Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves school-zone updates; TxDOT grant will fund upgraded flashers in future year
Summary
Council approved a school-zone ordinance to clarify sign locations and timing; public works staff said a TxDOT grant will fund upgraded overhead flashers but funds are not available until FY2027–28, and timing will be based on flashing activation rather than posted hours.
Universal City voted to approve an ordinance updating school-zone signage and timing at the Aug. 4 council meeting; staff said the changes are aimed at resolving inconsistent start times across two school districts and that new flashers will be installed when funding is available.
"That grant does not allow us to actually use that funding until fiscal year 2027–28," the public works representative said, describing an award from TxDOT to improve school-zone flashers for affected locations. He said the city will install overhead flashers that activate when schools are in session and that posted times will be tied to when the flashers operate rather than fixed hour placards, which should reduce driver confusion where adjacent zones currently have different start times.
Council members asked whether the city can change the time splits for adjacent school zones and were told school-district and police schedules drive the zone boundaries and timing; staff explained the city is coordinating with the Judson school police to split Old Cimarron Trail into two flashing zones to match differing school start times.
Council approved the ordinance after brief discussion; staff said officers have been generally forgiving with warnings during the transition and that flashers will include improved battery/monitoring technology to reduce outages.
