PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Construction Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of New Braunfels and the Texas Department of Transportation for the Waterway Lane Hike and Bike Trail as part of the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Construction Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 4
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2021, the City completed preliminary engineering of a potential roadway in City-owned right-of-way on Waterway Lane between Gruene Road and Common Street. The City held a public meeting to introduce the concept and gather feedback. Residents strongly opposed developing the roadway.
As the City owns the right-of-way for a transportation connection, it elected to pursue a shared-use path to provide safe, accessible pedestrian and bicycle connections for this area. In January 2025, City Council passed a resolution supporting the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program grant to develop a hike-and-bike trail segment on Waterway Lane from Gruene Road to Old FM 306. A preliminary design for the trail was developed, and a public meeting was held in June 2025, which received strong public support. The City was awarded grant funding through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program in the amount of $2,675,200.00 to design and construct a hike-and-bike trail between Gruene Road and Old FM 306. The full project cost is anticipated to be $3,659,475, and the grant will pay 80 percent of design and construction costs up to the grant amount. The City is responsible for 20 percent of design and construction and direct state costs and any overruns.
Construction of the hike-and-bike trail is an eligible expense using park development funds. Park District 1 has sufficient funds to cover the City’s portion of the project for design and state direct cost share, totaling $131,800. The City will determine funding for its portion of construction at design completion. Construction is expected to begin in May 2028.
ISSUE:
Provide a system of convenient and safe transportation facilities through comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing transportation system planning and development.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
YES Economic Mobility YES Enhanced Connectivity N/A Community Identity
N/A Organizational Excellence YES Community Well-Being
FISCAL IMPACT:
The AFA includes the following project estimates:
Design Cost Breakdown:
Design Cost Total $360,000
Federal Participation (80%) $288,000
City participation (20%) $72,000
Construction Cost Breakdown
Construction Cost Total $2,984,000
Federal Participation (80%) $2,387,200
City participation (20%) $596,800
Direct State Costs - Federal participation $239,200
Direct State Costs - City participation $59,800
Indirect State Costs - State participation $16,475
Total Project Costs: $3,659,475
Total Federal Participation: $2,914,400
Total State Participation: $16,475
Total City Participation: $ $728,600
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of New Braunfels and the Texas Department of Transportation for the Waterway Lane Hike and Bike Trail project.