PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-346 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to establish a no parking zone on Loop 337 Ramp between Loop 337 and Church Hill Drive.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
At their meeting on July 25, 2022, City Council voted to postpone the decision on the item to August 8, 2022 and directed staff to develop other options. The development of other options requires additional coordination with Comal ISD and TxDOT and time. Staff requests to postpone the decision on the item to September 12, 2022.
The School Safety and Student Support department of Comal ISD reached out to staff with a request for a no parking zone on both sides of the ramp for Loop 337 (SL 337) that leads to Church Hill Drive. Currently, dozens of vehicles are parking along both sides of the ramp and filling the Park and Ride parking lot across from Church Hill Middle School during the afternoon pick-up. This causes safety issues due to conflicts between parked vehicles and the vehicles traveling to and from SL 337 and Church Hill Drive and between vehicles and pedestrians. Students are walking in between cars and crossing the ramp in order to reach waiting parents in vehicles.
Comal ISD staff would like all parents picking up their children to utilize the pick-up line on site of Church Hill Middle School, where a Comal County Sherriff Officer controls the traffic for the school driveway at Elliot Knox Boulevard. In order for the school to enforce this change and disallow children from walking to vehicles in the SL 337 Ramp area, an official no parking zone was requested to deter parents from parking there.
Staff met with Comal ISD staff and conducted a field visit on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 during Church Hill Middle School afternoon pick-up. Staff observed dozens of vehicles parked along both sides of SL 337 Ramp from near the intersection with SL 337 to the end of the school property. In addition, many more vehicles were parked in the parking lot of the Park and Ride which is across the street from Church Hill Middle School. These vehicles all appeared to be waiting to pick up children, and once school was dismissed, children began making their way to the parked vehicles. There is no official crossing for pedestrians across the ramp, and children must weave in between vehicles. Currently, school staff directs traffic for the school pick-up line on site to provide gaps for students to cross through the parking lot safely as they head toward SL 337 Ramp.
ISSUE:
Comal ISD and Church Hill Middle School are requesting a no parking zone on both sides of SL 337 ramp to improve student and traffic safety and help enforce the upcoming changes to the school traffic plan. Staff reached out to TxDOT who had no objections to the proposed no parking zone within TxDOT right-of-way.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Traffic control signs cost approximately $150 each. Sufficient funding is available in the FY 2022 approved streets and drainage budget.Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
The Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval at their July 14, 2022 meeting.
Staff
Staff recommends a no parking zone on both sides of SL 337 Ramp from the intersection with SL 337 to the intersection with Church Hill Drive. Such no parking zone shall be designated as a tow-away zone. Staff requests to postpone the decision on the item to September 12, 2022.