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Residents say Jefferson Street truck route endangers students; council asks staff for a citywide truck‑route review
Summary
Neighbors near Alexander High School urged the council to remove or alter a truck route along Jefferson Street, citing repeated tractor‑trailer congestion and safety risks to students walking to nearby schools; council asked staff to return with comprehensive recommendations in 30 days.
LAREDO, Feb. 18, 2025 — Residents and the City Council on Tuesday raised safety concerns about truck traffic on Jefferson Street, a route that speakers said funnels tractor‑trailers past several schools and through neighborhoods where children walk home.
A resident described repeated incidents of long lines of trucks blocking driveways and creating congestion; council members noted the truck route ordinance dates to 2012 and asked staff to update the city’s truck‑route study and recommend targeted changes. Several council members said the issue requires more than a single‑street fix and asked for a comprehensive review that would produce both short‑term enforcement recommendations and longer‑term design solutions.
Staff response and council action Traffic and engineering staff said the city’s truck route ordinance governs designated corridors but does not preclude local deliveries outside those routes. The council directed staff to return within 30 days with a package of recommendations that could include truck‑route changes, targeted enforcement, signage, speed controls, and options to reduce truck traffic near schools. Council also suggested evaluating detention or other city‑owned spaces for overflow parking only after engineering confirmed safety and drainage constraints.
Why it matters Speakers said the route passes within two blocks of Alexander High School and other campus entrances, and that tractor‑trailer queuing and speeding vehicles present a “‘clear and present danger’” during peak school times. Council members agreed the problem merits a citywide review of truck routing, enforcement policy and engineering solutions.
Provenance: Public comments and council exchange at Feb. 18 meeting.
