Because of increased traffic volumes on the Toll 183A frontage roads, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority agreed Feb. 26 to install traffic signals at the intersections of Hero Way and Scottsdale Drive.
The agency expects the Hero Way traffic signal to be operational no later than March 17 while the Scottsdale Drive signal could be operational in four to five weeks.
For the Hero Way intersection, the Mobility Authority—which manages the toll road—conducted a traffic study Jan. 16 to determine whether traffic volumes and other conditions warranted installation of signals. The intersection did satisfy one requirement as identified in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for peak hour traffic, according to the traffic study.
"We have significant driver expectation issues along the corridor at this intersection," Mobility Authority Engineering Director Wes Burford said.
Leander Mayor Chris Fielder and Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long sent the Mobility Authority a letter dated Jan. 14 asking for the signal to be installed.
"We typically will monitor our facilities, but we do react to requests for installation of signals," Burford said. "We don't willy-nilly install traffic signals. They are significant traffic control devices and need to put in only where they are deemed necessary and warranted."
The traffic study at Scottsdale Drive was completed in September with updated traffic counts conducted in December, according to board documents. This intersection met two requirements for peak hour and for four-hour vehicular traffic, according to the traffic study.
Burford said a traffic signal was contemplated during construction on the east side of the frontage road. The agency has an agreement with the developer, Pecan Grove, to split the cost of the traffic study, which amounted to about $200,000.
"We've been monitoring the volumes at this intersection over some period of time, and the volumes do now satisfy the warrants for the installation of the signal," Burford said.
