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Leon Valley council directs staff to apply for AAMPO grant for final trail segment; 3-2 vote
Summary
The City Council voted 3–2 to authorize staff to seek an Alamo Area MPO reimbursement grant to build Segment 3 of a hike-and-bike trail from Evers Road to Bauchi Drive; the city would commit to a 20% match plus engineering costs on an estimated $1.3 million project.
The Leon Valley City Council voted 3–2 Tuesday to direct staff to apply for a reimbursement grant through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for construction of Segment 3 of the city’s hike-and-bike trail, which would connect the city’s trail system from Evers Road to Bauchi Drive and link to San Antonio’s network.
The grant application would cover 80 percent of the project cost; the city must provide a 20 percent match plus engineering. City staff said the opinion of probable cost for the segment is about $1,300,000 and that the program is a reimbursement grant. Dr. Caldari, the staff presenter, told council that "we would be required to pay 20% of the cost and plus engineering."
Why it matters: the segment is the last piece of a corridor Leon Valley has pursued since 2008 and would establish a direct multimodal connection to San Antonio’s trail system. Councilors who supported the application said seeking the grant now preserves a future funding opportunity and does not obligate immediate construction. Councilors who opposed it said the city should wait until final costs for Segment 2 are known and prioritize core infrastructure needs.
Council debate and context: supporters emphasized long-term connectivity and the grant timeline. Councilor Bradshaw said, "I am in support of this project because of connectivity, and we've been working on this for, like you say, 2008." Several council members asked whether San Antonio’s trail work would be in place at the connection point; staff answered that San Antonio’s construction at that adjoining reach is scheduled to start this year and would enable the connection. Staff also said MPO funding in this program is planned for a 2028–2032 implementation window, so approving an application is a multi‑year planning commitment rather than an immediate construction obligation.
Costs and commitments: the staff presentation included a cost breakdown and a city finance explanation: the project’s minimum cost met MPO thresholds (stated as at least $1,000,000), with the city responsible for 20 percent of construction plus engineering and any budgeted yearly appropriations when the project moves into a funded year. One councilor raised the practical question of budgeting for the local match across future fiscal years; staff confirmed the city would need to include the committed match in its annual budgets if the grant is awarded.
Decision: Councilor Bradshaw made the motion to direct the city manager to seek the AAMPO reimbursement grant; Councilor Heil seconded. The mayor called for voice votes; the mayor announced, "The motion passes, 3 ayes and 2 nays." The motion directs staff to prepare and submit the grant application but does not appropriate construction funds.
Next steps and caveats: staff said they will proceed with the grant application paperwork. If the MPO denies the application, the city would not be obligated to construct the project. If the MPO awards the grant, the city must commit its share in future budgets and complete any required engineering to meet MPO requirements.
Ending note: councilors raised options to pursue matching funds from Bexar County or San Antonio and to explore community fundraising, but staff cautioned that any external contributions would be requests to other agencies, not guaranteed offsets.
