'Always a little concerned' | Safety improvements along Rainey Street Trailhead almost complete
AUSTIN, Texas — John Langmore has lived in Austin for about 30 years and runs along Lady Bird Lake five to six days a week. He has always noticed something's been missing.
"When you run early in the morning and it's dark, you realize just even where you step, you're always a little concerned of where you step," Langmore said. "So, I mean, you definitely feel the absence of lighting."
Fellow Austinite Jorge Martinez also visits every weekend and shares a similar observation.
"I could see a situation where after many, many years, you're going to get spots where you could have a dangerous situation, where someone could slip into the river or fall accidentally or trip," Martinez said.
Concerns like these and several drownings over the last few years are why city leaders moved to improve the Rainey Street portion of the trail at Lady Bird Lake.
Some of these changes include adding lighting along East Avenue and the trail, a camera at the corner of Rainey and Cummings streets, and extending the sidewalk along East Avenue which is expected to be done in August.
Fence improvements will also be completed in July. A gate will be added to the top of the stairs across from the Milago and signage for wayfinding is being designed in partnership with the Trail Conservancy.
"You see how heavily utilized this trail is, makes you realize how important it is that people feel safe and that you know they're just able to really take advantage of you know one of Austin's greatest assets for sure," Langmore said.
Separate from these safety improvements, the Trail Conservancy is close to finishing work on the Rainey Street Trailhead Project which also addresses lighting and signage.
"This is the heart of the city, and it's the biggest draw I think for me, personally of the city," Martinez said.
It is keeping a community gem well-preserved while making it safer.
About $800,000 has been put aside for this work from the Parks and Recreation Department's bond funding for Trail Improvements. The project is on track to come in under budget.
