The City of Austin hopes a $750,000 improvement to the intersection of Highway 183 and Loop 360 will make the area more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

Federal stimulus money will fund the majority of the improvements. The idea is to take the anxiety out of crossing the road.

The project will include an improved shoulder along Loop 360, better crossings and a path for bikes and walkers, separate from the road.

"We need to provide facilities that feel welcoming even to the beginning and intermediate cyclists, and that's exactly what this will achieve, because it'll keep bikes out of traffic," Austin City Council Member Chris Riley said.

Some hope that will mean more people on foot and on bikes.

"We're hoping that with this project we can plant the seed to get people moving more by foot and bike, which helps us from a public health standpoint, from an air quality standpoint and from a quality of life standpoint," City of Austin's bicycle project manager Annick Beaudet said.

Robert Cleaves lives in the area. He walks his dog and rides his bike, but said he would travel on foot more often if it was easier to cross.

"I'll tell you what, my rent is up in 10 months, and with that implemented, I like the arboretum, this whole area and I would consider staying, just with that," he said.