PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Public hearing and recommendation to City Council to amend the Parkway thoroughfare between FM 1863 and SH 46 in the City of New Braunfels Regional Transportation Plan.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: ETJ
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Comal County requested City Council reconsider the realignment and right-of-way requirements for the Parkway in the adopted Regional Transportation Plan from State Highway 46 to Interstate Highway (IH) 35. The proposed realignment was presented to the City Council for approval on December 12, 2022; however, no action was taken based on a lack of a motion. City and Comal County staff will provide additional information on the request. The background information from December 12, 2022 is provided below and attached. Also attached is the updated West Connector Thoroughfare Phase 1 Report from June 2023. Comal County Commissioners Court approved the study on July 20, 2023.
The City of New Braunfels received an application from the Comal County Engineer's Office for a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Amendment, requesting realignment of the proposed Parkway identified as "West Connector Parkway" from FM 1863 to State Highway 46 and right-of-way ranging from 200 to 250 feet. This is the northern portion of the West Connector Parkway that will extend from State Highway 46 to IH 35. On August 4, 2022, the Comal County Commissioners Court approved a recommendation to the City of New Braunfels to amend the RTP to cohere with the County's approved alignment for the northern segment.
The West Connector Parkway represents a transportation corridor from State Highway 46 to IH 35, following segments of Word Ranch Road at FM 1863 and Schwab Road at IH 35. The Parkway was established in 2012 from portions of the New Braunfels "Outer Loop" represented in earlier thoroughfare plans. The 2012 RTP update reclassified the Loop to a Parkway, and the segment from FM 1863 to State Highway 46 was realigned from Krueger Canyon Road to Word Ranch Road and terminated at State Highway 46. The current right-of-way dedication requirement for a Parkway is 200 feet, and the developer may be required to construct two lanes if supported by a traffic impact analysis (TIA). Parkways are intended to provide access through sensitive areas near the floodplain and include features such as vegetated buffers, stormwater management, and separated bicycle paths.
The RTP is the City's adopted plan for guiding thoroughfare system improvements, including the existing and planned extension of city streets and highways. The thoroughfare system is comprised of existing and planned interstates, expressways, parkways, arterials, and collectors which require wider or new rights-of-way. The primary objective of the RTP is to ensure the dedication of adequate right-of-way on appropriate alignments and of enough width to serve existing and future transportation needs. The Texas Local Government Code allows the City to require development plans and subdivision plats to conform to the general plan for current and future roadways.
The proposed West Connector Parkway connects with Principal Arterials FM 1863 and State Highway 46 at both ends. Additionally, the proposed "Countryside" Minor Collector ties in from the west, and the proposed "Collector K" Minor Collector ties in from the east. The County intends to realign Collector K to support this realignment.
With limited Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) funding for new alignment studies, local agencies have been increasingly responsible for planning and developing regional transportation projects. The projects are necessary to address the region's unprecedented existing and anticipated growth and impact on the transportation system. Comal County initiated an $817,000 transportation needs study and conceptual design to determine the need, alignment, and right of way of the Parkway segment between State Highway 46 and IH 35. The effort is necessary to determine the alignment and right-of-way necessary to construct a potential transportation project, and provide clarity for dedication requirements when the property develops. Note that there is no funding or timeline for a future roadway project, including design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction.
Comal County has provided an engineering report used to determine the West Connector Parkway alignment and right of way that best accommodates slopes and floodplains in the area. The resulting alignment conforms with the 1200-foot curve radius required by the City and considers the locations of existing subdivisions. A four-lane divided Parkway was recommended to accommodate future traffic volumes of 22,000 AADT. The alignment was chosen to achieve a near-perpendicular angle with FM 1863 and State Highway 46.
City Staff submitted the request to its third-party transportation planning reviewer. The resulting memo confirms that the new alignment meets all standards for design specifications, environmental constraints, property impact, and utility allocation.
Public notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the existing and proposed alignments. Staff received three responses opposed and no responses in favor. Property owners attended the Planning Commission hearing and gave feedback that the proposed alignment will bisect properties and cut through residences. In response, the County adjusted and resubmitted the alignment to curve around existing homes near State Highway 46.
Due to its adherence to design standards and consistency with community feedback, staff recommends approval of the realignment of the West Connector Parkway from FM 1863 to State Highway 46 with right-of-way ranging from 200 to 250 feet.
ISSUE:
The Regional Transportation Plan classifies the West Connector Parkway segment from FM 1863 to State Highway 46 as a proposed Parkway requiring 200 feet of right-of-way. Comal County has requested a realignment and expansion to 250 feet to accommodate future growth.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the request for the realignment of the Parkway identified in the City of New Braunfels Regional Transportation Plan from FM 1863 to State Highway 46, and establishing right-of-way at 200 feet from FM 1863 to 850 feet north of FM 1863 and 250 feet from 850 feet north of FM 1863 to State Highway 46.