Transportation
BY RYAN REYNOLDS & KEVIN VU
Bellaire officials debate ‘no right turn on red’ Bellaire residents voiced their concerns over recently installed “no right turn on red signs” at the Newcastle Drive and Bellaire Boulevard intersection during a Dec. 2 City Council meeting. The backstory City Council originally voted unanimously Oct. 7 to install the signs near Evelyn’s Conservancy Park. Chief of Police Onesimo Lopez said during the Oct. 7 meeting that the purpose of the signs were to increase pedestrian safety, and reduce the likelihood of conflicts between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians in crosswalks. According to the ordinance document, there has been one pedestrian-involved crash at the intersection since 2019, with the driver at fault for failure to yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian.
Traffic delays drop by 7% in Texas Texas drivers have experienced shorter commute times and fewer traffic delays over the last five years, according to a Texas Department of Transportation Nov. 25 news release. Breaking it down Analysis of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s annual report shows that TxDOT projects have reduced traffic delays by 7% since 2019, even though the total number of miles traveled statewide has risen 7%. The study, which focuses on the state’s top 100 congested roadways, found that upgrades to key roads have saved commut- ers around $915 million in time and gas. On average, Texas drivers save $125 annually and spend 34.5 hours less in traffic delays throughout the year.
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What happened Bellaire’s spokesperson Cheryl Bright said the installed “no right turn on red signs” that aren’t on the Newcastle Drive and Bellaire Boulevard intersection have been removed, as of Dec. 3. Next steps On Dec. 16, council members voted unanimously to conduct a traffic study on the Bellaire and Newcastle intersection in January. Until the study is completed, the “no right turn on red” rule will not be enforced, according to city officials.
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