{"id":466588,"date":"2026-10-15T08:18:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/466588\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T08:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:18:16","slug":"when-seconds-count-do-bryans-medians-slow-down-first-responders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/466588\/","title":{"rendered":"When seconds count: Do Bryan\u2019s medians slow down first responders?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text | article-text\">BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) &#8211; A 2024 video shows the real-life impact of the medians on Texas Avenue. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">The video shows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbtx.com\/2024\/07\/15\/bryan-firefighters-face-challenges-getting-crash-due-raised-medians-video-shows\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a Bryan fire truck stuck trying to make a U-turn<\/a>, forcing firefighters to abandon the vehicle and run down the road on foot to reach a three-vehicle crash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">It\u2019s the kind of situation that raises a pressing question for Bryan residents: do the medians on one of the city\u2019s busiest corridors slow down first responders. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cThere\u2019s no question that there\u2019s calls that it could affect response time,\u201d said Chris Lamb with the Bryan Fire Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Lamb said medians are simply one more obstacle crews are trained to navigate, no different than heavy traffic or a road closure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cOur job is to navigate those things,\u201d Lamb said. \u201cThe medians to us are no different than five o\u2019clock traffic&#8230; it could be anything that delays our response.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">But Lamb said even if a median strands one truck on the wrong side of a crash, it doesn\u2019t mean a delay in care. Every Bryan firefighter, he said, is also a trained paramedic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cIf the engine is coming, if that ambulance has to take a different route, the engine is going to get there first and still be able to provide the same medical care,\u201d Lamb said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Come November 3rd, voters hold the power to either remove the medians slowing down emergency crews or leave Bryan\u2019s busiest corridor as it is. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Tuesday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbtx.com\/2026\/10\/14\/bryan-releases-confidential-legal-opinion-warns-median-vote-does-not-guarantee-removal\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the city released a confidential legal opinion<\/a> warning that a \u201cyes\u201d vote would not guarantee the medians\u2019 removal, since the Texas Department of Transportation controls the road and removing them could cost the city an estimated $8 million. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">The debate comes as Bryan voters prepare to decide the fate of the medians at the ballot box. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">KBTX spoke with the city of Bryan for an in-depth look at the impact the medians have on our community. Stay tuned for that story which will air on Friday. <\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) &#8211; A 2024 video shows the real-life impact of the medians on Texas Avenue. 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