Page Title

Traffic Improvement

It’s no secret that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to improving the traffic in Burleson. The truth is, there are major initiatives and road projects that can help, but we can only afford a fraction of them right now. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make big improvements in the meantime. Here are some common sense solutions that don’t require the city to overextend itself financially.

New Traffic Control Systems

Last year, as a council, we approved $2 million to fund an all new “Smart Traffic Control System” for stop lights across the entire city. This will allow us to collect a LOT more data about the number of vehicles at each intersection, wait times, traveling speeds, accidents, etc. With this new data and the remote traffic control capabilities, our engineers will be able to better manage these intersections. This means better safety, and more efficient traffic flow.

Local Control of HWY 174 / Wilshire

One of our most obvious traffic problems is also one we’ve had the least control over - HWY 174 / Wilshire. Most people don’t realize that the State of Texas owns, operates, and maintains the most traveled road through town. The state is willing to turn over control of Wilshire to us, once our population has exceeded 50,000. Unfortunately, as of our last official census, we were a few hundred people short of the required threshold. The good news is that we're not waiting for another census to take action. We’ve already petitioned the State to turn over control early, due to the extreme needs of our growing area. I am committed to seeing this transition plan become a reality and being prepared to start managing our town’s most used thoroughfare.

Negotiate for Burleson's Interests with Regional Planning Committees

It’s critical that we focus on transportation and traffic issues at the regional level, rather than only addressing problems once they cross into our city limits. The ability to do this requires that members of our city council attain positions in the groups and coalitions that meet and focus on these issues. I am the first Burleson official ever to ever hold an executive leadership position with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and I also serve on the Johnson County Master Thoroughfare Steering Committee. These groups focus on:

Transportation Safety Initiatives
Street Maintenance
Intersection Improvements
Regional Roadway Connections
Reducing Traffic Congestion

If I don’t win re-election, Burleson automatically forfeits these positions. We have been underrepresented on these committees for years and when we lose a seat we have no way of knowing how long (if ever) it will be before another council member reclaims it. Burleson is no longer a pass-through community. It’s a gathering point for all of the growing areas around us. Leaders of these surrounding areas are willing to help us, but need to see our involvement and hear our voice.

City-Wide Walkability

Sidewalks increase pedestrian safety. A roadway without sidewalks is twice as likely to have a pedestrian accident as a roadway with sidewalks on both sides. Everyday, in too many areas of town our children are walking in the street, around parked cars, trying to stay off their neighbor’s lawn and away from harm, hoping to get to school and back home safely. Increasing the amount of sidewalks, especially near our schools keeps our kids safer.

Sidewalks also stand to alleviate automobile traffic by creating a more walkable neighborhood. In a time where people are considering the environmental impact of driving a couple blocks to the store when they could easily walk instead, if there was a safe opportunity to do so, building more sidewalks could reduce the number of cars on our roads.

In addition to safety and traffic, sidewalks provide opportunities for residents to exercise safely, improving resident health. Being able to take a morning jog or evening stroll with your family without having to walk on the roadway increases opportunities for cost-free exercise.

Smart Spending

Providing excellent city services, maintaining parks, infrastructure, buildings and programs all require money. While I hope to equip Burleson to provide residents with quality city services and programming, I also realize the limited nature of taxpayer dollars. It is my goal to be as discerning as possible when it comes to spending. We need to identify inefficiencies, look for ways to combine uses or spaces to maximize the dollars we spend, and be objective about what this city needs and what it can afford. I promise to thoroughly investigate spending and to consider our existing financial position before committing your tax dollars to projects and programming.

Page Title

Traffic Improvement

​

​New Traffic Control Systems

​Local Control of HWY 174 / Wilshire

Negotiate for Burleson's Interests with Regional Planning Committees

​

​

​

New Traffic Control Systems

Local Control of HWY 174 / Wilshire