This notice is to provide information on the RAISED MEDIAN included in the proposed Vallecillo Road Project. The Webb County City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority (WebbLaredoRMA) is required to file a RAISED MEDIAN White Paper and attain approval from the Texas Department of Transportation before letting. Please see the attached exhibits that indicate the roadway and proposed RAISED MEDIAN design.
FAST FACTS:
SAFETY: Heavy commercial traffic between the international ports of entry and northwest Laredo’s warehouse districts, with heavy congestion and longer travel times on FM 1472. With ongoing development, traffic is expected to increase further. National studies show RAISED MEDIANS can reduce vehicle crashes by up to 27%, mainly by limiting left-turn conflict points. According to the TxDOT Access Management Manual, non traversable median are safer at higher speeds and volumes than undivided roadways, with crash rates about 20% lower than those with continuous two-way left-turn lanes
DESIGN: The new road will service personal vehicles, trucks, bus transit, bikes, and pedestrian traffic, and has a function classification as an urban “principal arterial Arterial roads provide high levels of mobility and are intended to carry high volumes of traffic over longer distances and higher speeds. Therefore, direct property access to businesses along this segment of the corridor must be carefully managed to preserve arterial mobility and avoid creating unsafe and congested traffic operations.
MOBILITY/EXPECTED BENEFITS: The proposed project will accommodate this future growth in the regional transportation network by increasing overall capacity. It will reduce congestion and increase mobility & safety on FM 1472 and IH 35. Travel times would be significantly improved. This new connection would directly reduce traffic on Killam Industrial Boulevard, IH 69W, FM 1472, and FM 3338.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: Although approximately 70 acres of additional right-of-way would
be required, no residential or non-residential structures are anticipated to be displaced at this time because the road footprint is located in the northwestern portion of Laredo, abutting Webb County on mostly rolling, undeveloped ranch land.
