By Megan Wehring
WIMBERLEY — Population growth and downtown shopping is causing traffic to be a major issue in the Wimberley Square, which came to be a topic of discussion for the Wimberley City Council on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Officers have started six-hour shifts on Saturdays and four-hour shifts Sundays trying to manage the heavy traffic, according to interim city administrator Paul Parker. Positive feedback about the traffic control assistance was received from downtown merchants, Parker said.
Council member Teresa Shell said she has slowly started to see more improvement in the traffic flow.
“It’s still bumper to bumper but it’s moving,” Shell said. “In my mind, that means they are coordinating the two crosswalks to some degree to keep the flow of pedestrians and the flow of cars.”
Ranch Road 12, leading into the Wimberley Square, is becoming more busy due to the growing population and increased sales tax, Shell said.
“It’s not just on the weekends,” Shell told council members. “It’s not just Friday afternoons, Sunday mid-day, it’s every single day.”
Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Minnick suggested a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Old Kyle Road and Ranch Road 12 to limit traffic backup. The city of Wimberley would need to coordinate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) to request a new traffic signal.
