The overview
According to the Nov. 4 city council agenda item, city officials are specifically looking to make enhancements at corridors that are frequently used by children on their way to school.
Council members are also considering implementing crossing guards or "traffic calming improvements" at major intersections along Weslayan Street and Buffalo Speedway, including:
- University Boulevard
- Rice Boulevard
- Sunset Boulevard
"There is a gap in places in the city where kids traverse and we have to think about ways to create safer mobility quarters," Montgomery said. "The first thought that occurs to me on this topic is that we haven't done enough."
Public input
A handful of West U residents attended the Nov. 4 meeting to express their concerns with close calls at dangerous intersections.
Jillian Waldo said she feels unsafe walking across the University Boulevard and Buffalo Speedway intersection with her four children due to several drivers running red lights.
"We cross this intersection every single day," she said. "One of the special things about our town is being able to walk to school, walk to the little league fields... but we've had a couple close calls at that intersection and we're not the only ones."
Waldo suggested City Council add a crossing guard, especially during rush hour times, and include better crosswalk markings or flashing lights.
Marty Turner, another West U resident, suggested the city consider using off-duty police officers in lieu of crossing guards, which would have to be provided by Houston ISD.
Another detail
Assistant Chief of Police Gary Ratliff said it is difficult to have a police presence at those locations because there is no where for officers to sit and monitor activity.
However, he acknowledged in the last six months he has issued over 60 citations for drivers running red lights at the five mentioned intersections.
"I don't know what the answer is going to be, but I am willing to sit on a board and figure that out," he said.
Stay tuned
Montgomery said the future process will include gathering resident feedback and doing a traffic study before bringing a potential solution to the council at a future date.
No action was taken at the Nov. 4 meeting.
