Mayor Neal Linnartz
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and I’d like to take a moment to share some of the steps we’ve been taking here in New Braunfels to make it easier and safer to get around on foot or by bike.
Even though many of us spend a good portion of our day behind the wheel, at some point, we’re all pedestrians. Whether that’s walking across the parking lot to work, biking with your kids to school, or taking an evening stroll around the neighborhood. Because of that, we want to make sure that the places where you walk or bike are as safe and connected as possible.
Over the last year, the City has made a lot of strides towards that goal. Here are a few examples of the progress that’s been made on pedestrian improvements around the city:
Klein Road Expansion – As part of the 2019 Bond program, we didn’t just improve Klein Road for driver. The City also added a 10-foot shared-use path for walkers and bike riders. This new path makes it easier to reach Walnut Avenue, Long Creek High School, and, in the relatively near future, the new Zipp Family Sports Park.
Common Street Improvements – With funding from the 2023 Bond and the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the City upgraded sidewalks and pedestrian crossings along Common Street, from Union Avenue to Loop 337. This busy corridor connects downtown, Loop 337, and FM 306, and it also links neighborhoods to important community spots like the Main Branch Library, local rivers, and our historic downtown. Safer sidewalks and crossings mean it’s easier to get where you need to go.
Safer Intersections – As part of our Citywide Pedestrian Improvement Projects, the City has already improved several key intersections, including Oak Run Parkway at Westpointe Drive, Landa Street at the Loop 337 access road, and Settlers Crossing at Pahmeyer Road. You’ll also find a new crosswalk across Loop 337 connecting New Braunfels High School with the Veramendi development. And there are more intersection improvements for pedestrians still to come, including Walnut Ave. at Gardenia, providing another opportunity for pedestrians to cross Walnut between I-35 and County Line Road. Projects like these help close sidewalk gaps and make some of our most-traveled roads safer for everyone.
More Trails – Once again, thanks to support from the New Braunfels EDC, we recently finished the Alligator Creek West trail segment, which is the start of a regional connection toward Seguin. This new section also ties into improvements happening along Goodwin Lane and Conrads Lane, where sidewalks and a shared-use path is being built to connect Oak Creek Elementary with surrounding neighborhoods and the trailhead. And, as I wrote about last month, the City has recently opened Willard Canyon, a 10-acre greenspace park featuring three different trail segments, totaling nearly a mile of interconnected trail loops.
Looking ahead, City staff is working on a Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan to map out a fully connected system of sidewalks, trails, and bike facilities across the city. This plan builds on the feedback we get from residents, which will help guide future projects, and we’re asking you’re your input right now! Through November 15th, you can take a survey or drop a pin on our interactive map to let us know where you’d like to see better walking and biking connections. You can find all the details by visiting www.newbraunfels.gov/bikeplan.
Every sidewalk, trail, and pedestrian crossing we build is another step toward a safer and more connected New Braunfels. Thank you for helping us shape the future of our community. And I look forward to hearing about your feedback on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan survey.