Abilene High School Traffic Management Plan

1,300 feet

of affected roadway

More than 2,000

students

Innovation

Utilized cutting-edge drone technology to capture a wholistic view of the flow of traffic at peak times, providing an accurate depiction of safety concerns.

Coordination

Close coordination with local stakeholders to understand the existing safety concerns, and to ensure their input was represented in the final plan.

Prioritization

Ensured the final traffic management plan prioritized and actively addressed the long-term safety of pedestrians, commuters, and the community along this long stretch of roadway.

The City of Abilene, Texas selected Kimley-Horn to examine hazardous traffic patterns on the main roadways surrounding Abilene High School. With increased amounts of foot and vehicle traffic during arrival and dismissal times, excessive jaywalking, illegal vehicle maneuvers, and vehicle collisions have become primary safety concerns for the local stakeholders.

Innovative Traffic Evaluation

With safety as the top priority, our team took an innovative approach when developing the new traffic management plan for the 1,300 feet of affected roadway surrounding the high school. Due to the magnitude of the campus and the desire to easily view traffic patterns from an aerial view, our team used drone stills and drone video to capture a holistic view of the traffic flow. With this complete visualization, they identified specific points of safety concern. These findings were used to develop a final plan equipped with tailored solutions to address the key safety issues.

Kimley-Horn’s traffic evaluation included the following:

  • Traffic operations analysis
  • Vehicle queueing and circulation evaluation
  • Project visualization
  • Pedestrian conflict zone analysis

In addition to these services, Kimley-Horn maintained close coordination with the City of Abilene, the Abilene Independent School District administrators, and Abilene High School administrators to engage them early and gain mutual consensus to benefit the Abilene High School student body and the surrounding community.

To address the safety concerns, Kimley-Horn proposed funneling pedestrians through two designated crosswalks that were placed where the drone footage showed increased levels of jaywalking. The corridor design includes a fence that runs along the center of the median to safely funnel pedestrians through designated areas, preventing them from crossing at any point other than the marked crosswalks. The fenced median will also inhibit drivers from making dangerous traffic maneuvers, such as illegal U-turns. Ultimately, this plan would create a safer, more efficient flow of foot and vehicular traffic, benefitting pedestrians and commuters alike.

Quick Facts

Client

City of Abilene

Location

Abilene, TX

Market

"Due to the magnitude of the campus, and the desire to easily view traffic patterns from an aerial view, our team utilized drone stills and drone video to capture a holistic view of the traffic flow."

Related Projects & Case Studies

Austin Mobility Management Center

The City of Austin selected Kimley-Horn to provide critical staffing at the Mobility Management Center. Kimley-Horn traffic engineers at the MMC oversee arterial traffic operations daily, through normal weeks, holidays, and weather emergencies.

Read More »
Nightime view of the Resorts World Las Vegas with red neon lights shining

Resorts World Las Vegas

Kimley-Horn provided civil engineering, traffic analysis, landscape architecture, and many additional services for this $4.3 billion casino, hotel, and entertainment complex on the Las Vegas Strip with client, Genting Berhad.

Read More »
Outside of AREA15 from the corner

AREA15

AREA15, a one-of-a-kind counterculture entertainment venue, includes mind-bending art exhibits, outlandish rides, and bizarre dining and beverage options. Kimley-Horn was brought into the initial design phase for AREA15 by Fisher Brothers to help bring their immersive art experience to life.

Read More »