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Burke family pledges $2.175 million to help fund I‑37/Southeast Military Drive ramp project
Summary
An attorney for donor Jim Burke told the court the Burke family will donate $2,175,000 and the court approved an indemnity agreement, termination of a 2015 advance‑funding agreement and a voluntary advance funding agreement with TxDOT to cover ramp and frontage‑road work at the I‑37/Military Drive interchange.
An attorney for donor Jim Burke told the Bexar County Commissioners Court on April 28 that the Burke family would donate $2,175,000 to help pay for construction work at the IH‑37/Southeast Military Drive (Loop 13) interchange.
Rob Killen, an attorney with Killen Griffin & Fairmont, presented background and said the funds would largely be used under an advance‑funding arrangement with the Texas Department of Transportation to pay for a ramp and related frontage roads at the busy I‑37/Military Drive interchange. Killen said the updated agreements remove a previously involved entity and bring the paperwork current with TxDOT and local partners.
Following a short period for public comment and a request for a presentation from county engineering staff, Commissioner Calvert moved approval of three separate actions related to the project: an indemnity agreement between Bexar County and Indian Homes LTD for construction on county‑adjacent frontage, approval of Amendment No. 1 terminating a 2015 advance‑funding agreement, and approval of a voluntary local government contributions advance‑funding agreement with TxDOT for $2,175,000. Each motion carried on voice votes.
Commissioners and presenters described the project as a diverging‑diamond‑style intersection designed to reduce congestion; Killen said it "will significantly reduce wait times at that intersection 20, 40 minutes in some cases." Commissioner Calvert and others thanked the Burke family for the contribution during the meeting's ceremonial recognition of donors.
The court registered the motions and recorded voice votes approving the agreements; staff said the agreements will be executed in coordination with TxDOT and county legal staff and will be brought into the record following final review.
The court did not set an independent funding or implementation timeline in open session beyond approving the agreements and the mechanism to transfer donor funds to TxDOT for the ramp project.
