Schools haven’t been the only ones saying goodbye to summer break and preparing for the new school year. The City of Southlake has been gearing up too! Back to school means more traffic and more sharing of the road.

With the increase in traffic as school starts again, be sure to give yourself more time to travel. Traffic congestion will pick up as more parents and school buses are delivering students to school. And don’t forget about all the excited new drivers, driving to school for the first time. Ten extra minutes can go a long way during your commute.

“Students are not the only ones who have to rethink their priorities when school starts,” notes Southlake Transportation Manager Stephanie Taylor. “This time of year is a great reminder that getting somewhere safely is more important than getting somewhere quickly. A child’s life is worth far more than cutting down your commute. Slow down and stay alert.”

Safety is a top priority in Southlake. As part of the City’s back to school efforts, Southlake Public Works checks school zones every year before the start of the new school year. School zone flashers and crosswalks are inspected to make sure they are in good condition for students.

This year, four CISD schools had crosswalks restriped and signs updated: Carroll High School, Rockenbaugh Elementary, Carroll Elementary and Old Union Elementary Schools.

Several roadway updates over the summer will also help with the increased traffic as school starts again. Portions of Continental Boulevard were resurfaced, and the Kirkwood Boulevard improvements added more traffic lanes, sidewalks and traffic signals on the north end of Southlake. The North White Chapel widening project moved along on schedule over the summer as well. While work on North White Chapel will continue throughout the school year, the hours of possible construction lane closures will take place between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. to avoid school arrival and dismissal traffic.

Roadway improvements will help with commutes, but Taylor encourages motorists to take an active role in ensuring safe travel.

“With more motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on the road, all of us have to step it up when it comes to traffic safety,” says Taylor. “Back-to-school traffic means we all have to be more patient and pay more attention.”

The City offers several ways to stay connected to mobility in Southlake. Follow Southlake Mobility on Facebook and check out the ConnectSouthlake.com site for traffic, construction updates and all things mobility.