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Residents report near‑miss at Van Raab crosswalk; council keeps 20 mph on Noble Ark Drive and asks staff for ordinance
Summary
A Fair Oaks Ranch resident described a near‑miss involving his wife and young son at a crosswalk near Van Raab Elementary; staff presented radar data for Noble Ark Drive and recommended keeping a temporary 20 mph speed limit. Council directed staff to bring an ordinance for first reading in January.
A Fair Oaks Ranch resident told the City Council on Dec. 19 that his wife and 5‑year‑old son were nearly struck in the pedestrian crosswalk at the Dietz/Elkhorn/Elkhorn Ridge intersection near Van Raab Elementary, and urged the city to take immediate safety steps.
"Yesterday, my wife and 5 year old son were very nearly struck by a vehicle in the pedestrian crosswalk," said Aaron Matlock, who identified himself as an Elkhorn Ridge resident and an emergency physician. Matlock asked the council for reflective paint, improved lighting and pedestrian signage, moving the school‑zone boundary west to include that intersection, and a full‑time crossing guard during school arrival and dismissal.
City staff earlier submitted a letter from residents Mark and Brandy Freeburg with traffic data collected on Noble Ark Drive from Oct. 1 to Dec. 16. As read into the record, the Freeburgs reported 26,150 vehicles in that segment during the period (22,143 cars and 4,007 heavy vehicles), weekday averages above 450 vehicles, weekend averages near 130, 2,114 pedestrians and 635 bicyclists. The Freeburgs asked the council to consider full closure of the street or a right‑turn‑only provision as alternatives.
Assistant City Manager Carol VanZant later presented radar feedback data for Noble Ark Drive and nearby Kalkala Drive covering Sept. 11–Dec. 17. VanZant said weekday average daily vehicle counts were about 287 on Noble Ark and 234 on Kalkala; during peak school hours Noble Ark averaged about 136 vehicles versus about 71 on Kalkala. She said average speeds were roughly 20–22 mph and that "less than 15% exceeded 29 miles per hour." VanZant told the council: "Based on the data that we provided, staff recommends the course of action is to maintain the 20 miles per hour speed limit."
Council members expressed support for keeping the lower limit. The council directed staff to prepare an ordinance to make the emergency 20 mph limit permanent and to present a first reading in January (the emergency ordinance expires Jan. 31; staff will re‑post 30 mph signage Feb. 1 if the council directs reversion). A council member also asked that the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee consider Mr. Matlock's specific crosswalk concerns at a future meeting.
The council did not adopt any immediate construction or signage changes at the Dec. 19 meeting; instead members sought additional staff follow‑up and formal ordinance language to consider in January.
