doubt they are driving at or under the speed limit through the neighborhood!

  Regarding traffic circles, what makes anyone think that drivers who don’t stop and stop signs will actually yield right-of-way to anyone on a traffic circle! If people would just obey the laws and not think they are above the law, it would be better! Ha!

  here’s a thought: if they install a light at Quinlan Park and Steiner Ranch and the first car doesn’t run the light, others behind them will have to stop!

• 17 SJM // May 6, 2009 at 4:18 pm

  What we have now at the intesection by Steiner Ranch Elementary is unsafe and incredibly inneficient. In the mornings I have sat in queues as long as 4/10 of a mile waiting to get to the intersection from either road. In the afternoons I have often felt the concern as I enter the intersection that someone else is going to speed through out of turn and cause a wreck.

  I can state with reasonable certainty given a background as a civil engineer practicing in the transportation industry, this intersection will meet signal warrants, as it did before. I am not sure about the other intersection. The only way to push more traffic through this location in peak hours is a light, with precedence given to Quinlan Park. This would not preclude the crossing guards from preempting traffic to allow students to cross as needed, but would require coordination of the traffic at this intersection with the crossing guards in front of the school.

  For other times of day, it would seem to me that the light would be left on default for Quinlan, but cars on Steiner could trip a camera to allow the light to change, which doesn’t take much more time than stopping for a stop sign, and is tremendously safer.

• 18 SteinerDogLover // May 6, 2009 at 5:16 pm

  I do believe we need stop lights in Steiner. As mentioned above we can get lights which blink, working like a 4 way stop, during non-peak hours.

  I walk Quinlan every day and my house also backs up to it. I have yet to go a single day w/o seeing either a.) a near fender bender b.) a near T-bone wreck or c.) a “rolling” stop. In the case of “c” I always get the “oh my gosh I almost hit you b/c I didn’t stop correctly” look. It happens at all three stop signs constantly.

  We all walk/bike and use Quinlan every day. Lets do the right thing and put lights where they make sense. It’s not ideal but I would rather wait and have it be a *clear* signal that I can move forward versus hearing about wrecks or other traffic related incidents involving people or pets. Sorry but many folks driving Quinlan just are not paying attention.

• 19 The Poster formerly known as Steiner Res // May 6, 2009 at 9:46 pm

  The sign was put up on the Portobella turn after the county did a traffic count and found that there were significant numbers cutting through at the early morning hours, and travelling at high speeds. The swere designed as interior neighborhood roads (i.e. 25 mph). The heavy traffic was causing safety issues for kids walking to school and for residents just trying to get out of a driveway

• 20 holly // May 7, 2009 at 8:51 am

  Hi Friends! Some mis-information was published here regarding discount cards being offered at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. However there is a great Mother’s Day special this Sunday. A 3-course meal (including dessert) for $34.99. Opening at 11am in honor of the day. Enjoy!

• 21 Donny // May 7, 2009 at 11:12 am

  Traffic circles are awesomely efficient if used correctly, but the drivers here seem to be such non-attentive & aggressive a-holes that I wouldn’t give them much chance for success.

  Traffic lights could improve the throughput if set up correctly, sounds like the best option.

  In the mean time, how about everybody turn off their god damn cellphones and pay attention at the 4 -way stops!?

• 22 Paolo // May 7, 2009 at 12:38 pm

  Cellphones ? If you have AT&T they basically don’t work there )

• 23 Heather // May 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm

  I’m glad to see everyone getting along so well Looks like this IS a touchy subject as I thought it would be…I love all of the opinions and as for cellphones, I agree…I have Sprint and my cellphone NEVER works, but I DO agree with getting of your friggin’ cell and DRIVING…it drives me nuts to see people with what looks like a piece of plastic stuck to their friggin’ head…arm cramps anyone???

• 24 Heather // May 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm

  and who gives a crap about the Steiner Ranch steakhouse specials? I’m never eating there again…not because of the shooting, but bc the steak was the worst steak I’ve ever had for that price…although we did eat there the same weekend as the shooting, so maybe they changed it up a bit…anyone eaten there lately? I’d like to try it again, but not for that price if the steak is going to be over-tenderized and HELLO A LA CARTE!!!

• 25 Jason // May 7, 2009 at 4:49 pm

  Why not change the road to give priority (remove 4-ways) to the main road, i.e. Quinlan Park. It makes no sense to give equal priority to QP and the side roads. Based on viewing the traffic at various times of the day, if the main road (QP) flowed properly and the based on the traffic from the side roads, it would be no issue for side road egress.

  The second issue is whether the removal of the 4-ways would lead to further traffic calming needs, possibly yes – but people obey the speed limits – 45 is a fair speed for the type of road and be warned the police are ever present to catch you people daring to do 46 ;o)

• 26 Melissa // May 7, 2009 at 6:56 pm

  If they do put in stoplights, I really hope they make an effort for them to be somewhat attractive. One of the things I hate about Austin is that they just hang their stoplights off of wires. It looks horrible.

• 27 NO LIGHTS // May 11, 2009 at 9:53 pm

  You only need stop lights when there is a full time issue. We have an issue only during 1/2 an hour two times in the morning and two times in the afternoon at school times. People do not carpool! Do not allow their kids to walk or ride a bike and Do not drive responsible. Get a grip!

• 28 The Poster formerly known as Steiner Res // May 12, 2009 at 7:02 am

  The lights serve two purposes: traffic flow and safety. No lights — the traffic study previously conducted by the county reflected sufficient traffic for a light. Apart from that, the intersection is not safe, and, no offense, many people have no idea how to yield the right of way.

• 29 Melissa // May 12, 2009 at 2:23 pm

  Much of this problem would be solved if the people that could walk their kids to school actually did. So many people drive 1/2 – 1 mile to drop their kids off and then turn around and go home.

• 30 Freddie // May 15, 2009 at 4:10 pm

  Why would people that don’t stop at a stop sign stop at a traffic light? And would it be more dangerous to have people going through that intersection at 45+ miles/hr, versus everyone stopping first. You are kidding yourselves if you think a traffic light will be safer. There may be less confusion and/or minor issues, but there will be fatalities with either more likelihood for full speed collisions AND full speed pedestrian accidents. Ask yourselves if the latter is worth not being stopped 4/10 of a mile in the morning. This is a neighborhood community.

• 31 Stmbtsprgs // May 21, 2009 at 4:24 pm

  Here’s a BIG vote for traffic circles, but I don’t think there is room at the first SRB/QP intersection. Second choice is a light that operates during rush hours only and is a red blinking light at all other times.

• 32 Marisa // Jul 14, 2009 at 5:18 pm

  Many times I have said to my husband, “I wish they would have put a stupid red light here (srb and quinlan)!”. A 4-way stop with two lanes headed in each direction is just ASKING for a wreck to happen. Noone knows who has right of way and half the neighborhood (including yourself, come on, admit it) proceeds out of turn. Disregarding safety, it also sets us up for anger and disharmony with our neighbors! I think a light that turns into a blinking light would be the best solution because the logistics of putting in a light are probably easier than closing down the intersection, ripping it out, and putting in a turnaround. You think traffic is bad now!? Wait until construction starts.

• 33 Michelle // Jul 15, 2009 at 2:52 pm

  I don’t proceed out of turn at stop signs, ever. It defeats the purpose of having an order, causes hiccups in the flow thereby slowing down the intersection for everyone but you, and compromises safety. It also pisses people off.

  I think the srb/quinlan intersection by the Town Square would be perfect for a traffic circle. There is a traffic circle already in place by the new high school. This makes me hopeful that we have it as an option.

  As far as construction, things were pretty congested when they shut down the Quinlan exit to add lanes and everyone in Steiner had to use the SR exit (they had a traffic light on 620 for it). Now we have a four-lane entrance road. Construction is a temporary inconvenience for a greater, more permanent improvement.

• 34 Poster formerly known as // Aug 27, 2009 at 3:50 pm

  Four Points News ran a story yesterday indicating there will be a stoplight installed at Quinlan/Steiner Ranch Blvd in November

• 35 Michelle // Aug 27, 2009 at 7:34 pm

  Here is the story about the light: http://www.hillcountrynews.com/articles/2009/08/27/news/four_points/news23.txt

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