PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Construction Services Director
Carly Farmer, Assistant City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-132 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to lower the speed limit in the residential areas off Lake Front Avenue.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Staff completed an engineering study to evaluate the appropriate speed limit for the residential areas off Lake Front Avenue south of the intersection of I-35 and SH 46. The study was completed at the request of residents in the Rivertree subdivision to lower the speed limit in their neighborhood. The traffic study summary is attached.
Speed limits on Texas roads, including city streets, are set by statute in Section 545.352 of the Texas Transportation Code. The current speed limit on most city residential streets is 30 mph. The statute includes the following prima facie speed limits:
• Street in Urban District - 30 mph
• Alley in Urban District - 15 mph
Speed limits are set to inform motorists of appropriate driving speeds under favorable conditions. Regardless of the posted speed limit, some drivers will operate at speeds they feel comfortable with, given the road design and development/activity along the roadside. The overall goal of setting the speed limit is to increase safety while retaining mobility for motorists.
A traffic study was completed in Summer 2026 to evaluate the need to lower the speed limit in the study area through site observations, traffic data collection and analysis, and evaluation of area and roadway characteristics. The traffic data collection points were selected to represent multiple streets in the residential area likely to experience the highest vehicular volumes and speeds. There were four total reported crashes in the study area between July 2023 and July 2026, two of which were speeding-related.
Based on the site investigation and collected speed data, it is recommended that the regulatory speed limit be revised to 25 mph for the Lake Front Avenue residential areas. The study area is largely suburban, with typical local street widths, frequent direct residential driveway access, parking activity, and pedestrian presence. These characteristics prioritize local access over two-way traffic flow, making them unsuitable for a 30-mph speed limit. Most streets have measured 85th percentile speeds between 20-29 mph, supporting the conclusion that the posted 30-mph speed limit is excessive in a suburban context that promotes slower speeds. The pace speeds indicate that a 25-mph speed limit aligns with the speeds of most vehicles traveling through the cut-through areas.
A city may declare a lower speed limit of not less than 25 miles per hour if the governing body determines that the prima facie speed limit on the streets is unreasonable or unsafe. Under state law, a traffic engineering study is required for a city to lower a speed limit below 25 mph.
ISSUE:
Residents of the Rivertree subdivision have requested a lower speed limit in their neighborhood due to speeding and safety concerns.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2027 Approved Streets and Drainage Budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
The Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board recommended approval 5-1 at their September 10, 2026, meeting.
Staff
Staff recommends lowering the speed limit to 25 mph in the residential areas off Lake Front Avenue.