West U leaders continue work on Weslayan Street study for safer intersections

Safer intersections for both motorists and pedestrians could be the outcome from new data collected as part of West University Place's Weslayan Street corridor study. West University Place City Council approved an agreement to work with the firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the city's traffic engineering services.

The context: As a follow-up to a 2021 citywide traffic study, West U is reviewing the Weslayan Street and Stella Link corridor areas to the south of the city border, as well as Weslayan Street and Browning Street to the northern section of the city, for safety and traffic flow improvements, according to agenda documents.

• Kimley-Horn will assist with the city’s ongoing citywide traffic study.
• City Council voted 4-1 on May 8, with Council Member Shannon Carroll voting against the item.
• Weslayan Street is a two-way street that runs north and south throughout West University Place. Near the southern border of the city, the corridor splits into two two-way segments.
• The agreement will last for one year with the option of two one-year renewals.

The scope of work will include gathering data on:

• Speed-related issues;
• Traffic congestion;
• Traffic signal timing coordination; and
• Evaluating the two intersections.

The bottom line: The engineering firm, Kimley-Horn, will use speed data to possibly determine appropriate speed limits along the corridor, according to the engineering firms’ documents. With their findings, the firm would summarize that data and report back to City Council at a future meeting.

• The firm will work alongside the city of Houston and Southside Place with such plans, according to agenda documents.
• The firm’s tentative schedule stated that after West U officials give the firm the notice to proceed, it could take an estimated three to eight weeks for the different tasks to be completed.

Quote of note: “Depending on the time of the day or the time of year, you can see cars backed up four or five blocks down. Then what happens is that cars peel off into surrounding neighborhoods,” City Manager Dave Beach said. “Looking at the entire intersection will be beneficial to see if there’s anything that can change to make it more safe for not only motorists, but also pedestrians that happen to to try to cross in that area.”