Highland Village city staff and the police department presented the results of a Safe Routes to School survey to the City Council on July 22 and recommended a short-term crossing‑guard deployment plan for the start of the school year.

The city collected 319 survey responses during a month‑long outreach period that used print, social media, trail signage and coverage in local outlets. The survey asked which school children would attend under a recent district reassignment, how families planned to travel to school, and what safety concerns parents wanted the city to address.

Staff reported that most parents expected to drive or use school bus services rather than walk. Where students might walk or use micromobility devices, respondents favored sidewalks and trails over on‑street bike lanes. Respondents identified a handful of crossing locations as priorities: Willow Creek/Highland Village Road, Briar Hill at DKH and Highland Shores at the community center. Parents also flagged concerns at Briar Hill Boulevard intersections and on Highland Shores Boulevard near Hillside, and asked for more enforcement and visibility on the city trail network and in school zones.

The police department recommended focused coverage for the first two weeks of school, when travel patterns typically are most confused, and suggested placing officers or auxiliaries and crossing guards at the highest‑concern locations. Staff estimated the incremental cost to fund one additional part‑time crossing‑guard position at roughly $7,000 annually if the city chooses to add a permanent post; the department said that the initial, high‑visibility staffing during the first week or two would be handled with existing auxiliaries and staff adjustments. The department also said it intends to tally crossings and counts during that period to inform longer‑term staffing or engineering changes.

Council members supported the plan to deploy personnel and directed staff to monitor and collect usage data for the weeks following school opening. Councilmember comments included requests for better signage and consideration of lighted crosswalk treatments where vehicle congestion reduces pedestrian visibility. Staff committed to return with counts, any recommended engineering work (for example, enhanced markings or additional crossing controls) and a recommended budget for any permanent crossing‑guard additions.

Next steps
Police and public‑works staff will staff prioritized crossings and monitor the first two full weeks of classes, tally pedestrian volumes and report back with data and any recommended changes — signage, enforcement or capital improvements — for council consideration.