2022-050 Denton High School AccessAugust 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Pedestrian and bicycle access to Denton High School along with existing conditions,
improvements made, and the proposed Capital Improvement Projects to be completed.
BACKGROUND:
Due to public feedback received, the Capital Projects/Engineering Department reviewed
pedestrian and bicycle access to the new Denton High School located on Bronco Way. The City
has two separate projects planned that will permanently improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility
in the area and has worked to provide a temporary pedestrian path to the school. Staff included in
the August 5 Friday Report information regarding the temporary side path for Denton High School
which stated:
“Over the past week, staff from Capital Projects/Engineering, Streets and Traffic Operations have
worked closely with Denton Independent School District (DISD) to make enhancements to an
existing walking route along Bonnie Brae Street and Windsor Drive to serve the new Denton High
School. At the intersection of Bonnie Brae and Riney Road an interim all-way STOP control was
installed, with future signalization planned at the intersection with an upcoming capital project,
along with school warning signs and advance intersection traffic controls. At the intersection of
Bonnie Brae and Windsor updated pavement markings and signs were also enhanced. A School
Safety Speed Zone will be posted on Bonnie Brae Street and Bronco Way, which staff will present
to City Council for their action at the August 16, 2022, meeting. City and DISD crews are
mobilized to construct a sidewalk connection along the south side of Bronco Way in advance of
the first day of school, at which point a school crosswalk will be installed across Bonnie Brae
Street at Bronco Way. Staff Report: Kyle Pedigo, Capital Projects/Engineering, Nathan George,
Capital Projects/Engineering and Brett Bourgeois, Capital Projects/Engineering”
Staff has continued to work with the Denton Independent School District at the new Denton High
School location.
DISCUSSION:
There are two Capital Improvement Projects, Bonnie Brae Phase 6 and the Windsor/Westgate
project, which are currently in different phases for the area near the Denton High School.
Bonnie Brae Street Phase 6 Capital Improvement Project will widen Bonnie Brae Street from US-
380 (University Drive) to US-377 to a 4-lane divided street which will include dedicated turn lanes
at the newly signalized intersections (US 77 and Bonnie Brae, Bronco Way/Riney Road and
Bonnie Brae and Windsor Drive and Bonnie Brae), waterline and sewer line replacements, street
lighting, drainage, and sidewalk improvements. This project will also establish a 10-foot-wide
shared-use path on the east side of Bonnie Brae Street and a 6 to 8-foot-wide sidewalk on the west
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
side. Bonnie Brae Street Phase 6 is scheduled to bid/advertise in the third quarter of 2022 with
projected completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024. The visualization below represents
the intersection at Bonnie Brae Street Phase 6 and Windsor Drive showing the improvements to
be made along with the existing condition.
The Windsor/Westgate Capital Improvement Project will include the full reconstruction of the
north/south portion of Westgate Drive including a through-connection to Bronco Way and the
widening of Windsor Drive from Westgate to the I-35 frontage road. Improvements will include
full street reconstruction, sidewalks, street lighting, water and sewer line improvements, and a
drainage system. The project is scheduled to bid/award in the third quarter of 2023 with projected
completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024.
As both projects are not projected for completion until late 2024 and Denton High School opened
in the fall of 2022, the City has received some concerns from members of the public regarding the
temporary pedestrian and bicycle access to the school.
Westgate Drive has been the main point of concern and residents have asked for a temporary path
to be made along Westgate Drive to Denton High School. After a review of the condition of the
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
existing roadway, staff determined temporary access along this route is neither feasible nor safe.
Westgate Drive is a narrow roadway with steep bar ditches along both sides, captured in the
pictures below:
This drainage structure shown below prevents the installation of any type of walking path on either
side of the road until drainage improvements are completed with the planned Windsor/Westgate
project.
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
The city owns a limited amount of property on either side of Westgate Drive and acquiring
additional property for the establishment of a temporary walking path would take a minimum of
12 months and would conflict with the planned reconstruction of Westgate Drive.
There are other additional obstacles that impact the feasibility of placing a temporary path along
the full length of Westgate Drive. For instance, placing a temporary pedestrian path on just the
north end of Westgate Drive to create a walkway to Bronco Way would present multiple safety
issues as well. Since the current configuration of Westgate Drive is only wide enough for two
vehicles to pass safely and has no room on either side of the pavement for pedestrian facilities due
to the condition of the drainage, the establishment of a connecting path at the northern end would
encourage students to walk/bike on the roadway with vehicles. Shared use of an already narrow
roadway between pedestrians and traffic would only serve to create a more dangerous traffic
situation for both.
A temporary walking path at the north end of Westgate Drive may also encourage additional
vehicular traffic for parents who wish to “drop” their kids off at the end of the road to avoid any
traffic at the front of the school. After establishing a path, parents will quickly realize that their
children can utilize that temporary path and walk the remaining way to school, and they don’t have
to sit in the school-established “drop-off line”. Since Westgate Drive is currently a narrow dead-
end road, vehicles using this road will have no place to turn around except private driveways. This
setup would significantly multiply the amount of traffic sharing a narrow road specifically during
the times when potential pedestrian usage would be at its highest point.
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
As a final impediment, emergency vehicles will have great difficulty accessing this area due to the
need to maintain solid traffic barriers, so drivers don’t use the unpaved area as a shortcut to school.
Due to these issues, the determination was made that the safest pedestrian route to Denton High
School would be to utilize the existing sidewalk along the south side of Windsor Drive to Bonnie
Brae Street and then along the East of Bonnie Brae Street to Bronco Way. Staff has worked to
ensure that the existing sidewalk and crossings are in good repair and connected to the sidewalk
constructed on Bronco Way which is represented below as the green line.
Staff worked to restripe the pedestrian crossing and install 4-way flashing stop signs at the
intersection of Windsor Drive and Bonnie Brae Street as shown below.
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
Staff also worked to install a pedestrian crossing, install 4-way flashing stop signs and install
additional sidewalk at the intersection of Bonnie Brae Street and Bronco Way as shown below.
August 12, 2022 Report No. 2022-050
CONCLUSION:
Staff met with DISD staff and coordinated efforts to ensure facilities were in place prior to school
opening on August 11, 2022. Capital Projects/Engineering Department will continue to work with
DISD and provide additional safe access points to the school for pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles
until a time when all capital projects in the area have been completed.
STAFF CONTACT:
Rebecca P. Diviney, PE
City Engineer/Director of Capital Projects
Rebecca.diviney@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8910
REQUESTOR: Council Member Davis, Council Member McGee, Mayor Pro Team Beck
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 5 hours to complete report
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: Capital Projects/Engineering, Traffic Operations,
Streets, Police Department, Development Services, Legal