South Tyler Mobility Study will guide future transportation planning

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Tyler City Council received a presentation on the results and recommendations of the South Tyler Mobility Study. Funded by the Half Cent Sales Tax Fund, the study evaluated seven corridors and identified nine proposed projects designed to address congestion, increase connectivity and improve mobility across South Tyler.

South Tyler includes one of the city's busiest corridors, South Broadway Avenue, which ranked 47th among the 100 most congested roadways in Texas in 2022. Through continued investment in traffic signal upgrades and timing improvements under the Citywide Intelligent Transportation System Master Plan, Broadway's ranking improved to 87th in 2023 and dropped off the list in 2024, now ranked 102nd. This progress demonstrates the success of modernization efforts, though technology alone cannot fully meet the needs of a rapidly growing area.

"As large undeveloped tracts become neighborhoods and businesses, new roadway connections will be critical," said Traffic Engineer Cameron Williams. "This study helps us look ahead and plan strategically so South Tyler can continue to grow without creating new congestion challenges."

The study area, bounded by Grande Boulevard to the north, FM 2813 to the south, FM 756/Paluxy Drive to the east, and Hollytree Drive/Cherryhill Road to the west, provides a holistic view of how growth will affect the transportation network. It evaluates current and future traffic patterns, planned developments and the City's Master Street Plan to ensure the roadway system evolves in a coordinated way.

The study also included feedback from developers and community stakeholders to ensure the recommendations reflect both community priorities and long-term regional needs.

Proposed Improvements

The South Tyler Mobility Study outlines a series of proposed projects that will guide future investments and roadway planning. These include short-term improvements, which are lower-cost and could be implemented in the next two to five years. These would reduce intersection delay, providing for more efficient traffic operations. The study also includes mid-term and long-term connections that would depend on future development patterns, available funding, and City Council approval.

Short-term and mid-term concepts include:

• Broadway Avenue at South Town Drive, Heritage Drive, Cumberland Road, and Centennial Parkway: Proposed intersection improvements include acquiring right-of-ways to add turn lanes, which would reduce delays and increase traffic efficiency.

• Broadway Avenue and Grande Boulevard: Recommended intersection improvements, including acquiring right-of-ways to add turn lanes, which are projected to reduce morning peak-hour traffic delay by 5% and afternoon peak-hour delay by 11%, helping improve traffic flow along one of Tyler's busiest corridors.

Long-term concepts include:

• Waljim Street Connector: A proposed 500-foot roadway connecting South Town Drive to Thigpen Drive. The project would include two travel lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and on-street parking to create an alternate route between Grande Boulevard and Cumberland Road.

• Market Square Boulevard Extension: A recommended 0.6-mile extension from Cumberland Road to South Broadway Avenue. The project would include sidewalks, turn lanes and limited access at Cumberland Road to improve access and traffic flow.

The Half Cent Sales Tax Fund, along with partnerships with developers, will support the funding of the proposed projects. Some of these projects have also been identified in the Half Cent Sales Tax Annual Work Plan, which is currently open for public comment through Nov. 8. Community members are encouraged to review the plan and share their input.

Before moving forward, each proposal must be reviewed and approved by the Tyler City Council.

Community members will have future opportunities to provide feedback on the study. For more information about the South Tyler Mobility Study, visit MyTylerTexas.com.