PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Jr., Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending Section 126-136 of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances to extend the existing school zone on Avery Parkway.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 2
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Engineering staff received a request to investigate Avery Parkway during school peak hours to add yellow center line pavement markings, crosswalks, and all-way stop control at the intersections with Conner Drive and Avery Ranch Drive. This request is related to speeding concerns and pedestrian safety. Avery Parkway is a two-lane residential collector with a sidewalk on the north side of the street between Whispering Way and Avery Ranch Drive, and access to State Highway 46. Avery Ranch Drive is a minor collector with sidewalks and on the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan. Conner Drive is a two-lane local street with sidewalks. Avery Ranch Drive and Conner Drive are both currently stop controlled at their intersections with Avery Parkway. The speed limit on all streets is 30 mph.
Clear Spring Elementary School is located on Avery Parkway within the Avery Park subdivision. There is an existing school zone with static school zone signs on Avery Parkway at the intersection with Wood Drake to approximately 500 feet north of Conner Drive.
Traffic speed and volume data were collected on Thursday, October 29, 2020 for Avery Parkway near Avery Ranch Drive, outside of the currently posted school zone. The average daily traffic (ADT) on Avery Parkway was 1,899 vehicles per day (vpd) and the 85th percentile speed was 34 mph.
Crash data for 2018 through May 2021 was found through TxDOT's Crash Records Information System database. There were five (5) reported crashes on Avery Parkway between Whispering Way and Cypress Mill during this time. Two (2) crashes occurred in the daytime on weekdays. None of the five crashes appear to be speed related.
A site investigation was completed in September 2020 to evaluate vehicle and pedestrian traffic during morning and afternoon school peak times on Avery Parkway between Whispering Way and Avery Ranch Drive. School peak times are approximately 7 am to 7:30 am and 3 pm to 3:30 pm. The pavement width of Avery Parkway is approximately 30 feet.
The Clear Spring Elementary School pedestrian route is on the sidewalk on the north side of Avery Parkway. A marked crosswalk with a police crossing guard during both morning and afternoon school peak times is present at Dorman Drive. The intersection of Avery Parkway and Dorman Drive is also controlled by an all-way stop. All children are gathered and escorted by teachers at afternoon release in a single-file line to this crosswalk location before crossing the street all together in one group. During this time, all vehicles are stopped at the intersection by the police officer for approximately 5-10 minutes before resuming normal operation. Several children walk and bike to school in the mornings, however pedestrian activity is much heavier in the afternoons leaving school - some getting picked up along Avery Parkway to skip the parent vehicle pick-up line, and some walking and biking home. The pedestrian route includes crossing Conner Drive and Avery Ranch Dr which currently do not have a marked crosswalks.
ISSUE:
Parents parallel park on Avery Parkway opposite the school, causing other vehicles to pass into the middle of Avery Parkway. Adequate sight distance is available for the street; however, vehicle maneuvers in the street may be an issue for oncoming traffic. Yellow center line pavement markings were requested on Avery Parkway to address this issue. Further evaluation is required to determine if parking restrictions are required in addition to the proposed centerline markings.
Pedestrians cross Avery Parkway on foot and bicycles to get to the sidewalk on the north side of Avery Parkway on their route to school, and the opposite path in the afternoons on their way home from school. The crossing locations at Conner Rd and Avery Ranch Dr are currently not marked and the Avery Ranch Dr crossing is outside of the existing posted school zone. The requested all-way stops were evaluated at Conner Rd and Avery Ranch Dr and not recommended at this time; however, marked crosswalks and associated signing are recommended. Additionally, the school zone is recommended to be extended to cover the crossing and proposed crosswalk at Avery Ranch Dr.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2021 approved streets and drainage budget for the installation of crosswalk markings on Avery Parkway at Avery Ranch Drive and on Conner Drive at Avery Parkway.
Total cost for pavement markings will be approximately $2,000. The cost for signs will be approximately $150 each.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval at their July 8, 2021 meeting.
Staff
Staff recommends an extension of the existing school zone on Avery Parkway on the northeast side to 200 feet northeast of Avery Ranch Drive with no changes to time frames; installation of crosswalk markings on Avery Parkway at the intersection with Avery Ranch Drive; and installation of crosswalk markings on Conner Drive at the intersection with Avery Parkway.