DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E., Director/City Engineer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
“Don’t Block the Box” Pilot Campaign
SUMMARY:
The Transportation & Capital Improvements Department (TCI) will provide a briefing on “Don’t Block the Box” Pilot Program with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
BACKGROUND:
In May 2016, Councilman Rey Saldaña submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) asking City staff to research and recommend measures to address mobility and safety at critical intersections in San Antonio.
When a driver enters an intersection and is unable to travel all the way through it, they prevent cross traffic movement of all vehicles including emergency vehicles. This behavior also endangers cross traffic pedestrians and bicyclists by blocking crosswalks and bike lanes. In other words, blocking the intersection or “box” is unsafe, illegal and causes traffic gridlock.
On January 25, 2017, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) launched the “Don’t Block the Box” Pilot Program by hosting a press event with Councilman Rey Saldaña and Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales to bring awareness on the impact of driver behavior on safety and traffic congestion. This pilot program is another method supporting San Antonio’s Vision Zero goal of zero fatalities on our roadways.
ISSUE:
The “Don’t Block the Box” Pilot Program is an educational and enforcement effort to bring awareness on the impact of driver behavior on safety and street accessibility. Through the use of media and social media, TCI prepared educational information to improve awareness and encourage safe driver behaviors. The following communications were completed:
• January 25, 2017 Press Event & Release
• Media & Social Media Interactions
• May 1, 2015 Press Release
In partnership with the City Council Districts, TCI identified one intersection per district for inclusion in the “Don’t Block the Box” Pilot Program. Beginning on January 25th through February 3rd, “Don’t Block the Box” (DBTB) intersection signs were placed at the pilot locations. After 30 days, TCI collected data to evaluate signage impact on driver behavior. This was the first step of the enforcement component of the pilot program.
The table below summarizes the resulting data observed through the placement of video cameras at the pilot locations.
|
Council District |
Intersection |
% Blocking Pre-Sign |
% Blocking Post-Sign |
Increase (+) Decrease (-) |
|
1 |
San Pedro Ave. at Euclid Ave. |
1% |
2% |
+1% |
|
2 |
Houston St. at W. W. White Rd. |
0% |
3% |
+3% |
|
3 |
Military Dr. at Logwood Ave. |
1% |
1% |
+1% |
|
4 |
Springvale Dr. at Valley Hi Dr. |
1% |
2% |
+1% |
|
5 |
Commerce St. at Zarzamora St. |
3% |
3% |
0% |
|
6 |
Culebra Rd. at Westwood Loop |
5% |
2% |
-3% |
|
7 |
Fredericksburg Rd. at Woodlake Dr. |
4% |
2% |
-2% |
|
8 |
Huebner at Fredericksburg Rd. |
2% |
2% |
0% |
|
9 |
West Ave. at Silversands Dr. |
0% |
2% |
+1% |
|
10 |
Bulverde Rd. at Autry Pond-Classen Spur |
4% |
4% |
0% |
The next step of the enforcement component of the pilot program will entail SAPD presence at the identified intersections to issue and document violation citations during the month of May 2017. Once complete, TCI will conduct traffic video data collection during the month of June 2017 to evaluate the impact of SAPD enforcement on improving driver behavior.
ALTERNATIVE:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.