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Council approves $57,115 traffic study after debate over Lewisville ISD elementary closure
Summary
Council authorized a $57,115 professional traffic engineering study to evaluate traffic and routing changes after Lewisville ISD's decision to close Highland Village Elementary; the vote passed 7-0 after extended discussion about whether the city or the district should lead the work.
The Highland Village City Council on March 25 authorized Maldonado Burkett LLP to perform a professional traffic engineering study to analyze traffic pattern changes resulting from Lewisville Independent School District's closure of Highland Village Elementary.
The study, authorized by Resolution 2025-3179, is priced at $57,115 and will evaluate where students displaced by the closure are likely to be rerouted (primarily McAuliffe and Heritage elementaries), bus routing options, parent drop-off and pedestrian/scooter routes, and any city infrastructure upgrades that might be needed. Councilmembers and staff said the study could include recommendations on signal timing and other intersection changes and would gather bus-route information from LISD and coordinate with neighboring Flower Mound where appropriate.
The item prompted extensive debate. Several councilmembers questioned whether the cost and scope are appropriate given the school district's own planning and parents' reports that LISD already was studying bus routing. Council members urged alternatives such as requesting specific data from the district, working directly with LISD to open or manage campus gates and bus routings, or pursuing lower-cost actions such as requesting TxDOT extend school-zone timing or reduce speeds on State Highway 407 during school hours.
Supporters of the study said the city needs comprehensive, independent traffic projections and a possible capital-improvement plan to identify city-side infrastructure changes before the start of school in August. Opponents argued that the city might be duplicating work the district is already doing and suggested awaiting district bus-route decisions and early fall traffic patterns before spending the funds.
After discussion, Councilmember Robert Feaster moved to authorize the agreement; Councilmember Kevin Cox seconded. The motion carried 7-0. Councilmembers asked staff to pursue bus-route information from LISD, consult TxDOT about adjusting school-zone limits or speed, and explore lower-cost mitigation options that can be taken immediately (for example, targeted enforcement or temporary traffic controls) while the larger study proceeds.
Ending: Staff will coordinate with LISD and Maldonado Burkett LLP; council members said they expect close monitoring of traffic the first weeks of school and reserved the option to revisit infrastructure recommendations after school begins.
