Huntsville, Walker County agree to share $11,377.50 in engineering costs for proposed University Avenue TxDOT grant

The Huntsville City Council on May 6 authorized the city manager to enter an interlocal agreement with Walker County to share $11,377.50 in preliminary engineering costs related to a 2025 TxDOT Transportation Alternatives grant application for a proposed University Avenue improvement project.

City staff explained the grant would fund design for a project that could convert a segment of University Avenue near the square to one way, add pedestrian and mobility pathways, and change angled parking to parallel parking. Council discussion noted the conversion could remove a small number of parking spaces on the street segment (estimates mentioned ranged from roughly half a dozen to up to about 20, depending on counting method), while other downtown adjustments could recover parking elsewhere — one council presentation estimated a potential net gain of 20 to 30 spaces from broader planning.

Sam, a city staff member who described the project to council, said the city and county are partnering on the grant and that the county has already approved participation in Commissioners Court; Commissioner Doggett and Commissioner Doggett’s involvement in preparing the application were noted in the meeting. Sam also stated that if the city is awarded the grant, design-related funding and oversight would transition to TxDOT procedures.

Council members expressed support for collaboration with Walker County and thanked Commissioner Doggett for his work on the application. The motion to authorize the interlocal agreement passed by unanimous voice vote.

The agreement commits the city to its share of preliminary engineering should the county and city proceed with the grant submission; final construction and implementation depend on the outcome of the TxDOT grant process.