[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6600449,"mediaKeyId","3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265","parentId",3045209,"title","Staff reports low crash counts on priority trail links; residents press for safety features and engagement","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2979000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265&start=2979&end=2979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265/thumbnail_2979000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600449/Texas/Staff-reports-low-crash-counts-on-priority-trail-links-residents-press-for-safety-features-and-engagement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600449-6a59cc0ea3140044374541b5029c5578/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174406&Signature=emZdVCqhw1YSX-JzwycgWGFldmrdX2FRKYJPisqKbxlj342xNUfubTwZQYuec-o3O76npGk9GeWJS0Qa1CCntKmpGPjl2jL7YmumHUPG9cO7yzlhOyFLGnqhB8yB85iiReX9xfXTPCnyUlCGc~GUexaEp161Gta3JDApIhVLLyqdk-dZE~jJHru13Ahglo2611SEcjpILVHVbg1KZaF~TOpAhQDOWVFcaG13QJTBYced3QbOamh4cXWyFjbj5kzDpuYvJASwPuZ93SKY5O7skYTsZG6yth~5UftWoQiUtNNiWJVifwPvtDSoi3Q50MB9xiptvpWaFuDuTMexfx-F2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Highlands","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented crash- and call-response data for priority trail areas and answered resident questions about safety. Staff said police data are available from 2020 and fire-service data from 2022; for the specific priority locations the reported pedestrian/cyclist-related crash counts were: Briar Hill Boulevard — 3; Barnett Boulevard (trail connection to District Trail) — 0; Highland Village Road (Unity Park connection) — 3; DoubleTree Drive (on-street bicycle lane) — 0.

A resident said her main safety concern is trail users inadvertently entering FM 407 and asked whether the design would include visual or physical barriers. Phil (city staff) said design standards and consultant work will address those questions and that the consultant team is experienced in trail design across the region. Phil confirmed the consultant will be asked to respond to specific safety and signing questions when their work advances.

On DoubleTree Drive, staff reported they had discussed the bike-lane option with Scott Christian, who “would not recommend adding any parking restrictions” because doing so could upset the neighborhood. A board member and other attendees noted Selmire’s striping provides a useful visual cue and that similar visual aids could help on other streets.

When asked whether recorded incidents coincided with known crossing light problems, staff said the available crash report data do not include that level of detail and that the city had requested only the counts that police and fire could provide. One commenter suggested community workshops and citizen involvement in plan markups; staff said several public meetings are already planned for the FM 407 work and that staff would share details.

The board also discussed scheduling a trail tour; staff said members absent that night should be included and proposed a fall tour using city-operated utility vehicles or golf carts to traverse the system. No formal decision was made; staff will follow up on tour timing and logistics.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Highlands - Highland Village Community Development Corporation - Apr 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented crash-and-response counts for trail-priority areas, reported no crashes in some corridors and a small number in others, and fielded resident concerns about trail-to-road separation, scooter classification, and potential parking changes on DoubleTree Drive.","taxTitle","Highlands City Council, Highlands, Harris County, Texas","taxId",72997,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600453,"City staff says FM 407 trail alignment work with Haff & Associates is on track for grant eligibility",150,2324000,2474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265&start=2324&end=2474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265/thumbnail_2324000.jpg","/articles/6600453/Texas/City-staff-says-FM-407-trail-alignment-work-with-Haff-Associates-is-on-track-for-grant-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600453-c8eeba0024afc7acd929f801560ff78c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174406&Signature=MLJ1kdLWIg06lqCA7n-XAqwKY2X6wnoST1cdQ6bzQil3uRWL3i9G0fHF0xqz4HzBmzhv3lBMgwzcSp5-HLeD4iYnCXhObaLbKTRVxwBbR3Bszly6C33jvk5h-P3rch7RZkcZfr9bazuzj6O9vM628C0ods88soucPRWGN84SqoD2hMlF~kVOn9Zg2PSPJEBUwEQGTAiEu~qnCSZq-4f2DnlkAFFMXjrrPHK6CQ5z-KQUZQW9A8PhG7FXSv7G6l43sSJMSNWFMT~ntK4MTMD70b4Xk~S0w4v1DuooGcdILEWvGgVxTruniEnOEgfFIuij7rqXSLJF3OgpvBC9SXycBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Phil, a city staff member, updated the Highland Village Community Development Corporation on work with Haff & Associates to study a FM 407 trail alignment and pursue grant funding. Phil said staff and consultants have held three meetings: a project kickoff, a field walk on April 3 with city staff (including Scott Christian and Andrew), and a recent meeting with the consultant’s engineering team to review preliminary alignments.

Phil said the April field walk focused on priority areas and lateral connections—Barnett Boulevard, Barnett Trail, Highland Village Road and other sections on the priority list—and that most priority areas fall within the current FM 407 review. He noted DoubleTree Drive's existing bike-lane project is not part of the FM 407 alignment effort.

On funding, Phil told the board that Haff & Associates had outlined potential grant opportunities and that, at a surface level, the project is “looking really good for grant funding.” He said the study will eventually be presented to the board and the Park Board and that staff expects engagement opportunities where the public can provide input. When asked about when community input will occur, Phil said several public meetings are built into the project schedule and that staff would provide specifics following the meeting.

Phil and other speakers addressed design and safety concerns raised by residents: community members asked whether the trail design would include visual or physical separation from FM 407 to reduce spillover into traffic, and Phil said design standards can address those concerns and that such questions would be routed to the consultant team for detailed responses. Phil also referenced the city’s earlier master planning work and said Haff & Associates is applying that planning to make the alignment grant-ready.

The presentation included a near-term funding note: Phil said the FM 407 work connects to larger capital planning and mentioned a phased, future bond initiative “in 2027, ’28 possibly” for other park improvements, and cited a $20,000,000 project scope that would be done in pieces. He made clear the FM 407 alignment work itself is now in study and grant-assessment stages and will return for committee and community review.

Phil said staff will share the project’s public-engagement schedule and more detailed grant analysis with the board in a follow-up.","Highland Village staff reported three meetings with consultant Haff & Associates on FM 407 trail alignment and said early work and field walks have positioned the project well for grant funding. Staff said the consultant will present to the city's boards and that public engagement opportunities are planned.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600457,"DCTA tells Highland Village board A Train ridership is recovering, highlights GoZone use and rail-trail links",619,527000,1146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265&start=527&end=1146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045209-57254fc6649fb28e53738a1ec0659265/thumbnail_527000.jpg","/articles/6600457/Texas/DCTA-tells-Highland-Village-board-A-Train-ridership-is-recovering-highlights-GoZone-use-and-rail-trail-links","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600457-8389e66477e1f7ceb1bfa097fb1c5523/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174406&Signature=MfojFD1QY5ZomkUVKES4fmOl3~fzp3Jp19LhTj6pfdiIeAmBMfw9xySwyV3PZzAT1ptLJddxuhdE7GAFz2evAqyzhlsrzHnD4CTvJmKCMdOnY1GyxaSPJiSqVA6vz2NiZFKtkqYgCFPIxZVkGa5ztNt3ERzVsIxUoBy3XBuQoQZGfI96gsWtgfg-ad~YLSzbJK8mb0BQsD0Q7lz3IkdRRu-5yH2WoCTneXUIDqSWU0BcKgwuyUNtxWQMXi0CRUkRU94U1ULGm8kreR89RX6P0JDNi-neeAAu5ZnuKOySVuwiGvJr5e3LszE2Z-tPJgAfu7fFiwRM-vaz0ezeATVwCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul, a DCTA representative, told the Highland Village Community Development Corporation that DCTA is seeing recovery on its A Train commuter rail and growth in on-demand GoZone trips concentrated along the FM 407 corridor. “We're seeing within our data sets ... a concentration along that 407 corridor,” Paul said, noting GoZone activity also shows movement to and from Lewisville.

The presentation cited a national APTA dataset showing the A Train ranked sixth among commuter rails for recovery; DCTA projects “upwards of almost 300,000 rides for FY25,” Paul said. He described DCTA’s A Train Enhancement Program as a multi-part effort to speed service, extend the line farther south to Downtown Carrollton to improve regional connections, and eventually aim for a 15-minute train frequency goal.

Why the extra ridership in October? Paul attributed an October spike to large events such as the state fair, which also boosted ridership on DART and Trinity Metro lines. At the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake station, DCTA presented trail-counter data showing an average of about 41 pedestrians and 19 cyclists at the station-area counter; presenters cautioned those counts capture trail users adjacent to the station, not a breakdown of how many Highland Village residents rode the train.

Council and meeting participants asked for more granular boarding data. One attendee asked how many Highland Village residents use the train; DCTA said it could derive closer metrics from pass data and follow up with station-specific averages. An audience member asked whether Flower Mound had declined GoZone; Paul said Flower Mound opted for a different mobility product that focuses on transporting elderly and disabled residents across Denton County.

DCTA staff emphasized multimodal and place-making measures to integrate the rail into member cities: a 19-mile A Train rail-trail runs alongside stations, and DCTA is working to connect trails, stations and downtowns through signage, wayfinding and promotional campaigns. Paul said DCTA has a new marketing agency and is pursuing sponsorship and signage opportunities to increase awareness; he suggested directional signs along trails (for example: “A Train — X miles”) to show connectivity to downtown destinations and airports. He also flagged the potential value for riders if the corridor eventually provided a direct two-seat commute to DFW Airport, which he described as a possible “game changer.”

On proposed new stations, Corinth was described as “being considered” but not part of an active plan: Paul said DCTA is prepared to have conversations if Corinth’s staff are ready, but there has been no detailed agreement. “There’s been no deal made, no detailed conversation in that regard,” he said.

The presentation noted safety and data limitations. DCTA and questioners discussed micro-mobility on trails (e-bikes and scooters), and DCTA agreed to follow up to clarify how counters classify scooters versus bicycles. DCTA also said it would coordinate with member cities on trail wayfinding, signage, and marketing to promote ridership.

DCTA's remarks were followed by council and resident questions about safety standards when DCTA service interfaces with other regional rail operators; DCTA said it manages its own safety program and cannot speak for other operators’ programs.

Meeting participants asked DCTA to provide more detailed, Highland Village–specific ridership and boarding counts and to return with follow-up materials. The presentation closed with DCTA inviting continued coordination on wayfinding, promotional campaigns and the long-range A Train enhancement plan.","DCTA staff reported that A Train commuter rail ridership is recovering toward pre-pandemic levels, highlighted concentrated GoZone demand along FM 407, and described rail-trail counters and wayfinding efforts tied to multimodal connections at the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake station.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff reports low crash counts on priority trail links; residents press for safety features and engagement

City staff says FM 407 trail alignment work with Haff & Associates is on track for grant eligibility

DCTA tells Highland Village board A Train ridership is recovering, highlights GoZone use and rail-trail links