FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE Each item on the bond’s three propositions will go toward updating New Braunfels infrastructure and creating new public spaces. These include several transportation project priorities on the northern and northwest sides of the city, a new park on the western side, and a new library branch on the far southeastern side of town.
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PROPOSITION A TRANSPORTATION Proposition A will consist of eight transportation projects intended to improve mobility and safety throughout New Braunfels. 1 COMMON STREET From Loop 337 to FM 306 Cost: $24.78 million 2 CITYWIDE STREET IMPROVEMENTS Rehabilitate existing city street pavement, curbs, and sidewalks Cost: $20 million 3 KOHLENBERG ROAD From FM 1101 to I-35 Cost: $14.33 million 4 CONRADS LANE From Goodwin Lane to FM 1102 Cost: $11.8 million 5 SOUTH KOWALD LANE
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TOTAL COST: $99.33M
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SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT
6 BARBAROSA ROAD AND SAUR LANE From FM 1101 to Saengerhalle Road Cost: $7.63 million 7 CITYWIDE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 1 New trac signal installations, intersection reconstruction
determined based on feedback from the community and by analyzing areas of projected growth. “[New Braunfels is] one of the highest-growing cities for the last decade every year. So [we are] try- ing to keep up with that growth and address the demands of growth on our transportation network,” said Garry Ford, New Braunfels trans- portation and capital improvements director. In 2022, the city of New Braunfels conducted the National Community Survey to provide an accurate picture of the livability and resident perspec- tive of local government services. The survey results showed the lowest scores came from residents’ satisfac- tion with transportation and mobility throughout the city. Survey respondents rated the over- all quality of the city’s transportation structure at 30% with 78% of those polled saying the city should focus on improving transportation infra- structure in the next two years. “One thing that rises to the top whenever you survey the business community or residents in general is the need for investment in transpor- tation,” Packer said. The largest project, totaling nearly $25 million, included in Proposition A is widening Common Street to a four-lane road with turn lanes and making intersection improvements to Loop 337, Gruene Road, Old FM 306 and FM 306. Other projects include widening Barbarosa Road/Saur Lane
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bonds. He said community involve- ment is important to the process. “To me, the recommendation that we’re going to be voting on that City Council and the bond committee pre- sented is really reective of what the citizens themselves said they needed in the community,” Still said. The committee was able to narrow down over $800 million in potential projects to $180 million, which was recommended to the City Council. Council then reviewed the recom- mended projects and looked at pos- sible funding scenarios, including collaborating with the New Braunfels Economic Development Council to decrease the amount and allow there to be no impact on the local tax rate. “[The NBEDC] wants to invest in key projects, and they found align- ment with the proposed bond slate,” said Jonathan Packer, CEO of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce. “And while I can’t speak for the board members individually, I know that they’ve provided direction to the city sta to bring them oppor- tunities in the coming months to invest in bond projects so that citizen
Cost: $5.21 million 8 SOLMS ROAD From I-35 to FM 482 Cost: $4.84 million
From FM 1101 to I-35 Cost: $10.74 million
Scan the QR code to view detailed maps of the transportation projects.
with $20 million allocated to reha- bilitating existing curbs and side- walks, improvements to pavement markings and sidewalks, and reha- bilitation determined by the city’s Pavement Management Program. The city anticipates being able to make improvements to around 19 miles of existing city streets with the funding, according to Ford. “We’re addressing mobility and congestion, but we’re also evaluat- ing pedestrian and bicycle mobility with each one of these projects,” Ford said. “There are components and elements of these projects that would either have a shared-use path, a pedestrian or enhanced pedestrian crossing at an intersection. So again, we want to make sure that we’re addressing the multiple modes of transportation on our transporta- tion network with vehicles, but also pedestrian and bicycle tra£c.” Paying for parks Voters will also see Proposition B on the May ballot, which would
and Kohlenberg Road from two lanes to four lanes and improving the exist- ing two-lane road on Conrads Lane with turn lanes at major intersections. Citywide intersection improve- ments will also be included in the proposition with new tra£c signals to be installed at San Antonio Street and Market Drive, Walnut Avenue and Gardenia Drive, and multiple loca- tions along Loop 337 and Hwy. 46. “Every time we meet as a council with the public being present, they talk about how crowded the roads are and how important new roads and new pathways to get across town and how important good roads and good highways are to our community,” Brockman said. Street improvements through- out the city would also be funded
dollars can go further.” Money toward mobility
If passed, Proposition A will allo- cate nearly $100 million toward eight transportation projects throughout the city. Taking up 71% of the May bond, the projects on the list were
“TO ME, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THAT CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOND COMMITTEE PRESENTED IS REALLY REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE CITIZENS THEMSELVES SAID THEY NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.” PASTOR RAY STILL, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY BOND PRESENTATIONS April 4, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Westside Community Center
CAST YOUR BALLOT
2932 S. IH Frontage Rd. April 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. NBU Service Center 355 FM 306
The city of New Braunfels will host two informational meetings on the bond propositions in April for members of the community. Voter registration status can be conrmed at www.votetexas.gov.
Deadline to register to vote: April 6 Early Voting: April 24-May 2 Election Day: May 6
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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