PRESENTER: Presenter
Carly Farmer, Assistant City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider approval of a traffic calming plan on Rivertree Drive.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Staff has received a request to evaluate Rivertree Drive for traffic calming and a through-truck restriction due to safety concerns over speeding and cut-through traffic in a residential area. Rivertree Drive is a local residential street in the Rivertree subdivision connecting to SH 46. The recent completion of an adjacent subdivision led to the extension of Lake Front Avenue from Rivertree Drive to Misty Acres Drive, creating a new connection between SH 46 and the northbound IH 35 Frontage Road. It is a popular cut-through route for drivers seeking to avoid congestion and long queues along SH 46 and the IH-35 Frontage Road. A through-truck restriction currently exists on Lake Front Avenue between the IH-35 Frontage Road and Freiheit Road, and on Freiheit Road between Lake Front Avenue and SH 46. The posted speed limit in the Rivertree subdivision is 30 miles per hour (mph).
The City of New Braunfels Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy requires a petition to be submitted with signatures from two-thirds of the properties adjacent to the street segment on which speed humps are requested. A petition was received and verified to meet the two-thirds requirement. An evaluation of the study area was performed to determine the target speed and volume. Based on the long block length, absence of sidewalks, and homes fronting the roadway with driveways requiring backing maneuvers, Staff evaluated the study area and determined the target speed and target volume for the roadway to be 20 mph and 1,000 vehicles per day (vpd), respectively. An operational requirement in the policy is that the 85th percentile speed must be at least 5 miles per hour over the target speed. Traffic data collected over 24 hours in September 2025 showed the 85th percentile speed of 28 mph, which meets the speed criteria in the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy. Additionally, the volume requirement in the approved Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy is a daily traffic volume exceeding the target traffic volume. The traffic data collected measured 2,042 vpd, which surpasses the target volume of 1,000 vpd for a local residential street. Based on the evaluation of the study area and analysis of the collected data, it was determined that traffic calming would be significantly beneficial to the safety of road users.
Rivertree Drive is fronted by single-family homes and is absent of sidewalks along the street. The pedestrian and vehicle activity associated with single-family homes, combined with high cut-through traffic and a lack of sidewalks, results in higher instances of conflict between road users and increased vulnerability for pedestrians and cyclists on and adjacent to the roadway. Slower speeds will result in better outcomes should a crash occur.
Based on the documented high cut-through traffic volumes and the elevated 85th percentile speed compared to the target speed, city staff drafted a traffic calming plan for Rivertree Drive comprised of speed humps. City staff aims to present the traffic calming plan and allow the community to provide public comment.
Because of the extension of Lake Front Drive, which created an additional connection between SH 46 and IH 35 via Rivertree Drive, staff also recommends extending the existing through-truck restriction on Lake Front Avenue from Freiheit Road to Rivertree Drive and creating a new through-truck restriction on Rivertree Drive from Lake Front Avenue to SH 46.
ISSUE:
Residents have requested traffic calming and a through-truck restriction on Rivertree Drive due to speeding and safety concerns due to cut-through traffic in a residential area.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has specific funding for the installation of traffic calming. Installation of through-truck restriction signs and speed humps, including speed cushions, signing, and pavement markings at three locations, cost approximately $45,000. Approved traffic calming plans are ranked for funding according to the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy prioritization process. The highest-scoring projects will be funded through the FY 2025 budget. Remaining projects will be considered for funding in subsequent budget years.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the traffic calming plan on Rivertree Drive, which will be installed as funding is available.