A vote to approve a stop sign at the intersection of N. Cranes Mill and Canyon Shores roads came to an abrupt halt at Comal County Commissioners Court today after a resident armed with traffic data gleaned from Google Maps convinced one commissioner to question data provided by the county’s Road Department.
Voting already was underway on the measure, supported by Pct. #4 Commissioner Jen Crownover, representing the north side of Canyon Lake, when Pct. #3 Commissioner Kevin Webb took the unusual step of asking commissioners to hold off after hearing concerns from Dave Glasscock, who lives on Lakeshore Drive.
Webb suggested the county take the time to look at traffic counts and analytics Glasscock shared with the court to make sure it’s “doing the right thing over time” when it replaces the existing yield sign with a stop sign.
Glasscock spoke against the proposed location of the stop sign at a public hearing on the measure but in an unusual move was invited to approach commissioners with detailed analytics during subsequent discussion with Assistant County Engineer David Vollbrecht.
Glasscock, who visited the intersection on three different days and counted traffic, argued that Canyon Shores Road is now the primary traffic artery from N. Cranes Mill Road down into the surrounding neighborhoods.
“I believe the stop sign would be better served on N. Cranes Mill Road going north at that intersection instead of Canyon Shores,” he said.
The area at issue is a “skewed intersection” shaped like a triangle. N. Cranes Mill Road provides access to Boat Ramp #23, currently closed due to drought.
“If somebody is approaching that intersection in the yield condition they want to have plenty of time to make a decision whether to yield or stop and you need that clear sight distance,” Vollbrecht said. “In this case this is 30 mph and the requirement is 200 feet.”
Crownover said the Road Department was asked to investigate conditions after another resident noted drivers were becoming “very complacent about yielding” at the intersection.
Glasscock said despite the ramp closure there “are a lot of residential activities on our side of the community all the way down to the water tower” along with “lots of construction” and rentals in the area.
Webb has made public transportation his signature issue over the years and currently serves as vice chair on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board (AAMPO).
AAMPO develops transportation plans and programs to address the needs of the greater San Antonio area, including Comal County.
Also at today’s meeting commissioners voted against reinstating the burn ban and returned $272,387 in “unobligated” American Rescue Plan Act funds to the federal government.
Pct. #2 Commissioner Scott Haag presided over the meeting in County Judge Sherman Krause’s absence.
(Editor’s Note: MyCanyonLake.com incorrectly identified the county engineer as Robert Boyd, This article has been corrected.)
