PRESENTER: Presenter
Jordan Matney, Deputy City Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider a resolution recommended by the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation approving a project expenditure of up to $700,000 to the City of New Braunfels for the construction of Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1, pursuant to 505.152 of the Texas Local Government Code.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 3, 5, & 6
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project began as a collection of eleven project areas for consideration with the 2023 Bond. The eleven project areas were combined into a larger project that would be more competitive in the 2023 Bond project rankings while also providing for efficiencies in project execution. The project was introduced to the 2023 Bond Advisory Committee on February 7, 2022 with the other potential Transportation projects. The objective of the project is to increase pedestrian connectivity by completing sidewalk gaps and addressing ADA concerns. The City Council directed staff to complete preliminary design on projects that were prioritized and recommended by the Bond Advisory Committee, which included the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project. During the preliminary design process, a public meeting was held on July 28, 2022 for all Transportation projects, which included the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project. At this public meeting, preliminary schematics were shown to the public that included specifics about the proposed locations of the pedestrian improvements. The eleven projects included in the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project were:
- Christus Santa Rosa Area
- Klein Road Elementary Area
- Landa Street and Loop 337
- Oak Run Parkway
- Oak Run Parkway at Westpointe Drive Intersection
- Gruene Road - Loop 337 to Rock Street
- Gruene Road including Gruene Historic District
- Hunter Road - New Braunfels St. to FM 306
- Hinman Island Drive
- River Recreation Area - S Union Ave/W Lincoln St/E Garden St
- County Line Road and FM 725
As a way to maximize the number of projects that could be completed from the Bond Advisory Committee’s recommended project list, the City identified projects that were eligible to be funded utilizing New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (NBEDC) funds. The Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project was included in the NBEDC Project list discussed at the November 22, 2022 and December 15, 2022 NBEDC Workshops. To fit the available NBEDC funding, the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project was reduced to a Phase 1 project list that included six project areas. Final Design funding for the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project Phase 1 was approved by NBEDC on April 20, 2023 and by City Council on May 22, 2023. The five projects included in the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1 Project are:
- Oak Run Parkway
- Hinman Island Drive
- Klein Elementary School Area
- Landa Street and Loop 337
- Oak Run Parkway and Westpoint Drive Intersection
In order to more fully leverage the NBEDC funding, in 2023 the City submitted five project areas from the original Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project for an Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Alternatives project call. The resolution of support for this funding submission was approved by City Council on June 12, 2023. The project was awarded funding by AAMPO. The five projects submitted in the AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1 Project are:
- Alves Lane & Brooke Avenue
o Includes segment from Fisher Way to the Timmerman Park Trail
- Christus Santa Rosa Area
o Includes segments on E. Austin Street, N. Houston Avenue, and Lakeview Boulevard
- Hinman Island Drive
o Includes segments on Hinman Island Drive, N. Liberty Avenue, and E. San Antonio Street
- County Line Road & FM725
- Oak Run Parkway
o Includes segments between Hunters Trace and Hunters Village
The remaining projects from the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Project Phase 1, Klein Elementary School Area, Landa Street and Loop 337, and Oak Run Parkway and Westpoint Drive Intersection, were constructed using NBEDC funding approved on May 16, 2024 by NBEDC and City Council on November 25, 2024.
The AAMPO Transportation Alternatives program only provides construction funding, so the City is responsible for the cost of final design. The NBEDC funded the final design for the AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1 Project, which was a continuation of the design that began in 2023. The funding for the additional final design was approved by NBEDC on September 12, 2024 and City Council on November 12, 2024.
The project expenditure under consideration on this item will provide construction match funding for the construction of all five segments of the AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1 project.
The opinion of probable construction cost for the project is $1,744,000. AAMPO has committed 80% of the construction funding for the project, with the City responsible for the remaining 20% of construction funding and any construction cost overruns. This funding request of $700,000 includes the City’s 20% match of the construction funding, construction contingency, and construction administration services.
The project was advertised for bid on May 12, 2026 and bids were received on June 23, 2026. Staff is currently evaluating bids and waiting on TxDOT concurrence with the bids. Staff expects to award the construction contract at an upcoming City Council meeting.
Section 505.152 of the Texas Local Government Code permits the NBEDC to invest in expenditures related to open space improvements to roads and streets. The NBEDC has previously supported project expenditures for pedestrian improvements, such as those constructed and completed recently on Common Street and Union Avenue. The NBEDC held a public hearing on May 21, 2026, and approved this expenditure.
ISSUE:
Approval of a recommendation from the NBEDC to fund a project expenditure: construction of AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1, in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The NBEDC has the available funding to support this project.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the project expenditure to fund the construction match of AAMPO Citywide Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1.
The NBEDC and City Council have previously approved phases of this project to include:
