It's back-to-school season for Baylor University and Waco schools. TxDOT’s Waco District I-35 team works to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe, especially during this busy season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As TxDOT crews reconstruct the northbound I-35 mainlanes and overpasses, including the bridges over 4th/5th Streets, University Parks Drive, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, US 84/Waco Drive, and Behrens Circle, the cross-streets will intermittently close to vehicle, pedestrian and bicyclist traffic.
If you regularly walk or ride your bicycle near I-35, a few safety tips can help you and those around you stay safe. John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researcher and I-35 lead mobility coordinator for TxDOT , says, “Stay alert to your surroundings and look both ways before crossing a street — like your folks taught you. Remember to never cross the I-35 mainlanes — always use the designated crossings. Before you head out the door, check for open crossings on the My35 Waco Project 4B Traffic Map and pay attention to any construction activity. And if possible, opt for clothing that’ll make you more visible — bright colors, like orange or yellow, that make it easier for motorists to see you.”
To emphasize pedestrian and bicyclist safety, the Waco District team manages ongoing awareness efforts through the BE SAFE BE SEEN Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative, which includes pavement decals for pedestrian and bicyclist wayfinding and signs for open and closed paths in construction zones. In August, the team installed new pavement decals to communicate safety messages to pedestrians and cyclists and help them locate open crossings.
Fewer injuries and deaths is, of course, the most important outcome of improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Other benefits of infrastructure enhancements aimed at enhancing safety include comfort, attractiveness and a feeling of security with increased visibility.
But it’s not just about pedestrians and cyclists being aware. With the back-to-school season in full swing, motorists should also pay attention to those individuals on foot or riding a bike. When turning, check for pedestrians or bicyclists approaching the area. On frontage roads, slow down and watch for these vulnerable system users walking or riding along the roadside. Intersections, too, are danger zones, so be particularly vigilant, especially near downtown Waco, Bellmead, and around the Baylor University campus. These areas are heavily traveled by pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Keep your attention on the road and what’s around you. Put away your phone and other distractions, and focus on the task at hand,” reminds Research Engineer Joan Hudson, who works in TTI’s Planning and Engagement Program. “Speed, inattention and failing to yield right-of-way are primary contributing factors in pedestrian and bicyclist crashes. We must do everything we can to keep ourselves and those around us safe.”
To help the Waco District better understand I-35 pedestrian and bicyclist activity, TTI researchers are collecting data (during and after construction) and will present insights from the analysis in the future. This summer, the researchers collected data at four I-35 interchanges — University Parks Drive, 4th/5th Streets, US 84/Waco Drive and Behrens Circle/Wheeler Street.
The Waco District will use the TTI team’s insights to determine if and how people are riding bicycles or walking near the highway to get to or from downtown Waco and the Baylor University campus. This assessment will help inform decisions regarding safety, design, planning and operations for the My35 project. During busy times of the year, identifying and addressing safety improvement opportunities continues to improve efforts to keep I-35 travelers safe.
“The BE SAFE BE SEEN Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative educates all road users on their shared responsibility to keep each other safe on roadways,” says Senior Research Scientist Tina Geiselbrecht, manager of TTI’s Planning and Engagement Program. Geiselbrecht leads the BE SAFE BE SEEN initiative for the Institute on behalf of TxDOT. “Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists should be especially cautious during busy times like the back-to-school season. With more people walking or bicycling to downtown Waco or the Baylor University campus, it’s more important than ever to educate them on how to navigate construction zones near I-35 to ensure safety for everyone.”
If you would like to stay informed on upcoming closures for the My35 Waco Construction project, please visit waco4bmap.org and read TxDOT’s media releases and social media posts. Stay safe this back-to-school season!
Jake Smith
I-35 Public Information Officer
254-867-2705
Contact My35
