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Denison Main Street board urges city review of safety at Austin and Maine intersection after low Fall Fest foot traffic
Summary
Board members and merchants reported uneven pedestrian flow and safety risks at the Austin–Maine intersection during Fall Fest and voted to refer recommendations — including temporary signage, increased enforcement and studying a shuttle — to the city manager and senior leadership for budget consideration.
At a Main Street advisory board meeting, members and downtown merchants described safety and continuity problems at the Austin and Maine intersection during recent events and asked the city to study short- and long-term fixes. The board voted to forward the matter to the city manager and senior leadership for consideration.
Merchants said foot traffic clustered at festival nodes and failed to carry customers across the 100 block, which reduced business activity there. One merchant said Fall Fest produced only “4 or 5 new customers” on the 100 block compared with a typical 20–30 during the event, and others described a bottleneck effect that discouraged walking between blocks.
Board members discussed several short-term options: advance signage on approaches to slow drivers for festival-affected segments, temporary flashing lights or altered signal timing (elongating the red cycle) during events, and using fee-paid officers rather than volunteers to manage crossings. Members also raised longer-term infrastructure options, including a multiyear petition to TxDOT to reroute Highway 69 so that the downtown intersection would fall under city control — a proposal noted as speculative and time-consuming.
On enforcement, members said volunteer traffic marshals are often not respected by drivers and recommended paid, certified officers for enforcement during large events. The board also discussed a transport/shuttle idea — a seasonal or event-only trolley to move festivalgoers between the 100 and 200 blocks — but members acknowledged significant recurring costs for police presence and vehicle operation.
The board passed a motion to refer the issue to senior leadership and the city manager so staff can evaluate options, estimate costs and return with recommendations. The motion passed by voice vote.
The discussion was framed repeatedly as a request for study and recommendation; no binding city action was adopted by the Main Street board itself. Board members emphasized the board’s limited authority and that any implementation, funding or changes to state-controlled roadways would require city or state action.
