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Helotes council approves revised route and expanded safety plan for annual Cornival parade
Summary
Council approved a revised route and expanded safety plan for the city’s annual Cornival parade, including extra barricades, police staffing and a cap on entries to address changes in roadway geometry and public-safety concerns.
The Helotes City Council on April 10 approved a revised route and safety plan for the city’s annual Cornival parade, citing changes to Bandera Road and the need for additional traffic control and pedestrian safety measures.
Council and staff said the parade lineup begins at the high school and the approved routing shifts traffic across several state and local roads before rejoining FM 1560 and detouring to 1604; the route was reviewed by TxDOT and city emergency and public-works staff. Council voted to approve the route and traffic-control plan by voice vote.
Council discussion focused on safety. Council members noted the large crowd size the Cornival parade regularly draws — council said past events have regularly exceeded 10,000 spectators — and contrasted the event with the smaller downtown Christmas parade. Staff described a traffic-control plan that uses Type 3 barricades at intersections and police staffing at roadway intersections. Justin (staff) and other staff said they expect roughly 31 officers assigned to the route at marked spots, additional barricades than in prior years, and tabletop exercises with public-safety partners before the parade.
A staff member said the event will limit floats and entries to a maximum of 80 units to reduce congestion. Council and staff also discussed the impact of recent road construction and medians on Bandera Road; staff said construction fencing and other measures will be used to disincentivize positioning on medians and other unsafe locations.
Staff acknowledged the plan will increase costs modestly, driven primarily by mobilization and deployment of additional barriers and personnel. Officials estimated a modest cost increase but said it would be within budget; no budget amendment was presented to council. Council asked staff to coordinate with TxDOT on timing and closures to meet interagency requirements.
Council approved Item 12, the parade route and traffic-control plan, by voice vote.
