Universal City City Council holds first reading for road infrastructure improvements

Universal City City Council on May 3 held the first reading and discussion for thoroughfare and roundabout improvements at Kitty Hawk Road.

According to Universal City Economic Development staff, the project would be the first phase in providing connectivity from Kitty Hawk Road through the upcoming commercial development to Loop 1604. The resolution states that the project has an estimated cost of $349,965.

City Manager Kim Turner said city staff analyzed traffic data for the thoroughfare and created different scenarios to calculate traffic patterns depending on the type of development around the property. With the traffic pattern calculations, Turner believes the city is prepared for all levels of traffic in that area.

“We ran about four different scenarios,” Turner said. “We ran what [traffic] would be if it was all hospitals, which has a lot of traffic, or what it would be if it was all multifamily or what it would be if it was mixed-use. Regardless of what happens out there, we are going to have a huge traffic increase.”

Council also discussed a resolution in the amount of $246,960 that would be used to add a right-turn lane from Pat Booker Road to Northbound Loop 1604 Frontage Road.

The funds would also be used to put raised medians on Pat Booker Road between Loop 1604 and Athenian Drive as well as between National Boulevard and Byrd Boulevard, and Byrd Boulevard and Aviation Boulevard.

The project for raised medians includes pedestrian and sidewalk improvements on the south side of Pat Booker Road, which is in line with the Aviation District Master Plan that was passed in 2020.

Projects listed under the two resolutions would be funded through the Sales Tax Revenue Bond, which the EDC passed in December 2020.

Both resolutions were a first reading, with a final reading and acceptance of the resolutions being held at a future council meeting.