DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E., Director/City Engineer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Proposed "Don't Block the Box" Campaign
SUMMARY:
The Transportation & Capital Improvements Department (TCI) will provide a briefing on "Don't Block the Box" Campaign with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Antonio is one of the fastest growing U.S. cities and will continue to experience significant population growth over the next 25 years. In May 2016, Councilman Rey Salda?a submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) directing City staff to research and recommend measures to address mobility and safety at critical intersections in San Antonio. In an effort to help ease traffic congestion at key intersections, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) are launching a "Don't Block the Box" educational and enforcement campaign. This effort includes using "Don't Block the Box" symbol signs and police enforcement at key intersections to help reduce the occurrence of vehicles blocking cross traffic from moving forward and preventing mobility in crosswalks and bike lanes. The City of Austin recently launched a "Don't Block the Box" initiative in April 2015. The initiative includes traffic management and enforcement. Signs were installed at approximately 65 intersections. Over a period of 16 months, over 6,000 citations were issued for moving and non-moving violations. This is an average of 5.8 occurrences per month per intersection.
ISSUE:
The City of San Antonio's "Don't Block the Box" will be an educational and enforcement effort to bring awareness on the impact that driver's behavior has on safety and street accessibility. It is important for drivers to understand the public safety implications associated with their driving behavior. Vehicles that enter intersections when it may not be possi...
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