Traveling for the holidays may be a little different this year. With more families staying at home, travelers may experience less traffic and delays. However, getting there safely is still a priority.
Here are a few reminders to know before you go:
For more tips and information on mobility in Southlake, follow the Southlake Mobility Facebook page.
Teamwork makes the dream work and behind the roads, infrastructure and construction projects stands a diverse team of experts dedicated to enhancing mobility initiatives in our community.
Southlake’s Traffic Management Division team was created to respond to current and future transportation needs as well as address regional traffic traveling through the city.
With DFW’s 2040 population projected to be more than 10 million and Southlake’s buildout population at 34,000, mobility strategies must be in place to recognize and address the regional traffic coming through the city.
This division works with regional partners TxDOT, NCTCOG, Tarrant County and the neighboring cities of Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller and Westlake for mobility projects. The team also works closely with the City’s Office of Traffic Management, a cross-departmental employee group assigned to improve driver, pedestrian and bicycle safety in Southlake.
By implementing the City’s strategic plans and working with outside agencies to focus on mobility concerns for current and future travelers, the Traffic Management Division continues to make mobility better and safer for Southlake and the region.
Contact us if you have any traffic concerns. For traffic and construction updates, follow our Southlake Mobility Facebook page or visit www.ConnectSouthlake.com.
Fall is here! With the cooler temperatures, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is weather ready!
Temperature changes can have an adverse effect on your vehicle. One of the most important impacts to your vehicle this time of year is changes to tire pressure.
As temperatures drop, the air inside tires can contract, which causes lower air pressure in the tire. Examining tire pressure can help prevent flat tires or uneven wear, which ultimately keeps you and your passengers safe while traveling.
Another checkbox to complete this time of year is the battery. By keeping the battery clean and free of corrosion, you can avoid the car from stalling at start up or the battery dying.
The last and final tip is to check your fluids regularly. Low temperatures can cause fluids such as oil, antifreeze and transmission fluid to thicken. The best way to prevent this from occurring is to start your vehicle and let it warm up a few minutes before you hit the road.
For more tips on mobility and vehicle safety, follow the Southlake Mobility Facebook page and sign up for our Mobility e-newsletter.
Signal work begins next week at most of the intersections along FM 1709 (Southlake Boulevard). Advanced warning signs are going up along the road between State Highway 114 and Interstate 35W.
Contractors will be upgrading communication and video cameras at signalized intersections. The project is expected to take four months.
Traffic signals on FM 1709 are owned and operated by TxDOT.
Keep up with all our mobility news by subscribing to the Mobility E-Newsletter or following the Southlake Mobility Facebook page.
Over the last few weeks, traffic has significantly increased on the roadways. People are slowly returning to work and school, and businesses are working towards increasing capacity.
If you would like to know the status of traffic conditions before you hit the road, visit the ConnectSouthlake.com website. The home page features a Waze map that displays traffic conditions in real time to help you prepare for your trip. The map features an array of conditions from major and minor accidents to road hazards, construction and lane closures. Weather conditions such as flooding, ice on the roadway, fog and freezing rain are also listed.
The map serves as a resource for those who would like to know traffic conditions ahead of time so they can plan their routes accordingly and prepare for a safe trip.
Taking proactive measures not only helps you reach your destination in a timely manner, it also helps to decrease anxiety and possible collisions when operating in high traffic areas.
For more updates on Southlake Mobility, follow us on Facebook and sign up for the Connect Southlake e-newsletter.
As drivers and pedestrians, we are often challenged with navigating through inclement weather, construction sites, school zones and bumper to bumper traffic. With all the obstacles you must look out for while driving, a faulty traffic signal presents yet another hurdle. Signal equipment can stop working and cause the lights to flash, or a power outage can make the lights go out completely. Knowing what to do if this happens makes you and everyone around you safer.
Common road safety rules such as watching your speed, refraining from texting and looking out for pedestrians are even more important when approaching a traffic signal that is not functioning properly.
Police officers typically direct traffic at intersections where the signal is in flash or is dark, and drivers must heed their instructions. Officers are there to help keep people safe and traffic moving until the signal is repaired. If officers are not on the scene during a signal malfunction, drivers must follow these rules:
For more information about Southlake Mobility and other driving tips, follow our Facebook page.
School is about to be in session!
Over the last couple of weeks, the Southlake Mobility Team has been working diligently to ensure the safety of our students, staff and teachers. So far, crosswalks signs have been installed at the intersection of Carroll Avenue and Continental Boulevard and school zone flasher testing is underway.
Several schools in the area have ongoing construction projects that could include lane closures and slower traffic.
Review the list below when you start planning your day:
| Old Union Elementary | Waterline work along with all the associated connections is taking place on campus without any work in the intersection. Streets and drainage cures are also onsite working to replace a concrete section at the roundabout. |
| Rockenbaugh Elementary | CISD is reconfiguring the drop-off area and has added a turn lane from southbound Byron Nelson. |
| Dawson Middle School | The N. White Chapel Boulevard widening will continue throughout the school year. Please continue to slow down in the project area and heed work zone warning signs. |
| Carroll Senior High Music Center | Construction is taking place off S. Peytonville Avenue for the build out of the new music center. The turn lane from S. Peytonville to the northern driveway will remain closed. |
For more updates on Southlake Mobility, please follow us on Facebook or connect with us online at www.ConnectSouthake.com
As school staff and kids prepare to head back to school, the Southlake Mobility Team is preparing for a safe return for commuters and pedestrians.
The team plans to install crosswalk signs at Carroll Avenue and Continental Boulevard a week before school begins. Message board signs will also be placed to notify drivers and pedestrians to expect some delays due to the increase in school traffic.
Together, we can ensure pedestrian safety in Southlake. Here are four things you can do to help with pedestrian safety:
For more updates on Southlake Mobility, please follow us on Facebook or connect with us online at www.ConnectSouthlake.com.
We want our Southlake road users to be safe and informed. That’s why www.ConnectSouthlake.com is a designated spot for mobility information.
Connect Southlake is the mobility dedicated extension of the City of Southlake’s website. The page serves as a resource for big projects, sidewalks, future mobility initiatives and getting in contact with our mobility team.
For those who commute within or outside of Southlake, you will find a Waze map that displays traffic conditions in real time. The site also offers information regarding rideshare services, the TEXRail commuter train and directions from the DFW airport. Other features include feeds from the Southlake Mobility’s Facebook page and project updates from My Southlake News. Residents also have the option to sign up for the bi-weekly mobility newsletter.
Do you have a specific issue you would like to report? Select Connect Southlake Contact on the website to tell us about it!
Connect Southlake not only helps you stay in-the-know, it is your direct link to all of the resources the City of Southlake has to improve your travel experience.
Pavement markings are the silent traffic communicator that help direct commuters along their routes. They also help create a safe experience for drivers and pedestrians by improving visibility.
Over the last few weeks, the Southlake Mobility Team has been working diligently to remove and update pavement markings around Southlake. So far, striping has taken place in school zones, at several intersections, in the White Chapel and Highland roundabout, and along both Brumlow Avenue and S. Kimball Avenue.
Although pavement marking projects are smaller-scale when compared to the N. White Chapel widening and Zena Rucker Road extension, they contribute to mobility daily and keeping them in good condition is a community effort.
Requests usually come from residents, business owners or City staff. The team also keeps an inventory of school zones for any safety issues, including pavement marking visibility. The information is documented in a spreadsheet that is maintained by the Traffic Management Division. As the end of the school year approaches, the list is then checked for any upcoming paving or development projects to make sure that markings are not prematurely applied to the roadway.
Criteria for pavement marking replacement generally depends on the traffic volume and the types of vehicles that travel on the roadway because construction vehicles and heavy trucks can cause more wear. It also depends on the type of paint that was used on the pavement. Regular paint lasts one to two years, but thermoplastic is estimated to last between three to five years before any signs of deterioration.
Once an area is confirmed as a candidate for restriping, the process is quite simple. For instance, if an intersection has faded marking, the marking can be removed by grinding or sandblasting and then vacuumed away. Once all the debris is cleared, new markings are applied. The process usually takes anywhere from a few hours to one or two business days.
As of now, all striping projects have been completed for this fiscal year. The replacement process will start back up next spring. To make a request for pavement markings for next year, you can visit the Connect Southlake page and hit the Contact link. A mobility team member will reach out to you within 24-48 hours.
To learn more about Southlake Mobility, please follow us on the Southlake Mobility Facebook Page.
