CITY OF ST. HEDWIG
RURAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY
Prepared By:
ST. HEDWIG PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Kathy Palmer-Chairman
St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission
Dale Prince-Vice Chairman
St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission
Louise Martin-Secretary
St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission
Larry Strzelzyck
St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission
Roy Garza
St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SH-RTSPlanning and Zoning Commission………………………………………Page 1
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………. Page 2
Executive Summary……………………………………………………………….Page 3
Purpose for a Rural Transportation Plan…………………………………………..Page 4
Process for Review of Draft Plan and Final Adoption……………………………Page 5
Vision, Goals, and Guiding Principles…………………………………………….Page 7
Future Considerations…………………………………………………………….Page 8
Trans-Texas Corridor, Vision 2009, Gulf Coast Strategic Highway…….. Page 8
IH-35……………………………………………………………………...Page 8
SH-1604…………………………………………………………………….Page 8
FM1346……………………………………………………………………Page 8
FM1518……………………………………………………………………Page 8
La Vernia Rd……………………………………………………………… Page 9
Graytown Rd……………………………………………………………… Page 9
Pittman Rd………………………………………………………………… Page 9
Toll Roads…………………………………………………………………Page 9
Public-Private Partnerships……………………………………………….. Page 9
Red Light Cameras – Speed Cameras……………………………………. Page 10
Freight,Passenger, & High Speed Rail……………………………………Page 10
TXDOT……………………………………………………………………Page 10
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The ability to travel unencumbereddirectly affects the economic and social aspect of our rural communities and daily lives. A coordinated planning process between federal, state, and regional transportation planners and the City of St. Hedwig is essential to ensuring the unique rural transportation needs are met. TheCity of St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study (known as the SH-RTS) has been prepared by the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission. It is designed to provide guidance to planning agencies responsible for the building of our state and federal transportation system.
As population and employment growth continues within the St. Hedwig Cityarea, the need for improved transportation becomes an increasing priority. As automobile travel remains the dominant form of transportation, using resources to the fullest extent possible will be even more important in future years. Identifying necessary improvements constitute the important aspects of this long range plan.
A unique and specific challenge facing the St. Hedwig area is balancing the increased pressures of the urban areas bordering the City of St. Hedwig which continue to expand, while preserving the unique and critical rural communities that thrive on the Blackland resources, one of the nation’s mostunique and important farmland areas.
Successful transportation planning depends upon thoughtful coordination between federal, state and regional planning agencies and the communities directly impacted by the projects. In upholding the planning responsibility of the City of St. Hedwig, the St. Hedwig Rural Planning Study (SH-RTS)was designed to outline priorities for the regionally significant thoroughfares where either anticipated construction is needed or substantial upgrades are forecasted within the next twenty years.
This rural transportation plan is a product of the citizens of the St. Hedwig region. It is proudly presented by all of the locally elected and appointed officials who have joined together to represent their constituents.
PURPOSE for a
RURALTRANSPORTATION PLAN
The purpose of this plan is to represent the special needs of the rural area represented by the City of St. Hedwig.
For this reason, the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission believes that transportation systems are best planned at a local and regional level and has developed theSt. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study (SH-RTS).Due to the proximity of major arterials, trips within the region are not confined to the local area; therefore, transportation planning should include the regional area.
The St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study (SH-RTS)is the twenty-year Rural Transportation Plan (RTP) that outlines the transportation needs for the regionas described above. This document is designed as the guideline from which all future projects are constructed within the St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study (SH-RTS)region over the next twenty-year period.
The St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study (SH-RTS)area encompasses the City of St. Hedwig’s30.1 square mile City Limits. The City of St. Hedwig is located in BexarCounty, Texas.
PROCESS FOR REVIEW OF DRAFT PLAN
AND FINAL ADOPTION
CREATION OF THE DRAFT PLAN
Since their creation, the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council have held regular monthly public meetings, as well as several public workshops with state agencies. The goal has been to assess state and national transportation plans as they may affect the rural communities within the City of St. Hedwig jurisdiction. From this knowledge base the Planning and Zoning Commission began developing the SH-RTS in order to ensure that during all national, state, and regional planning efforts, the interests of the City of St. Hedwig rural areas will be considered, prioritized, and respected.
As a part of this process, theelements of this draft plan have been discussed by the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission during several regular meetings, and early versions of the written draft plan were reviewed and discussed specifically during the March 19 and April16 2009 regularly scheduledSt. Hedwig Planning and Zoning meetings.
During the April 16, 2009 regular meeting of the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Meeting the draft plan was approved to be released for further public comment.
90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD
In addition to the open and regularly scheduled meetings where the public is encouraged to attend and discuss specific issues with the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission and the St. Hedwig City Council,the Commission encourages the public to submit written comments through July 16, 2009. A copy of the “Draft SH-RTS” will be available for review at the St. Hedwig City Hall and for download at the City’s website, as of April 17, 2009.
PUBLIC REVIEW AND MEETINGS
Should the input received during the 90-Day Comment Period indicate a public hearing is required, one will be scheduled on the following date:
- July 16, 2009 at St. Hedwig City Hall
FINAL SH-RTS
Upon completion of the 90-day comment period, all comments will be taken into consideration and the Draft Plan will be revised where needed. A final plan will be completed by the Commission and upon approval of the City Council; public notice will be printed in the local newspaper. A copy of the Final SH-RTS will be available for review at the St. Hedwig City Hall and for download online at the City’s website
30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD for FINAL SH-RTS
Written comments are again encouraged by the public during the 30 days following the public notice of the final plan.
FINAL PLAN ADOPTION
If there are no significant objections by the members of the public as determined by the Commission and City Council to the Final Plan, then the SH-RTS will be considered completeby the St. Hedwig Planning and Zoning Commission. It will then be recommended to the St. Hedwig City Council for approval. Once the St. Hedwig City Council has approved the SH-RTS as final, notice and copies of the final plan will be delivered to all federal, state, and regional transportation agencies active within the City of St. Hedwig jurisdiction as well as the Governor’s Office and other interested parties. Copies of the Final Approved SH-RTS will be available via the Public Information Act at the St. Hedwig City Hall and online at the City’s website
The Final Plan will serve as the primary planning document for all future transportation projects within the Jurisdiction of the City of St. Hedwig.
VISION, GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPALS
of
The City of St. Hedwig through the
St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Study
VISION
Preserve and protect the St. Hedwig Rural Transportation Studyarea by developing a transportation system focusing on moving people and goods.
GOALS
Protect the economy and environment by protecting prime and uniquefarm land;
Equity – Pursue a transportation system addressing the needs of all people in all parts of the region and assure that impacts of transportation projects do not adversely affect particular communities disproportionately;
Environmental Sustainability – Avoid detrimentalenvironmental impactscreated by transportation improvements;
Accessibility– Improve access to goods, jobs, services, housing, and destinations within the region,while enhancing access of local communities to areas, markets, and economies outside the region;
Economic Vitality – Enhance the economic vitality of the region by efficiently and effectively connecting people to jobs, goods, and services;
Health – Encourage transportation projects that promote healthy and active lifestyles.
Safety – Review and determine the safety and security of all modes of transportation within the region;
Reliability – Determine if a certain mode of transportation is reliable and necessary for the region.
GUIDING PRINCIPALS
Create a plan that:
- Respects the unique character of the City of St. Hedwig;
- Is based on the best available data and analysis on all transportation modes;
- Is developed through the cooperation of all citizens in the City of St. Hedwig;
- Includes publicinvolvement and participation.
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR-INNOVATIVE CONNECTIVITY VISION 2009-GULF COAST STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SYSTEM
Due to the potential for economic and environmental damage, and eminent domain abuse, the SH-RTS and the City of St. Hedwigdoes not support the currently proposed limited access roadways, high speed passenger rail, commercial rail or specified truck lane aspects of the Trans-Texas Corridor, Innovative Connectivity Vision 2009, or the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway System.
IH-35
In accordance with the IH-35 Study conducted by FHWA and TxDOT,theSH-RTS supports adding capacity to IH-35 in the existing foot print. TheSH-RTS does not support a toll function for IH-35, SH1604, IH10 or any adjacent highway.
SH-1604
The SH-RTS supports the SH1604 function as a bypass of the San Antonio metro areabut only utilizing the existing right of way currently established. The SH-RTS does not support the toll use of SH1604 to establish a revenue stream from the people of Texas.
SH-RTSsupports the widening of SH1604to 4 lanes with frontage roads where appropriate from IH-10 to the US87 intersection in Adkins.Within the City Limits and Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City of St. Hedwig the current right-of-way of SH1604 can be used to widen the existing road.
Due to heavy vehicular and truck traffic, an overpass is needed at the intersection of SH1604 and FM1346 as well as ingress and egress access from SH1604.
Due to the same reason as listed above, an overpass is needed at the intersection of SH1604 and FM1518 as well as ingress and egress from SH1604.
FM 1346
Due to increased local traffic east and westbound through the Historic District and Main Commercial District of St. Hedwig from US87 and SH1604, as well as north and southbound traffic from FM1518 and Pittman Road, red lights are needed at the intersections of FM1346 and FM 1518, FM 1346 and Pittman Road and FM1346 and Graytown Road.
FM 1518
Due to increased local traffic from SH1604 and safety issues regarding the current intersection of SH 1604 and FM 1518 as well as the fact La Vernia Rd is utilized as a bypass from FM1346 from the east side of St. Hedwig to FM1518, the following changes to the layout of FM1518 is recommended:
- The current (2009) FM1518 from the intersection of FM1518 and La Vernia Rd south to SH 1604 should be closed to all but local traffic and access to SH1604 should be terminated
- La Vernia Rd between the current (2009) FM1518 and SH 1604 should become the new FM1518 for access to SH1604
LA VERNIA RD
La Vernia Rd is a major artery within both the City Limits and it’s ETJand isused as a southern bypass of FM 1346 from the east side of St. Hedwig to FM1518, SH 1604 and on through to Rakowitz Rd west of SH1604. A need will develop to widen the road from its current width of 18 feet to a maximum of 30 feet. St Hedwig will need to work with Bexar County to notify them of the necessity for the County to widen the portions of La Vernia Rd in their jurisdiction (St. Hedwig ETJ)to match that of the portion of La Vernia Rd within the City Limits of St. Hedwig.
GRAYTOWN RD
Due to the fact that both North and South Graytown Rd aremajor arteries within the City Limits and are used as a northern bypass of FM1346 from the east side of St. Hedwig to FM1518 and further to Abbott Rd., a need will develop to widen the road from its current width of 18 feet to a maximum width of 30 feet. The current yield sign will need to be replaced with a stop sign at the intersection of N. Graytown Rd, E. Lupon and S. Graytown Road.
PITTMAN RD
Due to the fact that Pittman Road is a major artery within the City Limits and is used as a north south bypass of FM1518, a need will develop to widen the road from its current width of 18 feet to a maximum of 30 feet. A stoplight will be needed at the intersection of Pittman Road and US87. A westbound turn lane will be needed from Pittman Road onto westbound US87 and a northbound turn lane will be needed from US87 onto Pittman Road.
TOLL ROADS
The act of paying a toll to use a public highway after citizens have already paid Federal and State fuel taxes amounts to double taxation. The SH-RTSdoes not support toll roads on either existing roadways or new lanes on existing roadways. The SH-RTS will tolerate tolls as an exception but not the rule, for funding brand new construction of future roadways currently not in existence. The SH-RTS will expect that tolls are only considered as a last resort only if proof exists that all additional resources of funding are exhausted.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
A report by the GAO and independent studies conclude that public private partnerships, as they relate to infrastructure projects, are the most expensive investment the taxpayer can make in cost per miles traveled. The SH-RTSdoes not support public private partnerships.
RED LIGHT CAMERAS – SPEED CAMERAS
SH-RTSis categorically opposed to the use of red light cameras and speed cameras in the study area. Studies show that they cause accidents and provide a mechanism for taking money from the local people.
FREIGHT RAILROADS
SH-RTSsupports freight rail expansion when proposed and constructed by the Union Pacific or Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad company. SH-RTSdoes not support the State of Texas constructing or operating freight railroads.
PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM
SH-RTSsupports a functional, conventional rail system utilizing existing railway lines.
HIGH SPEED RAIL
SH-RTSdoes not support high speed rail for the following reasons:
-the extreme noise generated by trains traveling at excessive speeds
-the wall effect created by fences or grade separations
-destroying the view of the skyline by elevated rail
TXDOT
The City of St. Hedwigcommends the Texas Department of Transportation for their expertise in building and maintaining public highways. The City recommends that TxDOT concentrate on their area of expertise and look to the Texas Legislature to provide funding versus utilization of private/public partnerships and/or Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDA).
1