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Council told TxDOT’s preliminary downtown plans diverge from grant submittal; city seeks ADA, sidewalks and bike lanes
Summary
City staff reported that preliminary plans provided by TxDOT did not match the Transportation Alternatives grant submittal; staff provided CAD files and asked TxDOT to revise the design to ensure ADA-compliant ramps, wider sidewalks and multimodal elements consistent with the grant.
A city staff presenter briefed the council on the Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant project with the Texas Department of Transportation. Staff said the preliminary layout TxDOT provided did not match the configuration the city submitted with the grant application and that the city supplied CAD drawings for a related utility project to help TxDOT reconcile right-of-way and utility conflicts.
The item matters because the TA grant was submitted to fund ADA, pedestrian and multimodal improvements downtown. Staff said the city expected ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps, an 8-foot sidewalk where feasible and bicycle accommodations as described in the grant. The staff presenter said TxDOT’s preliminary design appeared to focus on aesthetics and keep existing sidewalk footprints in place rather than widen paths and add multimodal space, and the city asked TxDOT to make the plans consistent with the grant scope.
Staff recounted meetings with TxDOT and said TxDOT agreed to review the differences. The city provided the design and utility measurements from the 2808B utility improvements project to speed coordination and help identify right-of-way pins and utility locations. Staff also raised concerns that downtown parking could be reduced to accommodate wider sidewalks or bike lanes and that drainage and curb designs would have to be reconciled with existing business entries and building elevations.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the 30% preliminary design that TxDOT supplied, the need for clear ADA ramps where sidewalks cross elevation changes, and the risk that a narrow right-of-way could require removing on-street parking to meet accessibility goals. Staff said TxDOT is working with third-party engineers on design and the project is at a stage where more detailed plans should be provided to the city for review.
Staff said they will continue biweekly contact with TxDOT and pursue clarifications on right-of-way, ADA compliance and how parking and drainage will be handled; they asked TxDOT to notify the city of any design changes and the impacts to the grant scope before finalizing plans.
