Council approves TSAC ordinance first reading and directs safety fixes at Front Gate intersection

The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on Feb. 20 approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city code that governs the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee and directed staff to install several traffic-safety improvements at the Front Gate and Fair Oaks Parkway intersection and proceed with placement of two budgeted radar feedback signs on Deats Elkhorn West.

The ordinance approved on first reading would change the TSAC composition to seven regular members with no alternates and move a provision barring sitting council members from serving on the committee into the ordinance itself. “Amendment number 1 is to alter the committee composition to 7 regular members and have no alternates,” Assistant City Manager Carol Van Zan told the council. Council member Emily (last name not specified) moved the ordinance and Council member Scott Parker seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

The action follows recommendations from the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) after the committee’s Feb. 5 meeting and a public comment earlier in the meeting from resident Harold Prasadik about safety problems at the Front Gate intersection. Prasadik described limited sight lines, a narrow median and pedestrian hazards, saying the intersection is “in a valley” and that traffic on Fair Oaks Parkway “tends to accelerate above the posted speed limit of 35 miles an hour.” He urged pedestrian signage and “always stop signs” like those at another nearby intersection.

At the workshop, staff and TSAC members summarized five related submittals addressing eastbound and westbound turning and median conditions at Front Gate and Fair Oaks Parkway. TSAC recommended installing a double yellow line with reflectors in the median, placing intersection-warning signs and moving the crossbar on Front Gate “as far forward as legally possible.” Staff said the improvements could be done in-house and estimated the cost at no more than $1,500, noting placement would follow the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Without objection from council, staff said it would proceed with those in-house improvements.

Council also directed staff to install two budgeted radar feedback signs on Deats Elkhorn West (one for each direction) and to return with a consideration item at the next council meeting describing exact proposed locations and a prioritization analysis of other candidate streets. “The Transportation Safety Advisory Committee recommended, of those 3 options, to put it on Deets Elkhorn West,” TSAC Chair Al Schmidt told council; staff confirmed the signs are already budgeted and planned for purchase.

On the question of reducing the posted speed limit on Deats Elkhorn West from 35 to 30 mph, TSAC postponed a recommendation pending additional police data. The committee had asked for citations and speed data and, according to the record, amended the request to consider 30 mph only on the segment between Old Fredericksburg Road and the Front Gate stop sign. Council did not act on a speed-limit change and asked TSAC to return with a final recommendation.

Council also asked staff to monitor the Front Gate intersection for at least one month after installation of the low-cost measures and to perform an internal check of whether existing pavement would allow re-striping to create a left-turn lane into Front Gate before deciding whether to fund a professional warrant or intersection study. Staff said a dedicated left-turn warrant study would cost about $5,000 if the council requested it.

The TSAC ordinance and the safety directions come after multiple citizen submissions: staff reported eight submittals (12 requests) through Jan. 10, of which several were consolidated for the Feb. 5 TSAC meeting. TSAC and staff said they will present appointment resolutions once the ordinance is adopted at second reading so the council may fill Places 6 and 7 on the advisory committee.

Votes at a glance: The consent agenda (approval of Feb. 6 minutes and second reading of a separate yield-sign ordinance) was approved by voice vote. The first reading of the TSAC ordinance was approved by voice vote (motion by Council member Emily; second by Council member Scott Parker). No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

What happens next: The ordinance returns for final approval at the next council meeting. Staff will bring a consideration item to install the two radar feedback signs on Deats Elkhorn West (locations and map to be provided) and will implement the in-house median and signage improvements immediately, then report back on the intersection observation and space analysis for a potential left-turn lane.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the public comment, the TSAC presentation, or the council workshop and are identified in the meeting record.