Texas Pedestrian Safety Forum, July 12, 2018 When Your Urban Core Arrives | University Drive in College Station Presented by James Robertson, Ph.D., P.E., Lee Engineering

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James Robertson, PhD, PE
Lee Engineering
San Antonio, Texas

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Bryan
≈ 81,000
Residents
College Station
≈ 104,000
Residents
Bryan
≈ 81,000
Residents

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Texas A&M University
• ≈ 66,000 students
• 102,733 person
stadium (Kyle Field)
• ≈ 800 TTI employees
Texas A&M University
• ≈ 66,000 students
• 102,733 person
stadium (Kyle Field)
• ≈ 800 TTI employees
With ≈75,000 people:
4th Largest
Downtown in Texas!

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Texas A&M University
• ≈ 66,000 students
• 102,733 person
stadium (Kyle Field)
• ≈ 800 TTI employees
With ≈75,000 people:
4th Largest
Downtown in Texas!
Northgate
College Station’s
Downtown

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TAMU
Campus
TAMU
Campus
TAMU
Student
Housing

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Northgate
TAMU
Campus
TAMU
Student
Housing
Northgate
TAMU
Campus
TAMU
Student
Housing
Abandoned
Hotel

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Northgate
TAMU
Campus
TAMU
Student
Housing
Abandoned
Hotel
Bar District
Merchant Request:
• Lighting
• Parking
• Pedestrian Safety

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University Drive Concept Plan:
• Wider Sidewalks
• Narrower Lanes
• Medians
• Signal Upgrades
Merchant Request:
• Lighting
• Parking
• Pedestrian Safety
Meanwhile…

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Meanwhile…
Growth!

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And…
And… Funding!

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And… Funding!
Voters Approve Bond for:
• Wider Sidewalks
• Narrower Lanes
• Medians
• Signal Upgrades
And… Funding!
Voters Approve Bond for:
• Wider Sidewalks
• Narrower Lanes
• Medians
• Signal Upgrades
Project 1

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Project 1
Project 2
And… Funding!
Voters Approve Bond for:
• Wider Sidewalks
• Narrower Lanes
• Medians
• Signal Upgrades
During Design…

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And?
Project 1

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And? Resistance…
Project 1
And? Resistance…
Plan Calls for:
• No Parking on University Drive
• Closing College Main
• Medians
Project 1

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And? Resistance…
Plan Calls for:
• No Parking on University Drive
• Closing College Main
• Medians
Project 1
College Main
And? Resistance…
Plan Calls for:
• No Parking on University Drive
• Closing College Main
• Medians
Project 1
College Main
Parking Removal

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And? Resistance…
Plan Calls for:
• No Parking on University Drive
• Closing College Main
• Medians
Project 1
College Main
Parking Removal
Close to Traffic

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“Loading” Zone

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Pedestrian/Bicycle Mall
“Loading” Zone
Parking Removed “Loading” Zone
Pedestrian/Bicycle Mall

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Parking Removed
Barrier Wall
“Loading” Zone
Pedestrian/Bicycle Mall
Meanwhile…

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And…

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Project 2? Delays…

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Project 2? Delays…
Project 2
“Technical” Challenges:
• Relocating signal from private access to public street.
• Coordination with on-going development.
• Counter flow bicycle lanes.
• Other design choices…

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Project 2
Non-Technical Challenges:
• Leftover resistance from Project 1
• Staff turnover
• Agreement between 3 agencies:
• City, TxDOT, & TAMU
• Desire to do more.
Project 2
Non-Technical Challenges:
• Leftover resistance from Project 1
• Staff turnover
• Agreement between 3 agencies:
• City, TxDOT, & TAMU
• Desire to do more.
Can we do more?... Yes, at a cost.

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Project 2
Non-Technical Challenges:
• Leftover resistance from Project 1
• Staff turnover
• Agreement between 3 agencies:
• City, TxDOT, & TAMU
• Desire to do more.
Can we do more?... Yes, at a cost.
 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.

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 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
Prove it!
 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.

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 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
Date Range
 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
Wait time
Date Range

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 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
Wait time
Number
of Calls
Date Range
 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
7 AM

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 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
7 AM Midnight
 University Drive through Northgate is now a
downtown street.
7 AM Midnight
Between 7 am and midnight 87 %
of the cycles had a pedestrian call.

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This was at 9:20 am
This was at 9:20 am
There are 37 people
walking in this image.

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 Implement pedestrian only phase.
◦ Requires No Right-Turn on Red.
 Implement pedestrian only phase.
◦ Requires No Right-Turn on Red.
 Implement protected only left turns.
◦ For University Drive.

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 Implement pedestrian only phase.
◦ Requires No Right-Turn on Red.
 Implement protected only left turns.
◦ For University Drive.
 Benefit:
◦ A potential 73 % reduction in expected number of
crashes.
 Implement pedestrian only phase.
◦ Requires No Right-Turn on Red.
 Implement protected only left turns.
◦ For University Drive.
 Benefit:
◦ A potential 73 % reduction in expected number of
crashes.
 Cost:
◦ Increased travel time.
◦ From 1 to 3 minutes to 2 to 4 minutes.

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WITHOUT
Protected
Only Phasing

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WITHOUT
Protected
Only Phasing
WITHOUT
Protected
Only Phasing

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WITHOUT
Protected
Only Phasing
WITH
Protected
Only Phasing

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WITH
Protected
Only Phasing
WITH
Protected
Only Phasing

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WITH
Protected
Only Phasing
WITH
Protected
Only Phasing

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The Real Ask!

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TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square
TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square

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TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square
TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square

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TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square
TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square

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TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square
TAMU TAMU
Northgate Century
Square

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James Robertson, PhD, PE
Lee Engineering, San Antonio
jrobertson@lee-eng.com
(210) 561-5411
Opening Nov/Dec 2018!