1. City of New Braunfels Regional Transportation Planning Garry Ford, P.E., PTOE City Engineer June 13, 2017

2. Regional Transportation System
Transportation system provides for the mobility of people and goods, and influences economic activity
The performance of the system affects…
Air quality
Environmental resources
Land use
Economic development
Safety and security
Growth!
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

3. Regional Transportation Plan
New Braunfels, Comal Co, Seguin and Guadalupe Co developed Regional Transportation Plan in 2012
Goals of the plan…
Improve traffic circulation
Manage growth and access to development
Reduce environmental impacts
Consider costs associated constraints
Address the need for additional Guadalupe River crossings
Follow existing roadways as much as possible
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

4. Regional Transportation Plan
Demographics
Environmental and Land Use
Prior Planning Efforts
Roadways
Public Transportation
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations
Financial Capacity
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

5. Regional Transportation Plan
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

6. Roadways Interstate Expressway Parkway Principal Arterial
Minor Arterial
Major Collector
Minor Collector
Local Road
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

7. Roadway ROW and Pavement Width
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

8. ROW Dedication and Street Construction
Platting Ordinance Section (t)
Internal streets
Developer responsible for dedication and construction of all local and collector streets.
At least 2 lanes for an arterial street supported by a TIA
Perimeter (adjacent) streets
Developer responsible for dedication or reservation
All subdivisions shall have 24’ adequate access
Planning Commission may require dedication and/or construction based on TIA and roughly proportionate
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

9. New Braunfels Growth Population of 73,959 from 2016 Census
9th fasting growing city in U.S. ( )
2nd fastest growing city in U.S. ( )
Located on the I-35 Corridor
40 miles from Austin
25 miles from San Antonio
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

10. Commercial Permits (2016)
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

11. Residential Permits (2016)
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

12. Engineering Permit Review
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

13. I-35 Corridor Growth Challenges Opportunities
General traffic increase between Austin to San Antonio
Housing growth between San Antonio and New Braunfels
Regional and local truck traffic increase
Challenges
Congestion and traffic crashes
Limited or long alternate routes
Opportunities
Traffic Incident Management
TxDOT projects/planning studies
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

14. I-35 & Loop 337/Rueckle Rd/Solms Rd
Growth
Pilot truck stop and quarry operations west of I-35
Housing development growth east of I-35
Route to development on SH 46 and Loop 337 (Veramendi)
Challenges
Congestion and delays
Opportunities
City Rueckle Rd project
TxDOT Loop 337 project
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

15. Veramendi
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

16. I-35 & SH 46 Growth Challenges Opportunities
Traffic increase between New Braunfels and Seguin
Housing development growth east of I-35
Challenges
I-35 interchange
Closely spaced signals
Heavy truck traffic
Access management
Opportunities
TxDOT planning study
Signal timing
Improve parallel routes
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

17. I-35 & FM 306/Creekside Crossing
Growth
Creekside commercial development & Buc-ee’s
Single-family and multi-family development
Resolute Hospital & medical facilities
Regional airport expansion
HEB and In-N-Out Burger
Challenges
Congestion and delays
Gruene & Canyon Lake traffic
Opportunities
Coordinate traffic signals
FM 306 Extension to Airport
TxDOT planning study
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

18. MPO 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
MTP is also known as the “long-range plan”
Required to be developed to receive federal funds
Forecasts transportation needs for the next 25 years
Lists the goals and vision for the region
Relieve congestion
Maintain air quality
Improve quality of life
Includes projected transportation projects
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

19. MTP Funded Projects Financially constrained projects Local projects
Funding anticipated but not guaranteed
State can start planning and environmental
Local projects
IH 35 Operational Improvements (FM 1103 – Hays Co)
FM 306 Extension (FM 1101 – FM 758)
IH 35 North (FM 1103 – Loop 337/Rueckle Road)
New Braunfels Transit Station (Multimodal)
FM 306 (River Chase Way – FM 2673)
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

20. MTP Unfunded Projects Financially unconstrained projects
92 regional projects at over $26 Billion
Noteworthy local unfunded projects…
FM 1044 Extension to IH 35 (Rueckle Road alignment)
FM 758 Extension between SH 46 and FM 725 (Guadalupe River Crossing)
FM 1101 from Kohlenberg Road to SH 123
FM 1863 from Mission Valley Road to US 281
FM 306 from FM 2673 to US 281
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

21. Funded Transportation Projects
MPO Transportation Improvement Program
FM 306 (Hoffman Lane – .5 mi north of Hunter Rd)
FM 306 (River Chase – Hoffman Lane)
Loop 337 (IH 35 – Hillcrest Drive)
FM 725 (County Line Rd – Zipp Rd)
Westside Pedestrian Improvements
Landa Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Project
Citywide Pedestrian Connectivity (currently recommended)
City of New Braunfels (2013 Bond Program)
Solms Road/Morningside Drive
Rueckle Road
Klein Road
Alves Lane
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

22. Moving Forward - Challenges
More growth
More development
Expect congestion and traffic to increase
I-35 freeway and interchange operations
SH 46 Boerne, Bulverde, New Braunfels, Seguin
Securing right-of-way
Funding and resources
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

23. Moving Forward - Opportunities
Continue to work with regional partners to address growth, traffic and transportation needs
Conduct advanced planning in growth areas and start the development of transportation projects
Manage existing infrastructure (streets and signals)
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

24. Moving Forward - Opportunities
Seek funding to increase street capacity, modernize signal system, and maintain streets
Improve and develop alternate modes of transportation
Pedestrian
Bikes
Transit
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

25. Questions?