PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution supporting the submission of City of New Braunfels and Texas Department of Transportation projects to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for federal funding in Fiscal Years 2027-2030.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) has issued an agency call for projects supporting the development of the FY 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. This call combined multiple funding sources and allowed applicants to apply to multiple sources for a given project. Eligible projects include roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements and programs. Projects are ranked for priority by the applicant for consideration by AAMPO. Contingent upon the availability of federal funding, the estimated amount available in this call is $256.6 million.
Projects submitted for funding consideration must have a minimum construction or implementation cost of $1,000,000 and be on functionally classified roads and in areas open to the public. Project submittals and local match commitments are due to the AAMPO on April 30, 2025. AAMPO’s Transportation Policy Board will select projects in October 2025 based on technical score, agency priorities, project readiness, and public input.
This funding source is a reimbursement program that provides 80% of the construction and implementation costs. The implementing agency is responsible for a 20% minimum local match and 100% project development costs, including engineering, environmental, right-of-way, construction management, and TxDOT project administration.
AAMPO is also considering a call for projects to cover funding gaps from the original award to what is projected at the time of let. This would affect the amount of the 20% local match from what was previously awarded. The city has one project for this call if it becomes available.
City staff are recommending five projects for funding. The projects are recommended and prioritized based on mobility and safety needs, high-growth locations, and the city’s transportation goals.
The recommended construction projects include:
1. W San Antonio Street & Spur Street
a. Spur Street (Concepcion Avenue to S Live Oak Avenue) and W San Antonio Street (S Plum Avenue to S Walnut Avenue)
b. Designating travel lanes and installing sidewalks and crosswalks. Installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Live Oak Ave. Installing a storm drain system to address drainage concerns. Installing pedestrian lighting along the corridor and installing designated street parking along the section adjacent to commercial and public uses.
2. Waterway Lane Trail
a. Within the right-of-way dedicated for the construction of Waterway Lane, which is designated as a proposed minor collector. The extent is Gruene Road to Old FM 306.
b. Installing a 12 ft shared-use path trail with pedestrian lighting and amenities, ADA and enhanced crossings at Gruene Road, Common Street, and Old FM 306, and a bridge over a drainage ditch.
3. Seguin-Zink Round-about
a. Reconstruction of existing intersection of Seguin Ave/Zink Street/Landa Street to a single-lane roundabout within existing right-of-way including paving, storm drain system, sidewalk, illumination, pavement markings, signage, and landscaping.
4. Citywide Pedestrian 2028
a. N Peach Ave (Michigan St-W San Antonio St), N Plum Avenue (Michigan St-W San Antonio St), N Grape Ave (Michigan St-W San Antonio St), Hanz Dr (River Terr-Gruene Rd), Avery Parkway (Comal ISD Property-Avery Ranch Dr & Whispering Way-Dorman Dr), Whispering Way (Avery Parkway-Hillrock Dr)
b. Fills in gaps in the existing sidewalk and bicycle network to provide connectivity to schools, parks, and the Hike and Bike Trail Network. This includes completing sidewalk and shared-use path segments, providing ADA compliant crossings, and enhancing existing intersections within the project area for pedestrian safety. No right-of-way acquisition is necessary to complete these project areas.
5. Signal Timing Optimization
a. This project will involve the collection of data and implementation of updated traffic signal timing plans at the City’s approximately 70 traffic signals, including six synchronized corridors. Improvements in signal timing can reduce stops, travel time, and emissions, and have been shown to typically have very high benefit to cost ratios.
The recommended funding gap project is:
1. Barbarosa Road-Saur Lane Improvements
a. Previously awarded funding from TxDOT
b. Scheduled to begin construction in 2028
TxDOT recommended construction/program projects include:
• IH 35 & Loop 337/Rueckle Road
o Interchange improvements including new turnaround bridges, sidewalks, and approach lane and signal improvements.
• HERO 3 Program
o On-call roadside assistance service operated by TxDOT for incidents on TxDOT facilities.
TxDOT recommended funding gap projects include:
• FM 725
o County Line Road to Zipp Road
• IH 35 & Solms Road
City staff are preparing the applications for the proposed city projects including project scope, cost estimates, and documentation. The application also requires a resolution of support for the project and commitment of local match.
ISSUE:
Improve road safety and pedestrian facility network by leveraging external funding sources.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
These projects meet the following Objectives in the Strategic Plan for Enhanced Connectivity.
1. Identify and establish planning, capital, and operating funding to support and maintain a well-connected transportation network serving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles.
4. Collaborate with governmental partners to improve transportation access and connections throughout the region.
These projects contribute to meeting the following Performance Measure Outcomes in the Strategic Plan for Enhanced Connectivity.
• Increase in walk and bike Score.
• Increased bikeway, trails, and sidewalk miles.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Federal reimbursement programs provide 80% of construction and implementation costs. The implementing agency is responsible for a 20% minimum local match and 100% of project development costs, including engineering, environmental, right-of-way, construction management, and TxDOT project administration. If City of New Braunfels projects are selected, the funding for these projects will be identified in future years’ budgets including leveraging funding from bond programs and potentially the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution supporting the submission of City of New Braunfels and Texas Department of Transportation projects to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for federal funding in Fiscal Years 2027-2030.