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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