TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES TxDOT declares 2021 second-deadliest year for Texas roadways; tra c deaths up 15%over 2020
ONGOING PROJECTS
BY MIKAH BOYD
TRAFFIC TRAGEDIES While most tra c crashes did not result in injuries, thousands of Texans died
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Roadways are becoming increas- ingly deadly, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation that detailed ndings that are part of a large issue nationwide. TxDOT reported more than 4,480 deaths on Texas roads in 2021, only a little behind 1981, the deadliest year to date with over 4,701 deaths. Roadway deaths are also on the rise nationwide. O cials reported an estimated 20,160 people died from vehicular crashes in the rst half of 2021, 18.4% higher than in 2020. Texas saw an increase of almost 15% from 2020-21. TxDOT elaborated on the shared responsibility among Texas drivers, roadway engineers and law enforce- ment to reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “Driver behavior is one of the causes but also one of the most important solutions,” Transportation Commis- sioner Laura Ryan said in a news release. “This is not blame. These are facts. We all have a role. TxDOT can do more, and we accept that responsi- bility. The driving public can do more. For instance, in 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These were decisions made by people that could have potentially saved 2,741 lives.” Art Markman, a psychology professor at The University of Texas, informed TxDOT leaders and
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or faced serious injuries on the roads in 2021. Reported vehicle crashes in Texas in 2021
Vance Jackson Road upgrades Contractors on the Vance Jackson Road low-water crossing improve- ment project were recently working on water and sewer lines at Tree Hill Street. Plans for the overall project include street, curb and sidewalk reconstruction and improvements to utilities. Cost: $8.1 million Timeline: May 2021-September 2022 Source: city of San Antonio
Noninjuries
1.07M
137.4K Possible injuries 100.4K Unknown injuries
“WEMUST DOBETTER FOR OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES ANDOUR LARGER COMMUNITYOF TEXANS.” LAURA RYAN, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER
82.5K Suspected minor injuries 19.4K Suspected serious injuries
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4.5K Fatalities
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SOURCE: TEXAS PEACE OFFICER’S CRASH REPORTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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as well as proven life-saving roadway designs. TxDOT is also reviewing crash data to identify areas where drivers are more likely to crash and will use its ndings to focus improvement initiatives on those areas and share the data with the driving population. O cials within the agency believe the implementation of the above initiatives and focusing on engineering and enforcement will greatly reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “But make no mistake: This is an urgent call to action for all of us behind the wheel,” Ryan said. “We can do bet- ter. We should do better. We must do better—for ourselves, our loved ones and our larger community of Texans. Not a single death on our roadways is acceptable. Let’s end this streak.”
transportation stakeholders at the annual Texas Transportation Forum in February about coronavirus-related pressures that have had a negative impact on Texas roadways. “We have to remind people that they are part of a community,” Markman said. “We have to start considering everyone as part of our community. If we don’t do that, there are going to be all sorts of negative consequences, and those are going to include negative consequences on the road.” The release provided information on initiatives TxDOT is researching and studying before implementing to aid in roadway safety. Some of the initia- tives include tra c safety campaigns and law enforcement funding grants
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Loop 1604 North expansion Loop 1604 between US 281 and Tradesman Road has had alternating lane closures in both directions on weeknights. Construction contractors have also been working on Blanco Road between Country Club Lane/ West Blanco Road and Huebner Road. Timeline: May 2021-TBD Cost: $1.3 billion Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 9. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT NSANEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. 1604. City o cials said motorists using Huebner near 1604 should be aware of a closure of the existing right lane where through tra c must merge left. Timeline: April-August Cost: TBD Funding source: city of San Antonio Huebner Road/Loop 1604 work San Antonio Public Works began work April 18 to add a 300-linear-foot right-turn lane on northbound and southbound Huebner Road at Loop
One-third of NWMilitaryHighway project nowcomplete in ShavanoPark
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
2. Phase 1 includes utility line relocation, installa- tion of new water and gas mains and stormwater drainage. However, City Manager Bill Hill said the city red original tra c signal sub- contractor L&H because they failed to keep up with project requirements and timelines.
The new subcontractor SAECO was expected to erect new signals at Northwest Military’s intersections at DeZavala Road and at Pond Hill Drive by June. Timeline: June 2021- spring 2024 Cost: $15.5 million total Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation
Shavano Park o cials said e orts to expand and improve Northwest Military Highway were on schedule and still projected for completion in spring 2024. Currently, project con- tractors are working on various elements sched- uled across phases 1 and
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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