KILLEEN, TEXAS — Residents in a Killeen subdivision voiced their concerns about the traffic congestion in their neighborhood.
The Goodnight Ranch subdivision has 500 homes and two schools nearby: Haynes Elementary School and Roy J. Middle School. However, there is only one main entrance on Alamocitos Creek Drive and an alternative side entrance on Brushy Creek Drive.
The side entrance goes through the middle school property.
Emily Tagle who lives four blocks away spends up to 15 minutes taking her children to Haynes Elementary School every morning.
"I have to leave my house no later than 6:55 a.m. or I would be stuck in traffic for 10 minutes,” Tagle said.
Tagle said neighbors submitted two petitions to the city asking for change but nothing happened.
"There needs to be another exit, or there needs to be a light, at least, to help the flow of traffic or help the foot traffic that goes through,” Tagle said.
The 36-year-old said the residents have been given different answers regarding the responsible party for building the road.
“The city said it was the developer’s issue. The developer said it was the city’s issue,” said Tagle. “It makes me angry, you are the city officials, you are supposed to do something about the issue not just point fingers. We've gotten the runaround. We've been getting the runaround."
Steve Shepherd with Reeces Creek Development who declined to do an on camera interview said when his company built the subdivision, the city approved the plan.
In addition, he said back then the city considered providing funding to build a larger road that would be called Mohawk Drive. However, he said the city said it didn’t have money at the time.
City of Killeen Spokeswoman Hilary Shine said in an email the employees who would have known about the previous discussions are no longer there.
The city declined to do an on camera interview about the issue but they sent a statement regarding the current status of the future road.
"City staff is working with the developer for Goodnight Ranch to facilitate the construction of Mohawk Drive. Our conversations are ongoing with the developer as they work through initial cost estimates and preliminary design."
According to Shine, city staff and the developer have been discussing city participation in the funding for oversizing of the road. The city council will need to approve funding toward the project first.
Councilman Steve Harris who represents the area where the Goodnight subdivision is located said he would support helping fix the problem.
“The cost of it is prohibitive right now but if there is still a way to get with the developer and do some cost-sharing then, I would be up for that,” Harris said.
In terms of adding a traffic light on Bunny Trail, Shine said that may not be the best solution.
“The City is exploring many options to address traffic along Bunny Trail,” Shine said.
In the future, there may be additional traffic in that area. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved Reeces Creek Development to move forward with Goodnight Ranch Phase 14.
The current traffic situation and the future plans for the area is prompting Tagle to move out of the neighborhood this summer.
"We wanted to stay in the neighborhood. The traffic is too much and they are building another subdivision next to this one and the traffic is only going to get worse and we don't want to stick around to see how bad is going to be,” Tagle said.
Shine said the addition would require a remote secondary access point before 30 more lots are developed.
According to the city, the developer has not submitted any construction plans for Goodnight Ranch Phase 14 or Mohawk Drive.
Killeen ISD is also making some changes that could help alleviate traffic congestion. Currently both Roy J. Middle School and Haynes Elementary School begin classes at the same time. However, starting next school year, that middle school will have a later start time.
