"The council and some residents thought we had absolutely no say in the project at all."
Bulverde taking heat for shunning highway project
08/14/2006
Roger Croteau
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
NEW BRAUNFELS — The Bulverde City Council's decision not to take part in a state project to widen Texas 46 will lead to even worse traffic jams as the road narrows on the outskirts of town, officials said.
And the project will cost the city much more later if it's decided it's needed then, Comal County officials warned.
The City Council last month rejected the Texas Department of Transportation plan to widen Texas 46 to six lanes through the city, with council members saying they wanted assurances that TxDOT would follow the city's wishes on how to design the project.
An effort at last week's council meeting to reconsider the matter was killed in a 3-2 vote.
"I have no reasonable explanation of what their thoughts were in turning down a $20 million project," said County Judge Danny Scheel. "This was a one-of-a-kind deal, in my opinion, a sweetheart deal that will never be repeated."
County Commissioner Jay Millikin said he understands the city's reluctance to raise taxes to fund its share of right of way acquisition.
"But, in fact, it will be a bottleneck," Millikin said. "As you reach the Bulverde city limits, it will be choked down."
Bulverde was asked to provide about $800,000 for right of way and utility relocation costs and would have been responsible for about $1 million in interest payments on a loan to TxDOT that would provide the money to build the project.
But money was not the reason the council rejected the offer, Mayor Sarah Stevick said.
Council members wanted TxDOT to build the road at the width that was proposed but to only stripe four traffic lanes for now and add striping for the final two lanes in the future, when traffic counts warrant that much capacity.
Stevick said six lanes would be "just too big of a highway." There were other design elements the city objected to, as well, she said.
"The council and some residents thought we had absolutely no say in the project at all," Stevick said. "TxDOT said they would work with us, but could not guarantee anything."
Stevick and Councilman Mike Mobley said they think the only way the topic will come back before the council is if TxDOT comes back with a new proposal that alleviates the city's concerns.
TxDOT District Engineer David Casteel said the department will continue environmental and preparatory studies in case Bulverde changes its mind, but will only widen the highway from Loop 337 in New Braunfels to the Bulverde city limit.
He said a bottleneck on Texas 46 around U.S. 281 is a major concern. About 16,000 cars a day use Texas 46 there, and there are about eight wrecks a month.
"To say the least, we are perplexed and mystified by some of their (council's) actions," Casteel said. "We can't let the money sit there waiting for Bulverde. I've got 12 counties, and every county out there has serious needs. We will put that money to work."
As a result, he said, it could take several years for money to be available to widen the highway through Bulverde if the council decides later to pursue a project, and the funding scenario could be less favorable than what is being offered now.
Scheel predicted that any financing to widen Texas 46 in Bulverde later would include tolls. None are in the deal offered now.
Comal County officials persuaded TxDOT to offer a "pass through financing" plan to expedite construction, slated to start next year. The county and cities involved in the project will borrow $16 million to lend to TxDOT. The state will then pay back the principal to the county and cities over a few years, with the local governments paying the interest. The rest of the project's $63 million price tag will be paid by the state.
The New Braunfels City Council and the Comal County Commission voted unanimously to take part in the project.
rcroteau@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News publish date Aug. 15, 2006
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
08/14/2006
Roger Croteau
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
NEW BRAUNFELS — The Bulverde City Council's decision not to take part in a state project to widen Texas 46 will lead to even worse traffic jams as the road narrows on the outskirts of town, officials said.
And the project will cost the city much more later if it's decided it's needed then, Comal County officials warned.
The City Council last month rejected the Texas Department of Transportation plan to widen Texas 46 to six lanes through the city, with council members saying they wanted assurances that TxDOT would follow the city's wishes on how to design the project.
An effort at last week's council meeting to reconsider the matter was killed in a 3-2 vote.
"I have no reasonable explanation of what their thoughts were in turning down a $20 million project," said County Judge Danny Scheel. "This was a one-of-a-kind deal, in my opinion, a sweetheart deal that will never be repeated."
County Commissioner Jay Millikin said he understands the city's reluctance to raise taxes to fund its share of right of way acquisition.
"But, in fact, it will be a bottleneck," Millikin said. "As you reach the Bulverde city limits, it will be choked down."
Bulverde was asked to provide about $800,000 for right of way and utility relocation costs and would have been responsible for about $1 million in interest payments on a loan to TxDOT that would provide the money to build the project.
But money was not the reason the council rejected the offer, Mayor Sarah Stevick said.
Council members wanted TxDOT to build the road at the width that was proposed but to only stripe four traffic lanes for now and add striping for the final two lanes in the future, when traffic counts warrant that much capacity.
Stevick said six lanes would be "just too big of a highway." There were other design elements the city objected to, as well, she said.
"The council and some residents thought we had absolutely no say in the project at all," Stevick said. "TxDOT said they would work with us, but could not guarantee anything."
Stevick and Councilman Mike Mobley said they think the only way the topic will come back before the council is if TxDOT comes back with a new proposal that alleviates the city's concerns.
TxDOT District Engineer David Casteel said the department will continue environmental and preparatory studies in case Bulverde changes its mind, but will only widen the highway from Loop 337 in New Braunfels to the Bulverde city limit.
He said a bottleneck on Texas 46 around U.S. 281 is a major concern. About 16,000 cars a day use Texas 46 there, and there are about eight wrecks a month.
"To say the least, we are perplexed and mystified by some of their (council's) actions," Casteel said. "We can't let the money sit there waiting for Bulverde. I've got 12 counties, and every county out there has serious needs. We will put that money to work."
As a result, he said, it could take several years for money to be available to widen the highway through Bulverde if the council decides later to pursue a project, and the funding scenario could be less favorable than what is being offered now.
Scheel predicted that any financing to widen Texas 46 in Bulverde later would include tolls. None are in the deal offered now.
Comal County officials persuaded TxDOT to offer a "pass through financing" plan to expedite construction, slated to start next year. The county and cities involved in the project will borrow $16 million to lend to TxDOT. The state will then pay back the principal to the county and cities over a few years, with the local governments paying the interest. The rest of the project's $63 million price tag will be paid by the state.
The New Braunfels City Council and the Comal County Commission voted unanimously to take part in the project.
rcroteau@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News publish date Aug. 15, 2006
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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