BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
City of San Antonio Intergovernmental Relations Committee
TO: City of San Antonio Intergovernmental Relations Committee
DATE: August 7, 2020
RE: Brooks Development Authority’s 2020 BUILD Grant application, BUILDing Opportunity: Brooks Connectivity Project
SUMMARY
In February 2020, the United States Department of Transportation issued the Fiscal Year 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants Program. The notice made available $1 billion nationwide for planning and capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, which is to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact.
Brooks Development Authority is requesting $22 million in BUILD Grant funds to accelerate the delivery of a one-mile extension of South New Braunfels to Loop 410 in San Antonio. The total project cost is $31 million and $9.5 million is already allocated to the project from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. For the purpose of the application, this project is named BUILDing Opportunity: Brooks Connectivity Project.
The Intergovernmental Relations Committee will receive a briefing on the project and advocacy efforts to date.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Brooks Development Authority submitted an application in May for the BUILDing Opportunity: Brooks Connectivity Project.
The project’s one-mile extension will extend south from the Lyster Road intersection, a distance of 4,800 feet, to Loop 410 within 120 feet of right-of-way. The proposed roadway section will consist of two northbound and two southbound travel lanes extending through signalized intersections at Lyster Road, South Presa, and frontage roads on the north and south sides of Loop 410. Signalized intersections will also provide pedestrian crosswalks connecting to a concrete multi-use path providing access to recreational and retail areas.
The project will be key in connecting the Brooks campus to the greater San Antonio area, providing access to another major highway, and alleviating expected traffic as the Brooks campus develops. Key community connections include connectivity to major employers, emergency access, and access to other amenities in the Brooks area, such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., HOLT CAT, Texas A&M San Antonio, Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, San Antonio Emergency Operations Center, and the Brooks (VIA Metropolitan Transit) Transit Center. In addition, the extension includes several safety features and amenities, including 10’ multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, enhanced lighting, landscaping, and storm water detention.
ISSUE
The Brooks Mission is to promote and develop a vibrant, sustainable community that serves as a catalyst for progressive economic development and regional prosperity. The Brooks Vision is A San Antonio community attracting local, national, and international investment to achieve world-class opportunities that transform the campus, surrounding neighborhoods and the region while respecting our rich and vibrant history. Brooks’ Strategic Goal No. 5 is to Become the principal economic development entity for the Brooks region by partnering with key stakeholders. Completing the extension of South New Braunfels to Loop 410 would provide connectivity to the community as well as enhance the Brooks campus and south side of San Antonio as a key area of economic development. Therefore, pursuing this opportunity would uphold our adopted Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goal No. 5.
The City of San Antonio’s Federal legislative Program for the 116th Congress includes Brooks as one of the local partners that the City supports on issues that enhance the vitality of the community.