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Monday, December 4, 2023
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.
It seems like yesterday the City announced the N. White Chapel Widening Project to improve safety and mobility within Southlake. Since construction commenced in 2017, we wanted to take a look back to see how far we’ve come and how much longer we have until completion.
The N. White Chapel Widening Project developed as part of the Southlake 2030 Master Mobility Plan. The plan is a document that houses recommendations to the City’s transportation network which includes the Sidewalk Plans, Pathways Plan and Thoroughfare Plan.
The plan is updated every five years to accommodate Southlake’s growing population and future developments.
“Transportation is one of the community’s most visible and permanent elements,” said Rob Cohen, Director of Public Works. “The mobility plan inaugurates the framework for the community’s growth and build out. By creating a good transportation system, commuters can travel efficiently, conveniently and safely.”
The project was designed to take place in two phases. Phase 1 included the widening of the road from Highway 114 to Highland and the construction of the dual-lane roundabout located at the intersection of N. White Chapel and Highland. Phase 2 is the widening of the road from Emerald to Highland.
The City works side by side with contractors to ensure that this project remains on schedule.
“Staying on track for this project is one of our main priorities,” Cohen said. “The City works closely with contractors and has meetings to ensure that the ongoing construction is on schedule and that the impact on traffic is minimal.”
The road widening and roundabout components of Phase 1 are almost complete. Outstanding tasks for Phase 1 include landscaping, lighting, and the installation of the artwork, “Be the Bridge” by artist Boris Kramer. Phase 2 is moving steady with utility and prep work for the installation of a new screening wall.
The end result will leave N. White Chapel complete with a four-lane roadway between 114 and FM 1709, divided by a landscape median with new sidewalks for pedestrians.
The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2022 with an estimated cost of $17 million.
For more updates on Mobility projects, follow the Southlake Mobility Facebook page or visit www.ConnectSouthlake.com.
Southlake City Council approved a $3 million funding agreement with TxDOT, during the December 4 City Council meeting, for the construction of east and westbound frontage roads along SH 114 between Kirkwood Boulevard and Dove Road.
“For those of you who are familiar with highway 114, the frontage road that mysteriously ends at Dove Road and then starts again in Trophy Club. So our goal is that you can take the frontage road all the way from Grapevine to Trophy Club,” Mayor Laura Hill stated during the City Council meeting. 
This project will serve as a welcome addition along this stretch of the 114 corridor. Continued development along the corridor, particularly in Southlake, continues to increase traffic volumes throughout the region.
“Regional growth in recent year has increased the usage of SH 114 as a key east-west connector,” notes Public Works Director Rob Cohen. “This has made the need for capacity improvements such as the completion of the frontage roads more pressing.”
The City is constantly striving to develop an innovative mobility system to provide a safe, convenient and effective way for motorists to travel through Southlake. Foreseeing the growth of the 114 corridor and an increase in traffic volumes, the City engaged with consultants in April 2016 to manage and perform preconstruction activities for this project.
The map shows the proposed westbound frontage road. Completion of this project will eliminate the need for motorists to re-enter the highway at Dove Road in order to continue onto Kirkwood Boulevard. Next steps for this project include environmental studies and selecting contractors. Weather permitting; construction could start in late 2019.
As part of the Mobility Master Plan this project is just one of many current and future projects aimed at providing a safe and efficient network to allow for improved mobility in Southlake. You can stay up-to-date on this project and other CIP projects by visiting the CIP page on the City website.
Do you have questions about the traffic in Southlake? Do you want to know what the City and its state and regional partners are doing to address this important issue? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then mark your calendars and plan to attend the:
Expanding Mobility SPIN Town Hall Forum
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
6:00-7:00 pm, Open House in Town Hall Lobby
7:00 – 8:30 pm, Panel Discussion in Council Chambers
Come join the City of Southlake, as well as representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Tarrant County and from the Texas state legislature, as we engage the community in a panel discussion about mobility issues in and around Southlake.
In order to make this forum meet the goal of engaging the community, the City of Southlake invites you to participate by submitting any questions or concerns you may have regarding traffic and mobility to www.CityofSouthlake.com/ExpandingMobility. There will also be time at the end of the panel discussion for any questions you may have or to express any concerns about topics not covered.
The Mobility Forum will also provide opportunities for the City of Southlake and our partners to showcase how the City has addressed (or will address) traffic and mobility issues you’ve identified in the 2013 Citizen Survey. Before the panel discussion begins in fact, we invite you to an Open House in the Town Hall lobby (6:00 – 7:00pm) to enjoy project displays that highlight some current and upcoming mobility projects. City and state experts will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the displays or the projects presented.
Traffic and mobility topped the list as the number one issue among Southlake residents in 2013 and through the comments and feedback provided, we gained better insight into how you, the citizens felt about the traffic in Southlake and the surrounding areas. In the year since the survey, the City has implemented (or will soon start) several projects that address some of the major themes present in the survey, such as that the heavy traffic on Southlake Boulevard (FM 1709), the need to widen some of the major roads in the City (White Chapel Boulevard and Randol Mill Avenue), and addressing the various intersection issues at Davis Boulevard and Southlake Boulevard. The City’s plan for addressing these concerns may be found in the Public Works “Active City Construction Project” pages of the City of Southlake website.
In the meantime, plan to attend this opportunity to engage traffic and mobility experts and please join us on December 9, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:30pm for the Expanding Mobility Town Hall Forum!