City of Austin Selects LAN as Engineering Consultant for South Lamar Boulevard Corridor Improvements

The City of Austin has selected Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) as a consultant to provide engineering services for the South Lamar Boulevard Corridor improvements.

Corridors are some of the main roadways in Austin used for getting around. Larger than neighborhood streets, they are destinations as well as home to many residents and local businesses. Corridors are typically multi-modal, with people walking, biking, and using transit.

Since 2011, the City has been working with the community to develop Corridor Mobility Plans that identify safety and mobility improvements for nine major corridors. In November 2016, Austin voters approved $720 million in bonds to implement transportation and mobility improvements throughout these corridors. Some of the major corridors that have been identified by the City for improvements include North and South Lamar Boulevard, Airport Boulevard, Burnet Road, William Cannon Drive and Slaughter Lane.

South Lamar Boulevard, between Riverside Drive and Ben White Boulevard, is a highly traveled roadway and a primary route to and from downtown Austin.  As an important commercial corridor that is home to a diverse mix of businesses and residents, it has attracted more people to the area looking to experience and be a part of the vibrant, bustling atmosphere. The rapid growth along the corridor has also created safety and mobility concerns.

To address these concerns, the City and LAN will implement more than three miles of improvements from Riverside Drive to Ben White Boulevard/US 290 West to enhance mobility, safety and connectivity. Additionally, design work will begin on multimodal enhancements between Panther Trail and US 290. This includes elements like full street reconstruction to extend the life of the roadway, bike lanes that are protected from vehicular traffic, intermittent media islands for safety, and streetscape enhancements.

As a consultant, LAN will provide a wide range of engineering services including roadway design, traffic engineering, utility relocations, ADA improvements, drainage analysis and design, water quality enhancements, pavement design, environmental clearances, and permitting.

“These improvements will reduce congestion, enhance the level of service and reduce delays at intersections, and improve the effectiveness of transit operations within South Lamar Boulevard,” said Travis M. Michel, P.E., LAN’s infrastructure manager. “We are looking forward to working with the City on this iconic corridor, providing a more mobile and safe Austin.”