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 Saldaña 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 possible to cross before the light changes create both traffic bottlenecks and hazardous situations for emergency vehicles and people walking. San Antonio is already a Vision Zero city and a “Don’t Block the Box” campaign will be another method of achieving the goal of zero fatalities by ensuring safe and accessible pedestrian crossings.
SAPD will focus resources at the identified key intersections throughout the City where peak congestion is expected. This initiative will include enforcement efforts to encourage safe driving behavior that is respectful of other roadway users especially people walking and people with disabilities. TCI will be facilitating a “Don’t Block the Box” pilot campaign that will include public service announcements and installation of “Don’t Block the Box” symbol signs at the key intersections identified by each Council District. TCI has provided recommended intersections to each Council District and is currently coordinating with the districts to select one location per district.
ALTERNATIVE:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends working with the San Antonio Police Department to increase awareness around the city regarding “Don’t Block the Box”.