Study Area
The study area is approximately a 40-mile loop around the City of New Braunfels. In order to develop high-quality displays with a greater amount of detail, the New Braunfels Outer Loop was divided into six areas between several existing roads. This allowed the study team to provide displays with a greater amount of detail for each of the areas. For the purpose of clarity, each area was assigned a corresponding letter. These letters were kept consistent throughout the study and were used at meetings to help participants identify the portion of the loop of greatest concern to them.
- A: IH 35 South to SH 46 North
- B: SH 46 North to FM 306
- C: FM 306 to IH 35 North
- D: IH 35 North to SH 46 South
- E: SH 46 South to FM 1044
- F: FM 1044 to IH 35 South
Study Purpose
The purpose of the study was 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 sought 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 could be used for the development of future environmental documents for the portions of independent utility.
Study Need
The City of New Braunfels, Comal County, and Guadalupe County have been experiencing steady growth in the last few years. According to the Texas State Data Center and Office of the State Demographer, Comal County is the 12th fastest growing county in the state and Guadalupe County is the 24th fastest. As a result of this growth, TxDOT has identified various areas with transportation needs throughout the region, initiated multiple studies in the region to explore opportunities to add capacity to the existing transportation system, and initiated this study to explore long-term mobility needs. The concept for the outer loop was first identified on the City of New Braunfels Major Street Plan in 1964 with revisions and updates to the outer loop alignment on the City’s Thoroughfare Master Plan in 1999 and in the City’s Thoroughfare Plan of 2003 and 2005. TxDOT initiated the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study to help the City of New Braunfels, Comal County, and Guadalupe County further refine a route location so they can plan appropriately as properties are developed.
Facts About Growth
- Growth in central New Braunfels is stable and increasing slowly; growth outside of New Braunfels is moving at a much faster rate.
- Population for Guadalupe County increased over 37% from 1990 to 2000. If this continues, Guadalupe's population could double by 2010. Currently, Guadalupe County is the 24th fastest growing county in Texas.
- Between 1990 and 2000, Comal County population has increased by 50%. Comal County is the 12th fastest growing county in Texas and growth in this area is not slowing down.
Study Approach
The New Braunfels Outer Loop Study is the first part of a two-phase study approach to the development of the outer loop. Phase I was a broad-scale, corridor level analysis and also included public involvement. The outcome of this phase was to identify a corridor (wider than the right-of-way) for the proposed outer loop that would still accommodate future refinements. Phase II of development would then be conducted for portions of the loop that could act as stand alone projects. The second phase of the study will include further environmental studies, a detailed alignment and right-of-way level of analysis and continued public involvement. This two-phase approach was developed with input from the Federal Highway Administration at a Preliminary Design Conference held at the onset of the study. Future phases for actual implementation of projects would include right-of-way acquisition, development of construction plans, and ultimately construction of individual projects.
Phase 1
Phase I can be described as a “funnel” type process in which a large number of options are narrowed down to a single recommended corridor as illustrated in
Within the funnel study approach, the study team received input from stakeholders, work groups, and outside resources. Information gathered was then used during the technical analysis to assist during the evaluation and screening process.
Phase I of the study is broad-scale and utilized this process to determine facility type, corridor width, portions of the loop that can act as stand alone projects and, as mentioned previously, a recommended corridor for the entire loop. Data gathered for this phase was based on published information, windshield surveys, and stakeholder input. Detailed studies will be conducted during Phase II, as described in the following section.
Phase 1 Study Approach
Phase II
Phase II of the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study will focus on refining portions of the loop that can act as stand alone projects and where needs have been identified. This phase of the planning process will concentrate on the development of detailed environmental documents which will consider alternatives within the 800’ corridor previously defined in Phase I. The environmental document classification will be based on the significance of the environmental impact of each portion. Public involvement activities will continue and constraints will be field verified in this phase of the study. Phase II of the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study is not scheduled at this time. Future phases for actual implementation of projects would include right-of-way acquisition, development of construction plans, and ultimately construction of individual projects.
Preliminary Constraints Map
Environmental constraint information provided a basis for evaluating potential environmental impacts and regulatory compliance issues. 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 were utilized to evaluate the various corridor options.
Environmental constraint mapping was developed in three basic steps:
- A preliminary "desktop" analysis of previously documented environmental constraints was prepared.
- Field observations from public right-of-way were conducted to further detail constraint data.
- "Desktop" analyses and field observations were augmented by additional information and accounts obtained during the public participation process.
Constraints Map for the East Side of the Study Area (9.6MB)
Constraints Map for the West Side of the Study Area (12.1MB)
Universe of Options
The study began with the development of the Universe of Options, or a wide-range of options that have the potential for meeting the need and purpose of the study. The Universe of Options was compiled using 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.
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 were 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 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.
Section-A Options (12.3MB)
Section-B Options (12.5MB)
Section-C Options (9MB)
Section-D Options (7.2MB)
Section-E Options (12.5)
Section-F Options (11.9MB)
Short List of Options
The Short List of Options 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 took the Short List of Options and applied multiple screening criteria to identify the recommended corridor for the proposed outer loop.
Short List of Maps
Section-A Options (9.1MB)
Section-B Options (9.1MB)
Section-C Options(6.5MB)
Section-D Options(18.2MB)
Section-E Options (19.2MB)
Section-F Options (14.9MB)
Final Recommended Corridor
After several months and numerous meetings with the public, TxDOT presented the Final Recommended Corridor to local jurisdictions. The following maps illustrate the Final Recommended Corridor including modifications made after the Open House held by TxDOT in January 2008 and the Town Hall Meeting held by the City of New Braunfels in April 2008.
Section-A Recommended Corridor
Section-B Recommended Corridor
Section-C Recommended Corridor
Section-D Recommended Corridor
Section-E Recommended Corridor
Section-F Recommended Corridor
The Texas Department of Transportation conducted the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study from April 2007 to July 2008. This website was established to provide information to the public throughout the study. It now serves as a legacy website documenting the efforts undertaken for the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study. For a complete overview, please see the Study Overview page.
