PRESENTER: Presenter
Carly Farmer, Assistant City Engineer
Body
SUBJECT: Title
Approval of 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 area bounded by Wood Road, Walnut Avenue, and Loop 337.
Header
DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
Body
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
At their August 25, 2025, meeting, City Council approved a traffic calming plan for Mission Drive that included warning sign improvements, vegetation trimming, pavement markings, and a hardscape neck-down. City Council also directed staff to lower the posted speed limit on Mission Drive from the state-mandated 30 mph to 25 mph. The change in the posted speed limit will result in different speed limits on the surrounding streets and impact the uniformity of traffic signs and laws. Furthermore, a section of Laurel Lane, Encino Drive, and Balcones Avenue are currently posted at 25 mph, which may confuse residents and motorists. On September 15, 2025, staff presented a potential pilot study to lower the speed limit to 25 mph in the entire residential area bounded by Wood Road, Walnut Avenue, and Loop 337. City Council directed staff to move forward with the pilot study.
An engineering traffic study was completed to evaluate the need to lower the speed limit in the subject residential area as required by state law and city ordinance. The study included site investigations, traffic data collection and analysis, and evaluation of the study area and roadway characteristics in order to make a recommendation on speed limit changes. Based on the traffic study, a pilot study of lowering the speed limit to 25 mph in the residential area bounded by Wood Road, Walnut Avenue, and Loop 337 is recommended.
The proposed pilot study will progress through the following steps: establish the recommended speed limit changes for the pilot study in ordinance, prepare and install a speed limit sign plan, collect traffic data post-implementation to compare to pre-project data, and report findings to the City Council, including recommendations for implementation in other areas of the city. Changing the posted speed limit from the prima facie speed of 30 mph requires an ordinance to establish the new speed limit and for it to be enforceable. Once an ordinance is approved, the speed limit sign plan will be drafted to install new speed limit signs reflecting the 25-mph speed limit and replacing existing 30 mph signs as needed. The sign plan will focus on 7 key entry points into the residential area: Ridge Hill Drive, Kerlick Lane, Beverly Lane, Laurel Lane, Mission Drive, Royal Crest, and Moss Rock Drive. Additional “reminder signs” will be placed as deemed necessary. The speed limit changes will not affect the school zone 20-mph speed limit or boundaries. After all signs have been installed, staff will allow traffic to adjust to the new conditions for a few months before collecting traffic data to compare with the data collected before the pilot study. The data will be analyzed to identify changes in traffic volumes and several speed statistics such as the 85th percentile, 50th percentile, average, and pace speeds. Based on the results, staff will evaluate the effectiveness of speed limit reduction on safety and speeding. The results will be presented to City Council, and staff will outline a high-level plan for implementing speed limit reductions from the prima facie 30-mph speed in other residential areas in the city.
ISSUE:
City Council has directed staff to perform a pilot study on lowering the speed limit to 25 mph in a residential area with 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 2026 Approved Streets and Drainage Budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends lowering the speed limit to 25 mph in the residential area bounded by Wood Road, Walnut Avenue, and Loop 337 as part of a pilot study.