12 hours to get in and out of Austin

Statesman's update doesn't seem very positive from County officials

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2010/09/08/twelve_hours_thats_how_long.html?cxntfid=blogs_formula_austin

 

I know that the first 2 years of MotoGP at Laguna Seca were painfull. I would guess on race day, it took about 6 hours to get in and out. And if they had the attendence that is forecasted for this F1 event, it would easily be 12 hours, IMO.

What appears to be sketchy is that the lack of preparation and professionalism that would normally be associated with a project of this scale is not in place yet.

 

The first couple of years at Texas Motor Speedway were disasters too. It's gotten much better now, and me and my buddies are usually in and out in 30 minutes or so. If those officials are claiming 3 hours to get in and out of TMS now, they're obviously incompetent.

 

If they are concerned about traffic jams on race day they should contact several different tracks study there race day traffic plans. Then look at the race site and find a solution to reduce traffic issues mainly after the race. After all the hard core fans will be the first to arrive whereas the curious fans will show up 10 mins prior to the start. It is after the checker flag flys is when the mess begins.

 

I am glad that they are talking to the traffic engineers for Silverstone.

It only took me 2 hours to get out of the one exit of a muddy grass parking lot at Silverstone. Once out, I was able to join the endless line of other fans on a completely insufficient two lane road to get out of Silverstone. Farther up the road I found a road construction sign stating "You will be delayed until August". It was the middle of June when I saw the sign!

In fairness, I have heard that traffic in and out of Silverstone is much better than it was.....

 

at indy we could make it from our seats to the motel in fifteen minutes.

 

There is a small but very loud anti-F1-in-Austin contingency that makes every mole-hill a mountain.

 

That's what helicopters are for

 

Part of what I loved about Indy too. Hotel was a 15 minute drive away, and it never took more than 20 minutes to get there when we left the track.

 

The articles author, Eric Dexheimer, has had nothing but negative things to say since the announcement of the track. Take anything written by him about the track and F1 in general with a grain of salt.

 

At Indy in 2007, I paid $10 to park on a guy's lawn right across the street from the Speedway!

 

Guess you'll just have to hire a helicopter in and out.

 

I was probably camping in the backyard two doors down!

As this site is in what is currently "no where" it good to make an evaluation..BUT much as they learned up in Dallas, the thing to do is use temporary traffic control via local LEO to create corridors, even both lanes "one way" on a temporary basis and let the Public know how to use them.

It is suprising the NIMBY that shows in Austin over some things..you'd think Freeport/McMoran wanted another mountain leveled off, above Barton Springs!!!!

 

Moorespeed will have a Keg party, and offer Shuttle Services.......heck we'll have a keg and the UT cheerleaders (well, the female ones) , ON the bus!!!!

 

U beat me to it!

 

So, just to recap...

1) The investment isn't actually in place yet

2) They don't have planning permission

3) The planning people are saying they haven't gotten any detail on what the project is going to be like and are unhappy about it

4) There are major infrastructure issues the city expects the developer to pay for

5) "Full Throttle" has been heavy on the PR side, making sure we know how awesome the track is going to be, showing pics of it, assuring everyone it's on schedule to be done... but when it comes right down to it, the stuff that actually matters - money, permission to build, and infrastructure issues - haven't been addressed yet.


And Tavo says they will break ground in December.

Yep, it's a pipe dream.