A measure to remove raised medians along Texas Avenue in Bryan is headed to voters in November. Bryan City Council formally ordered a charter amendment election Aug. 11 following a citizen petition that received enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
What you need to know
The proposed amendment would require the medians to be removed along Texas Avenue from Rosemary Drive to roughly 600 feet south of Hwy. 21. According to meeting discussion, medians were installed as part of a 2021 project involving the city and the Texas Department of Transportation aimed toward improving safety and “reducing conflicts from traffic entering the roadway from adjacent properties and local streets.”
Bryan residents created a petition so the ordinance would appear on the ballot. The required number of signatures for the petition is 2,303 and the petition received nearly 2,500 valid signatures.
Those in favor
Residents supporting the petition packed Bryan City Hall during the council meeting, expressing concerns about safety, ambulance turnaround time and traffic congestion.
Mayor Bobby Gutierrez moved the discussion of the ordinance to the beginning of the regular agenda because of the packed hall. He thanked the crowd for participating and for the hard work getting the ordinance to council.
“I know how long it takes to get it all done. We’re listening to what you have said throughout the whole process,” he said.
Resident Denise Fries asked supporters of the ordinance to rise in City Hall and said the people have been patient but want action.
“We have waited, we have requested, we have begged, we have come, we have spoken, we have met with TxDOT, we have met with the city of Bryan and nothing has happened,” Fries said. “We want this to go on the November ballot so you can hear the citizens and what we’re asking you to do.”
Resident Rafael Peña said it was important for residents to have a voice.
“Let the citizens decide in November, and I don’t see any drawbacks in letting us decide,” Peña said.
What the city is saying
In a news release, the city warned the proposed charter amendment could face legal challenges if approved by voters.
Texas Avenue is controlled by TxDOT and the city said municipalities generally cannot use their charters to direct the actions of the state. The city said the amendment could raise questions about whether Bryan has the legal authority to enforce the change.
The city also warned that if passed, taxpayers could be responsible for potential court costs.
What’s next
Residents will be able to vote whether to keep or remove the medians during the upcoming Nov. 3 election. If approved by voters, the charter amendment would require the removal of the medians along Texas Avenue from Rosemary Drive to roughly 600 feet south of Hwy. 21.
