Background

Despite numerous citizen requests for pedestrian and school zone safety measures on Neenah Ave., improvements have not been made commensurate with the recent changes to Neenah Ave. which include widening the road to 5-lanes of traffic and increasing the speed limit.

The City of Austin and Williamson County recently invested over $310k in pedestrian safety and traffic controls on Pearson Ranch Rd. and Avery Ranch Rd. using an estimated $285k in funds saved from the Neenah Ave. Expansion Project which left Neenah Ave. severely lacking in proper pedestrian safety, traffic control and school zone safety measures.

The Danger: 

Every day we see children in harm's way on Neenah Ave. We see pedestrians struggle through a gauntlet of vehicles that seem oblivious to the fact there is a school zone, crosswalk or a speed limit under 40 MPH. 

1. High speeds. Using a radar gun device, speeds in the school zone at the crosswalk have been measured as high as 38 MPH during the posted 20 MPH school zone hours (7:45 a.m. on school days). At the intersection of Neenah and Solera Dr., speeds have been measured as high as 59 MPH (at 7:45 a.m. on school day).

2. The school zone does not include the main entrance or exit driveway of the school where many pedestrians dart across the street and/or school driveways along Neenah. The main school entrance is a crossing point for pedestrians coming from multiple directions and a traffic control officer (provided by the school) stands in the middle of 5-lanes of 35 MPH+ traffic.

3. The school zone signs have no flashers and are difficult to see. Vehicles can be regularly observed driving well over 35 MPH on Neenah Ave. and well over 20 MPH in the school zone area.

4. Pedestrians and children at the crosswalk are difficult to see because the crosswalk signs are placed 13 ft. and 11 ft. away from the entrance of the crosswalk and the signs have no flashers or actuators.

5. There are no pavement markings to draw attention to the point at which drivers are supposed to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. This causes a multiple-threat crossing for pedestrians as 1) cars block the visibility of pedestrians in the crosswalk trying to cross and 2) cars block the visibility of other cars from the view of pedestrians.

Possible Solutions: 

1. Widen the school zone to include the entrance (300 feet to the west) and possibly the exits of the school(s) which are 1. crossing points for kids on their way to school, 2. where pedestrians are crossing Neenah near Solera Dr. at the main school entrance and 3. where a law enforcement officer stands in the turn lane directing traffic.

2. Install flashing school zone signs (approximately $20k per COA Transportation Dept.).

3. Install flashing crosswalk signs with pedestrian actuator (approximately $20k per COA Transportation Dept.).

4. Paint yield lines/triangles in the street prior to the crosswalk indicating the stopping point for vehicles and install "SCHOOL Yield Here to Pedestrians" signs (these are same ones are on Pearson Ranch Rd. and Avery Ranch Rd. in front of the school crossing points).

5. Address high speeds on Neenah Ave. with permanent speed feedback signs.