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Waxahachie resident urges traffic enforcement and speed measures after near-misses with children
Summary
A Settlers Glen resident asked council to prioritize traffic calming and enforcement on Old Settlers Trail after multiple incidents in which children or a school bus were endangered.
Jeff Jones, who said he lives at 142 Old Settlers Trail in the Settlers Glen neighborhood, told the council there have been several recent near-misses involving children and speeding drivers on Old Settlers Trail. He recounted an incident in which a motorist passed a stopped school bus with children boarding and other episodes in which his grandchildren, including a child with limited vision and a 5-year-old who is autistic, were nearly struck.
Jones said a Waxahachie police officer responded to his call, spent time in the neighborhood and later caught a speeder. He asked the city to "prioritize our children over traffic," proposing speed bumps, "Children at Play" or "Autistic Children at Play" signs (saying he would buy signs himself), automatic speed-detection feedback units, increased enforcement of existing traffic laws and more police patrols during school hours.
Why it matters: Jones described vulnerable pedestrians, including small children and children with disabilities, and requested short-term enforcement and low-cost traffic-calming measures. Council members and staff did not make an immediate policy change but acknowledged the safety concerns and that traffic enforcement and engineering countermeasures are within the city's authority.
Ending: The city's police and traffic-enforcement staff were reported to be aware of the calls and had conducted patrols; Jones and neighbors said they will continue to press for engineering changes and regular enforcement.
