|
Study Area
The New Braunfels Outer Loop
Study will evaluate possible corridor locations for an outer
loop within a study area that is approximately a 40-mile band
around the City of New Braunfels and encompasses portions of
both Comal and Guadalupe Counties.
Study Purpose
The purpose
of the study is to conduct the necessary planning and analysis
needed to identify a corridor for the possible development of a
New Braunfels Outer Loop. As shown on the 2000 Census, New
Braunfels and the surrounding counties are seeing significant
growth and the identification of a recommended corridor would
give the city a tool to preserve the potential corridor before
the land is developed.
The
study will seek to:
- Identify a potential
corridor for land (right of way) preservation.
-
Identify portions of the loop which could be constructed
as stand alone projects.
- Follow NEPA guidelines
to ensure information collected can be used for the
development of future environmental documents for the
portions of independent utility.
Because the loop would likely be implemented in phases, the
prioritized portions will help TxDOT identify portions of the
loop that are needed sooner than others. At some point in the
future, environmental documents for each of the portions would
be developed as the need arises.
Study Need
The concept for the outer loop is
identified on the City of New Braunfels Major Thoroughfare Plan.
The City of New Braunfels has been experiencing steady growth in
the last few years and TxDOT has identified various areas with
transportation needs through out Comal and Guadalupe counties.
TxDOT initiated the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study to help the
City of New Braunfels further refine a potential corridor so
they can plan appropriately as the need arises.
Facts
About Growth
Study Process
The study process will ensure
communication with key stakeholders as well as the general
public. It will also follow the guidelines set forth by the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, or NEPA, which says
in part that "it is the continuing policy of the Federal
Government to create and maintain conditions under which man and
nature can exist in productive harmony [for] future generations
of Americans." Input collected throughout the study process will
be incorporated into the final study recommendation.
The
funnel graphic shown above indicates how input/feedback from
various stakeholders will be "funneled" down to a specific
corridor recommendation for the proposed outer loop.
Preliminary
Constraints Map
A constraint is more
commonly described as an environmental feature. Constraints can
be significant resources, facilities, or other characteristics
of a study area that can serve to restrain, restrict, or prevent
the implementation of a proposed transportation improvement in a
given area. Constraints may include natural or physical
resources, important structures, community facilities, or
topographic features. The constraints for the New Braunfels
Outer Loop Study were identified using existing data found
through public databases, input from members of the public and
field verifications. These constraints will be utilized to
evaluate the various corridor options.
Constraints Map for the East Side of the Study Area
(5.5MB)
Constraints Map for the West Side of the Study Area
(5.5MB)
Conceptual
Alternative Corridors
The
Texas Department of Transportation is in the process of
evaluating options for the proposed outer loop. To get this
process underway, a wide-range of "conceptual" options were
identified that have the potential or meeting the need and
purpose of the study. This complete group of options is what
the study team refers to as the "Universe of Options," or the
wide range of possible corridors and connections to be
considered during the alternatives analysis portion of the New
Braunfels Outer Loop Study.
The
initial group of conceptual options was developed with existing
data, including information we received as a result of our
public involvement activities; data collected at the New
Braunfels Outer Loop Study Technical Work Group, the Community
Work Group, the first round of public meetings and general
public input. Our challenge was to examine the study area
relative to the study's need and purpose, and identify corridors
that had a possibility of meeting the identified needs. In
addition, the project engineers and planners considered the
impact of each corridor on identified environmental constraints.
For the propose of examining the options, the loop was split up
into legs with SH 46, IH 35, FM 306, and FM 1044 used as
dividers between the legs.
Universe of Options Map
(20.5MB)
Refined Universe of Options
(20.1MB)
Initial Screening
Criteria
Once the Universe was
identified, the study team began the process of identifying
screening criteria that could be used to reduce the number of
options down to a more manageable list of viable options.
Environmental constraints such as those ranked during the first
round of public meetings will be used as some of the screening
criteria. Other criteria are required by federal law. Typically,
TxDOT is required to avoid impacts to community resources such
as parks, landfills, historical structures, archeological sites,
and cemeteries. The list of initial screening criteria was
presented along with the smaller set of viable options at the
second round of public meetings held October 2007.
Viable Options
Once the initial
screening criteria were identified, the study team utilized the
initial screening criteria to evaluate the alternative corridors
and ultimately reduce the number of alternatives that will be
carried through to the next level of analysis. The reduced list,
or the Viable Corridors, was presented to the Technical Work
Group, the Community Work Group, and the general public at
meetings held in September and October of 2007. At these
meetings, the study team collected additional feedback on the
various viable corridors.
West-A Options (12.3MB)
West-B Options (12.5MB)
West-C Options (9MB)
East-D Options (7.2MB)
East-E Options (12.5)
East-F Options (11.9MB)
Short List of Options
The Short List of Alternatives was presented to the Technical Work Group and Community Work Group in December 2007. In order to reduce the Viable Options down to the Short List of Options, the study team evaluated the crossings at IH 35 and the Guadalupe River to determine which corridors would work best at each crossing. Corridors eliminated during this process included those that could not provide adequate spacing between existing interchanges or had significant impacts to businesses and residences in the area. The study team also looked for opportunities to minimize impacts to existing interchanges during the screening process. Next, the study team will take the Short List of Options and apply multiple screening criteria to identify the recommended corridor for the proposed outer loop.
Short List of Options Maps
West-A Options
(9.1MB)
West-B
Options
(9.1MB)
West-C Options
(6.5MB)
East-D Options
(18.2MB)
East-E
Options (19.2MB)
East-F Options (14.9MB)
New Braunfels Outer Loop Recommended Corridor
After several months and numerous meetings with the public, TxDOT presented the recommended corridor for the propsed outer loop at an open house held January 2008. The recommended corridor is the culmination of months of public involvement about the proposed outer loop.
East Side of Corridor (1.3MB)
West Side of Corridor (1.4MB)
Next Steps for the Study
In February 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will
present the recommended corridor to the City of New Braunfels, the City of Schertz, Comal
and Guadalupe Counties. These entities will then have the opportunity to
accept the recommendation and adopt it into their Major Thoroughfare
Plan (MTP). Once the recommended corridor is adopted by the local
municipalities, it can be utilized to reserve or preserve right of way as
properties are platted for development. For more information about next
steps for the study, please call the study hotline at 866.704.1114.
|
