After reviewing modeled traffic data, it’s becoming clear the city of Boerne’s most congested intersections may be more difficult to solve than expected.
Kendall County, Boerne and Fair Oaks Transportation Committee members reviewed modeled traffic data, created by committee member Steve Sharma, and it appears very little can be done to reduce congestion at the Herff Road and Highway 46 intersection.
According to Sharma’s model, each vehicle that pulls up to the traffic signal at the busy intersection during the peak morning hours – 7:30-8:30 a.m. – adds about 90 seconds of wait time. Sharma estimated the vehicles backed up along Herff Road to Oak Park Drive are sitting through at least four traffic light cycles during the peak morning hours.
Sharma said the intersection is sitting at an F-rated level of service, which Boerne Development Services Director Jeff Carroll said could be confirmed by several city studies that report the same rating.
When committee Cochair Don Durden asked if there were any simple solutions to resolve the traffic back up, Sharma said one solution that helped was adding a channelized right turn lane from Herff Road onto River Road. However, Carroll said the city has spoken with the Texas Department of Transportation, which owns Highway 46, and it became clear creating such a channelized right turn would require a median that would make it too difficult for semitrucks turning left onto River Road from Esser Road.
A member of the audience, speaking outside of the allotted public comments time, mentioned property owned by the city of Boerne north of Highway 46 and suggesting the city expand River Road. However, Sharma pointed out this would do little in the way of improving congestion unless the expansion went all the way to Main Street – a difficult task considering the number of businesses abutting the sidewalk as River Road approaches Main Street.
Additionally, Carroll said the property owned by the city is being reserved for future road improvements, likely referring to the raising of the intersection at River and Herff roads nine feet to create a north-south connection for first responders during heavy rain events. While this would likely help traffic conditions as well, city officials have explained this is a very expensive, long-term project.
Carroll also said the idea of having the intersection under construction for a couple years with the city’s current traffic congestions “scares all of us.”
Committee member Bitsy Pratt said without an origin-destination study to determine where traffic on Highway 46 is headed or came from, the committee can’t know where an alternative route should go if one is suggested.
After some discussion, committee member Jonah Evans suggested a “breakout group” to consider creative and alternative solutions to mitigate traffic at the busy intersection. Evans has personal ties to the Cibolo Center for Conserva tion, which could be impacted by any decisions made to alter this intersection that sits right by the entrance to the preserved land.
In the end, no final recommendation was made, but a smaller group will meet, including Evans and committee member Ben Eldredge, to discuss alternative solutions to improving the intersection. Additionally, Durden urged Sharma to try modeling solutions without preset limitations, telling him to model solutions that would relieve traffic congestion and let the committee review how much right of way such solutions would require.
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