Bellaire to conduct traffic study in January for Newcastle, Bellaire Boulevard intersection

Bellaire City Council voted unanimously Dec. 16 to perform a traffic study on the intersection of Newcastle Drive and Bellaire Boulevard intersection where recently installed "no right turn on red" signs have caused outcry from residents for what they say is increasing traffic.

What's happening?

Bellaire Public Works Director Mark Velasquez said performing the traffic study will cost $9,800. Quiddity Engineering, the city's traffic engineer, recommended the traffic study be conducted in January, after the holidays and when school is back in session so that typical traffic patterns occur.

"The goal of this study is to enhance pedestrian safety, but to do it in a way that takes into the realities of the intersection and the traffic data on the ground, and give us the best chance that when we make the next change that it's closer to right than wrong," council member Ross Gordon said. "I think we're on the right track with this, I know it costs a little bit of money, but getting it right is tough sometimes."

City Council also voted to approve the delay and remove the enforcement of the signs until after the traffic study is done, with Council member Cindy Cohen Taylor voting against.

The background

Bellaire officials voted in early December to remove the signs at three intersections, including Avenue B and Bissonnet Street, Bissonnet Street and South Rice Avenue and Jessamine Street and South Rice Avenue.

However, the signs at the Newcastle Drive and Bellaire Boulevard intersection remained while council deliberated the options. The traffic signs were originally installed in October, Police Chief Onesimo Lopez said, to increase pedestrian safety and reduce the conflict between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians in crosswalks.