News Summary
A traffic safety project on Pleasanton Road in San Antonio has led to a decline in customer traffic, prompting local business owners to express their frustrations. With the new medians causing traffic alterations, businesses like Griff’s Hamburgers report reduced foot and vehicle traffic, leading to initiatives aimed at changing the current roadway designs. Tomas Uresti, a local businessman, is spearheading efforts to petition for the removal of the medians, highlighting the need for community support around this issue.
San Antonio – A traffic safety project on Pleasanton Road has come under fire from a group of local business owners who claim the installation of new medians has led to a concerning decline in customer traffic. The construction, which began in late last year, has significantly altered traffic patterns in the area, prompting frustration from those reliant on consistent customer access.
Business owners have reported a marked decrease in foot and vehicle traffic since the new medians were installed. Many feel that the changes are impeding customers’ ability to easily reach their establishments. Specific businesses, such as Griff’s Hamburgers – a local icon since the 1960s – have voiced particular concerns over how the new designs impact their customer base. Traffic jams have reportedly become a frequent occurrence as customers navigate the altered roadways, forcing them into time-consuming U-turns. This has led to a hesitance among potential diners and shoppers to visit the area.
In light of these challenges, Griff’s Hamburgers is in the midst of renovations aimed for completion by September, hopeful that a refreshed look will attract more patrons despite the ongoing issues. Similarly, a range of other local businesses have experienced similar declines, including Nico’s Mexican Restaurant, Hernandez Tire Shop, S&S Tire & Auto, Roca’s Tire Shop, Agave Mexican Restaurant, Taqueria Jalisco, Rossy’s Tacos, and Fred’s Fish Fry.
The decline in customer traffic has prompted many business owners to organize. Tomas Uresti, a businessman with a long-standing presence on the South Side, is leading efforts to gather signatures for a petition that calls for the removal of the medians. Uresti highlights a troubling trend, drawing on his past experiences with similar projects that negatively impacted his former establishment, River City Donuts. He suggests an alternative solution, proposing the installation of additional traffic lights instead of more medians to help ease the flow of vehicles.
Despite community meetings where local concerns were expressed, Uresti claims that their feedback was largely dismissed, which has added to frustrations as construction has continued unimpeded. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed that Pleasanton Road is not maintained by the state, directing further inquiries to the City of San Antonio due to federal funding associated with the project, which requires TxDOT’s oversight.
While city officials were not available to comment due to the holiday, Uresti is working to coordinate a meeting with both TxDOT and city representatives to discuss potential modifications to the project. Business owners in this area remain hopeful that their collective action will lead to a reevaluation of road designs that currently threaten their livelihoods. The evolving situation on Pleasanton Road showcases the delicate balance needed between traffic safety initiatives and the needs of local businesses, an issue that resonates across many urban settings.
As local businesses advocate for changes to restore customer access, they are encouraging community support to bolster their petitions and challenge the current state of road construction on Pleasanton Road. The outcome of their efforts remains to be seen, but the commitment from business owners signals a persistent determination to address their concerns and ensure the vitality of commerce in their community.
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Additional Resources
- KENS 5: San Antonio Texas Business Owners Unite
- Wikipedia: San Antonio
- News 4 San Antonio: New Braunfels Highway Project
- Google Search: New Braunfels Highway Project
- KSAT: Downtown Construction
- Google Scholar: Downtown Construction Traffic Impact
- KSAT: San Antonio Construction Timeline
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio Construction
- Fox San Antonio: I-35 Road Closures
- Google News: I-35 Road Closures San Antonio
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