Denton is known for its artsy flavor. Now, city leaders are considering art as a way to address a big issue in the city.
Traffic and congestion are issues confronting many growing North Texas cities. It's no different in Denton.
"We have had a big increase in traffic," said Ed Steele, a Denton-based photographer.
More traffic means more people driving over the speed limit -- in a city which also has more pedestrian traffic.
"Even though you have the light to cross, it can be difficult because people are turning," he said.
Steele has a potential solution to the speeding cars, trucks and SUVs -- one he pitched to Denton officials. Use public art as a traffic calming device.
"With some traffic calming art there people are naturally going to have their eye caught to that, slow down and be more aware," he said.
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Several other cities are already using public art to help slow down traffic. They include larger cities, like Charlotte, Denver and Minneapolis as well as smaller ones, including Cambridge, Massachusetts and Rochester, New York. The city of Denton has studied them all.
"We want to work with residents to maintain the safety of their neighborhoods," said Caroline Booth, Denton's economic development director.
For the past few months, the city's Public Art Committee has worked on the idea of using public art as a traffic calming mechanism. Booth said education and enforcement are valuable in getting people to drive slower, but they don't eliminate the problem.
"Some communities that we've researched have found that two-dimensional public art murals on buildings or walls had the unintended consequence of slowing traffic down," Booth said.
It's not just sculptures and murals. Some cities use 3D road markings for traffic control.
"You can accomplish that with something as simple as a speed bump," said Steele, who is also a member of the Public Art Committee. "We want something where people say, 'Wow, what is that?'"
The city said, if approved, local artists would be involved. Part of the funding for any project could come from Denton's hotel occupancy tax.
Steele sees it as a unique use for public art.
"Anything we can do to that not only ties into the arts community, but makes Denton a safer place is a win for me," he said.
