1) The proposed design for the Manchaca Expressway aims to seamlessly integrate the transportation facility into the natural environment through techniques like bioswales and wildlife habitat preservation and restoration. 2) Key elements of the design include shifting from conventional stormwater management to "Regenerative Hydrologic Recycling" using native plantings, reconnecting people with nature through multi-use paths, and minimizing long-term maintenance costs through sustainable design approaches. 3) Notable design features address specific environmental sensitivities like eliminating piers in Bear Creek and preventing surface runoff into Flint Ridge Cave by covering the roadway with an elevated multi-use path and deck.

1. Manchaca Expressway
Green Mobility Challenge
“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a
mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share. It is not only a
mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.”
~ Lady Bird Johnson
Tom Ennis, Citizen
Team 1765 | November 15, 2011

2. THINK ABOUT IT
“We are the road-buildingest nation on earth.....
Your creations, your works, are public property, open to all for the service of all,
and inevitably, they affect the lives of the people for better or for worse.
Therein lies both the glory and the burden of road-building.
In disturbing the turf of this beautiful country, we have a special obligation –
not only in terms of land use, but also in aesthetic sense.
We are obliged to leave it looking as good if not better than the
way we found it.”
~ Lady Bird Johnson
(remarks made Feb 23, 1966 to the American Road Builders Association)

3. We set out to design a transportation facility that fits seamlessly into the
environment through which it passes, serves as a destination rather than merely
a means of travel, and ultimately brings the people of Central Texas together

4. EMULATE NATURAL HYDROLOGY
Non-Karst Bioswale Karst Bioswale
We propose to shift from traditional pipe and store “Stormwater
Management” to what we’ve coined “Regenerative Hydrologic Recycling”

5. BIOSWALES
Capture and reduce total stormwater volume and reduce runoff flow rates
using prepared soil mixes and native vegetation plantings of grasses and forbs

6. RECONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE
A road can serve as a destination, a place of observation, a subtle link
between the built and natural environment

7. ENDURING EFFICIENCY
Our self-sustaining design approach reduces lifecycle costs, provides
functional longevity, and meets the transportation and environmental
needs of Central Texas
TAK Studios

8. LANDSCAPE DESIGN

9. WILDLIFE AND HABITAT
The roadway design integrates wildlife habitat and movement by preserving as
much habitat as possible and restoring habitat damaged during construction

10. ORCHESTRATE, INVOLVE AND INVIGORATE
Veloway
Ladybird
Johnson
Manchaca Earthshare
Wildlife Expressway of Texas
Center
Hill
Country
Inline
Club
By partnering with local advocacy agencies during the design phase and as part
of the overall monitoring and operation phases, longer lasting relationships
can be formed to spread the word about corridor innovations

11. FROM PHILOSOPHY TO REALITY
“…We are obliged to leave it looking as good if not better than the way we found it”
Our context-sensitive design incorporates distinctive elements and
conventional elements put together in non-traditional ways
PARK & RIDE

12. MULTIMODAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Our proposed multimodal concept includes a multi-use path through the
corridor and a “green” park and ride lot located at the junction of FM 1626
and the Manchaca Expressway

13. OLD BLISS SPILLAR ROAD OVERPASS
We propose to minimize the grade changes throughout the length of the
corridor. In addition, we reversed the schematic concept at Bliss Spillar Road.
Overpass plan
Former profile Old Bliss Road
Overpass
Existing ground
Proposed flatter profile

14. BEAR CREEK BRIDGE DESIGN CONCEPT
Our design eliminates piers and construction within the natural stream
channel and includes restoration to encourage natural flood controls, creek
meandering and wildlife passage
200’ 200’ 200’
50’ 50’ 50’ 50’

15. FLINT RIDGE CAVE ELEVATED MULTI-USE PATH/DECK
By covering the roadway with the deck/trail system we prevent water from
running into the Flint Ridge Cave surface drainage, creating a community asset
and transforming the project from just another roadway into a destination

16. FLINT RIDGE CAVE
Think of it as a living laboratory accessible via the path yet removed from
the fragile environment beneath

17. ELEVATED MULTI-USE PATH/DECK

18. INITIAL INVESTMENT = LONG TERM COST SAVINGS
Without extensive mitigation strategies in place, environmental damage
potential is a huge intangible cost. Our Low Impact Development long-term
benefits are invaluable.
Annual Operating & Maintenance Costs
Our Design Schematic
 Average pavement width (reduced  Average pavement width: 124’ x 3.6
grade) 74’ x 3.6mi x $3/SF porous mi x $1/SF asphalt = $2.4m
asphalt = $4.2m
 $375/LF storm drain x 3.6 mi =
 $35/LF bioswales x 3.6 mi = $650k
$7.2m
 115’ average disturbed earth width
x 3.6mi x $2/SF = $4.4m  300’ average disturbed earth width x
 +50% for fixtures = $2.1m 3.6mi x $2 SF = $11.5m in various
earth-related issues
 Bear Creek structure = $8m
 Flint Ridge Cave bridge = $14m  +50% for fixtures = $1.2m
Year 1  Bear Creek structure = $6m
 Bliss Road structure = $1.5m 5
Year
Year 10
 Bliss RoadYear 15
structure = $2m
Total = $34.5m
Schematic Our Design $30m
Total =

19. A green road, a lean road
A pollution reducing clean road
With so many roads and places to go, think of this one in a different way~
Walking the trail, riding a bike, looking out of your window seeing
natural delight
This road will be different, different indeed, sustainable, obtainable and
cheaper you see
What once was just pavement is now something new, a community asset
for me and for you