PRESENTER: Presenter
Carly Farmer, Assistant City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider approval of a traffic calming plan on Divine Way.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Staff received a request to evaluate Divine Way within the Dove Crossing subdivision for traffic calming due to safety concerns over speeding and high volumes in a residential area. Divine Way is a two-lane residential collector through the North Ranch Estates and Dove Crossing subdivisions that begins at Walnut Avenue and ends at Eagle Pass Drive. It provides connectivity via Eagle Pass Drive to Dove Crossing Drive, a minor collector thoroughfare that runs between West County Line Road and West Klein Road. Divine Way is stop-controlled at the intersection with Walnut Avenue, and there is an all-way stop at the intersection with N Ranch Estates Boulevard. The posted speed limit on Divine Way is 30 mph, and there are curbs and sidewalks along both sides. The pavement width on Divine Way varies between 36 and 40 feet.
Land uses along Divine Way are exclusively residential, including the Dove Crossing community amenities such as the swimming pool and basketball court. Although designed as a residential collector, Divine Way is fronted by single-family homes in several areas. Within the Dove Crossing subdivision, homes front Divine Way between Duval Drive and Angelina Drive and from Eagle Pass Drive to the swimming pool. Within the North Ranch Estates subdivision, homes front between Lauren Street and Sean Street. Speed humps were installed on this segment in 2014. Two school campuses are located along Walnut Avenue across from Divine Way: Klein Road Elementary School and New Braunfels Middle School. Vehicle and pedestrian activity in the area increases before school begins and after dismissal in the afternoons.
ADA compliant ramps were recently installed along Divine Way as part of a mill and overlay project. Additionally, parking restrictions have been installed on both sides of Divine Way for 60 feet from each approach to the intersection with Fayette Drive after City Council approval in August 2026.
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 traffic calming is requested. A petition was received but failed to meet the two-thirds requirement. While discussing the related request to restrict parking on Divine Way at Fayette Drive during the August 10, 2026, City Council meeting, city staff was directed to proceed with a traffic calming investigation without a complete petition. An evaluation of the study area was performed to determine the target speed and volume. Based on the pavement width, presence of sidewalks, and homes fronting the roadway with driveways requiring backing maneuvers, staff evaluated the study area and determined the target speed for the roadway to be 25 mph. Although a residential collector has a maximum daily volume of 5,000 vehicles per day (vpd) and homes are permitted to front residential collectors meeting certain criteria defined in the Code of Ordinances, Divine Way does not meet this criteria. Therefore, the target volume was determined to be 1,000 vpd.
Traffic data was collected over 24 hours in August 2026 at three locations along Divine Way. For the traffic calming evaluation, the maximum values of all the collection points were used. An operational requirement of the policy is that the 85th-percentile speed be at least 5 miles per hour above the target speed. The maximum 85th-percentile speed recorded for Divine Way was 30 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 maximum traffic data collected measured 941 vpd, which does not surpass the target volume of 1,000 vpd for a local residential street. There were four reported crashes on Divine Way within the Dove Crossing subdivision between August 2023 and August 2026.
Based on the evaluation of the study area and analysis of the collected data, it was determined that traffic calming would be beneficial to the safety of road users. Divine Way, a residential collector, is fronted by single-family homes in multiple areas, which is not acceptable under current subdivision design requirements without the installation of traffic calming due to impacts to traffic and parking operations, traffic safety, and livability for the adjacent residents. The pedestrian and vehicle activity associated with single-family homes, community amenities, and the nearby schools combined with the higher traffic of a residential collector that provides area connectivity results in higher instances of conflicts between road users and increased vulnerability for pedestrians and cyclists on and adjacent to the roadway. Slower speeds and increased conspicuity of vulnerable road users will result in better outcomes should a crash occur.
Based on the documented traffic volumes, the elevated 85th-percentile speed compared to the target speed, and considerations for pedestrian activity associated with the neighborhood, community pools and courts, and the nearby schools, city staff drafted a traffic calming plan for Divine Way comprising of pavement markings to narrow the travel lanes, provide buffers for parking, and increase visibility at crosswalks. The markings include bulb-outs, neck-downs, and a chicane. City staff aims to present the traffic calming plan and allow the community to provide public comment.
ISSUE:
Residents have requested traffic calming on Divine Way 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. 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 2027 budget. Remaining projects will be considered for funding in subsequent budget years.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the traffic calming plan on Divine Way, which will be installed as funding is available.