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Council backs conceptual Bedford Road beautification plan, authorizes funding applications
Summary
Bedford council approved a resolution to support a conceptual design that would reduce lanes on a portion of Bedford Road, add a 12‑foot shared use trail, landscaping and enhanced crosswalks, and authorized city staff to apply for NetCOT/TxDOT funding. The city will refine traffic, drainage and design details if awarded grants.
The Bedford City Council on Jan. 14 voted unanimously to support a conceptual design for a Bedford Road beautification and pedestrian‑safety project and authorized the city manager to submit outside‑funding applications, including to NetCOG and TxDOT.
City Engineer Joe Schweitzer said a consultant’s conceptual plan would convert a portion of Bedford Road from multiple lanes to a two‑lane section with a 12‑foot multiuse trail, landscaping and upgraded crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety and trail connectivity to nearby neighborhoods and regional trail networks. “This is not intended in any way to be a copy and paste for all of Bedford Road,” Schweitzer told council, describing the work as location‑specific.
Schweitzer said limited, preliminary traffic snapshots showed the road would maintain an acceptable level of service if reduced to two through lanes at the study segment; he noted average speeds exceeded the posted 35 mph limit and that the 85th percentile approached 43 mph. The concept includes two alternatives: alternative A would mill and overlay existing asphalt for the kept lanes; alternative B is a more extensive “Cadillac” option that replaces the roadway with concrete and carries higher upfront costs because of possible deeper storm‑drain work and regrading.
Council members emphasized pedestrian safety near Trinity High School and asked staff to study transitions to adjacent streets (Woodson, Murphy) and the safety of the access road to the 121 ramps. Schweitzer said the project would not immediately change the bridge structures but could propose reconfiguring through lanes and left‑turn lanes to create space for a wider pedestrian trail on the bridge.
The council asked staff to pursue funding quickly: Schweitzer said NetCOG’s application round had a Friday deadline and that award decisions would likely come later in the spring, with design and construction timelines stretching into subsequent years if funds are awarded. “We can shoot for the stars with option B and have the backup plan with option A,” Schweitzer said, noting NetCOG/TxDOT scoring is relative to other applicants’ projects.
Ending: Council approved the resolution to support the conceptual design and authorized staff to submit funding applications and to return with engineering plans, traffic studies and funding agreements if the project is awarded. The council approved the measure unanimously.
