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Highland Village CDC pauses selection of FM 407 trail option, asks for impact and maintenance studies
Summary
After a consultant presentation on three FM 407 corridor options, the Highland Village Community Development Corporation asked staff to secure pedestrian-impact, business-impact and maintenance-cost analyses before choosing an alignment or pursuing major grant applications.
The Highland Village Community Development Corporation on May 11 heard a consultant briefing on three options to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along the FM 407 corridor and near Unity Park, but the board did not select a preferred design. Chair (speaker 1) closed the discussion by asking consultants and staff to return with targeted studies and cost details before the CDC moves forward with grant applications.
Board members repeatedly expressed concern about long-term upkeep and the city's recent budget shortfall. "We had a $2,000,000 budget deficit last year," said Committee member (speaker 2), underscoring worries about future maintenance liabilities if new pavement is installed. Consultants acknowledged the concern and summarized the next steps: produce a pedestrian-impact analysis, a business-impact analysis, and lifecycle M&O (maintenance and operations) estimates so the board can evaluate both grant competitiveness and ongoing costs.
Consultants from 0.5 Associates presented three distinct alignments and cost studies and explained federal funding tradeoffs. Kevin Grumwalt (speaker 7) told the board the firm has reached roughly 95% of the initial contract deliverables and can scope additional task orders for the requested analyses. "If you want federal funding, the NCTCOG transportation funding program is the low-hanging fruit," Liz Range Pendle (speaker 9) said, while also noting federally funded projects require a 20% local match and add NEPA and schedule burdens.
The board directed staff to return with an itemized task order and cost estimate for the additional analyses, plus a summary of funds already spent on the project. The chair asked staff to email the contract amount and spend-to-date and to schedule a follow-up meeting to review the new deliverables.
The presentation and the board's request for studies were recorded in the meeting; no binding funding decision or grant application was approved at this session.
