South Broadway edges off Texas’ Top 100 Congested Roads

Published 5:45 am Monday, December 16, 2024

South Broadway Avenue in Tyler is no longer one of the state’s 100 most congested roads after just edging off a list released annually.

In the most recent Top 100 Congested Roadways in Texas, South Broadway Avenue no longer appears on the list. Now ranking at No. 102, city officials see this as a chance to highlight the improvements that have been made in the area.

“It’s a milestone, and it’s an opportunity to step back and recognize the efforts we’ve made,” Traffic Engineer Cameron Williams said. “Not being on that list is a pretty big deal, but we also recognize that there’s still congestion, there’s still frustration and there’s still a lot of work to do.”

The list of the 100 most congested roadways was established by the Texas Legislature back in 2009, requiring TxDOT to measure and track traffic congestion. In 2024 for traffic in 2023, South Broadway Avenue ranked at No. 102, down from No. 87 in 2022 and 47 in 2021.

While it may not seem like a huge jump, getting off the Top 100 list is a significant achievement, Williams said. It underscores the efforts and investments the city has been making in improving traffic flow. These results come from the 2023 measurements, but looking back to 2021, several key changes were made.

The city implemented a new central system to monitor traffic signals, updated controllers for more consistency and introduced new detection systems on South Broadway to replace older, outdated technology. In addition, the traffic corridor was re-timed.

These improvements had a noticeable impact, as seen in the 2022 results, where a 28% reduction in delay was reported compared to the previous year. Although there was a slight increase in congestion in 2023—about 1.8%—the city has been able to maintain improvements, especially when compared to other areas of Texas, which experienced larger increases.

This is a key factor in moving South Broadway Avenue off the list, Williams said.

To maintain and further improve traffic flow on S. Broadway, the city plans to continue refining the signal timing. Signals were re-timed in 2021, it’s now time to revisit them.

With new development and increased growth, there’s an opportunity to make minor adjustments to better accommodate the growing traffic demands. The city has also been working on other signalized corridors, but now the focus is shifting back to South Broadway to ensure it continues to operate efficiently.

Another important initiative is the South Tyler Mobility Study, which will explore potential improvements, such as changes to intersections like South Town, Heritage and Cumberland, including lane configurations and enhancements to make these areas more efficient.

In addition to intersection improvements, the study will focus on access management and network enhancements to help improve traffic circulation in the area, potentially relieving congestion on S. Broadway by providing better connectivity.

While these improvements will take more time due to their larger scope and associated impacts, they represent a key part of the city’s ongoing efforts to improve traffic flow.

A third key component is the work Texas Department of Transportation Tyler District is doing in the area. TxDOT has projects underway on South Broadway, particularly from South Town to the south, including widening south of Cumberland. It is also focusing on expanding capacity on parallel routes, such as Paluxy (FM 756) and Old Jacksonville Highway (FM 2493), both of which are set to be widened.

These projects will improve north-south capacity, allowing for better traffic flow and providing alternative routes. This should help reduce the pressure on S. Broadway, especially as the area continues to grow to the south, giving drivers more options.

The primary funding source for these projects has been a half-cent sales tax, which is used for capital improvements and larger project purchases. Many of the equipment upgrades, as well as the signal re-timing contracts, have been funded through this sales tax.

Some projects have been supported by the Highway Safety Improvement Program, including the reconstruction of the intersection and traffic signal at Robert E. Lee and S. Broadway, which involved federal funds.

The city has also increased its general maintenance budget, which helps with day-to-day repairs and replacements, such as fixing damaged equipment or updating outdated components.

During the holidays, it’s important to be aware that traffic will be heavier, especially on S. Broadway from Loop 323 to Toll 49, where there’s an increase in shopping activity. Friday evenings and Saturdays tend to be particularly busy, so it’s essential to be patient.

The city will continue working to improve traffic flow, with Williams giving much credit to traffic signal technicians and operations staff for maintaining the systems and keeping traffic moving.

“It shows that investments have improved, that we’re working harder. There’s other places in the state that have gotten worse, but know that we’re not done yet. We recognize that there’s still improvements to be made,” Williams said.