BY SIERRA MARTIN
Gruene Area Complete Streets Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements: $6.84M Solms Road Improvements: $3.22M Citywide Pedestrian Improvements: $1.74M Citywide Signal Optimization: $450,000 New Braunfels project funding
A closer look
“I believe this project was to make some operational improvements at the Solms Road intersection with I-35,” Brown said. “This may include widening the bridge of I-35 and building turnarounds.” TxDOT will also complete an improvement project at the intersection of Hwy. 46 and Mary Boulevard and Saengerhalle Road. According to Brown, the project will address safety concerns at the intersection. According to City Manager Robert Camareno, staff will continue to analyze how the funding can help free up bond money for other projects.
The Texas Department of Transportation also received funding from AAMPO for projects in New Braunfels. Tanya Brown, TxDOT public informa- tion officer for the San Antonio region, said that the two projects were submitted in conjunction with the city of New Braunfels based on local transportation needs. “These projects will address areas of congestion and safety concerns at intersections with high turning movements,” Brown said. The largest funded project is about $19.28 mil- lion toward intersection improvements at I-35 and Solms Road.
$12.25M total
TxDOT project funding
I-35 & Solms Road Interchange Improvements: $19.28M Hwy. 46 & Mary Boulevard/ Saengerhalle Road Intersection Improvements: $3M
$22.28M total
The framework
What’s next?
air quality,” Ford said. Clifton Hall, a transportation program manager at AAMPO, said it’s part of a regional effort to improve air quality in the San Antonio area. “By looking at the signal retiming, you’re going to be moving cars much more quickly and effi- ciently through stoplights,” Hall said.
Vehicle movement through intersections should also improve after traffic signal optimization study. Next year, officials will review how the city’s 60 traffic lights coordinate, with the intent to cut emissions and improve traffic flow, Ford said. “That really has a benefit on congestion reduc- tion and delay reduction, which obviously impacts
Ford said that the city is working with AAMPO and TxDOT to schedule the projects to take place between FY 2025-28 to align with the Transportation Improvement Program timeline. Overall, Hall said he thinks the projects that received funding should make a positive impact on transportation throughout the city once completed. “I think New Braunfels residents should be able to see a noticeable difference in traffic flow. ... It should make travel through New Braunfels and around I-35 and Solms [Road], for example, it should make that a lot more smooth, and we should see some really cool outcomes from these projects,” Hall said.
Community feedback on transportation
2014
2017
2019
2022
The following survey results show the percent of resident satisfaction with each category.
54%
54%
49%
47%
47%
45%
45%
44%
43%
40%
32%
31%
29%
29%
27%
25%
Ease of walking
Ease of travel by bicycle
Ease of public parking
Traffic flow on streets
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION
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