Garland adjusts parking and traffic patterns near Heather Glen Elementary after Montclair students relocate

Garland City Council staff described temporary parking restrictions and new traffic controls near Heather Glen Elementary on Tuesday to accommodate a surge in enrollment while Montclair Elementary students attend Heather Glen during construction.

The measures, explained by Paul (Public Works staff), include new no-parking signs, pavement striping to create three lanes with a staging lane for drop-off, additional school-zone beacons and a prohibition on southbound turns into Birchwood during school-zone hours. “So we've made some changes to the roadways around the school, restricted parking just to make sure that there's adequate space for everybody,” Paul said.

Councilman Williams asked staff for an overview of the changes after the district moved students from Montclair to Heather Glen. Paul said enrollment at Heather Glen rose from “about 250 to 800 students” while the work is underway at the Montclair site, and the city added signs, markings and supplementary beacons to improve visibility and traffic flow.

Paul described the pavement markings as a three-lane configuration that leaves a right-hand lane for waiting parents while preserving two-way traffic around stopped vehicles. He also said staff installed no-entry signs so drivers cannot turn south onto Birchwood at Hanover Glen when the school beacons are flashing. “We put up the no entry signs on Birchwood,” Paul said. “So at Birchwood, at Hanover Glen, you can't turn into it going south.”

When asked whether the changes appear to be working, Paul said early reports are positive. “By all accounts it seems to be working fairly well, especially considering as much increase in enrollment has happened,” he said, while noting staff made a few adjustments near the beacon.

Councilmember Thomas asked whether the posted no-parking signs are standard metal signs; Paul confirmed they are. When asked how long the restrictions will remain, Paul said the measures are expected to remain “for the next 2 years, this year and next year after that,” and that signs and the school zone would be removed if the school site is permanently closed. “From what we understand, the school is not going to be a school any longer,” Paul said, adding the city would remove the school-zone markings and signs if the campus is retired.

Mayor Pro Tem Luck suggested relocating signs to the Montclair site when the move is complete. Paul and council members agreed the changes are temporary and are intended to reduce congestion during the construction period.

City staff did not present an associated ordinance vote during the work session; council was briefed that a formal ordinance would be placed on the regular meeting consent agenda later in the evening to codify the parking restrictions.