DEPARTMENT: Transportation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Tomika Monterville, MSP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Major Thoroughfare Plan Amendment: Kelly Parkway
SUMMARY:
An ordinance amending the Major Thoroughfare Plan, a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of Kelly Parkway, a Super Arterial Type A requiring 200’ - 250’ feet of right-of-way, between existing US 281 and approximately 1.2 miles west of existing US 281.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Major Thoroughfare Plan (MTP), adopted as a component of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan, generally identifies the location for major roads within San Antonio and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The MTP assures an adequate transportation network that works to move people, goods and services optimally and efficiently through right-of-way dedication for future roads.
Previous Council Action
City Council adopted the MTP through Ordinance 49818 on September 21, 1978. The MTP has been amended several times through the years to calibrate and realign the thoroughfares along with the development of the greater San Antonio metropolitan area. The MTP is generally built as development occurs. In 2003, Kelly Parkway between Pleasanton Rd to IH 37 was designated as a Super Arterial on the MTP by City Council through Ordinance 98282.
ISSUE:
This ordinance amends the Major Thoroughfare Plan, a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of Kelly Parkway, a Super Arterial Type A requiring 200’ - 250’ feet of right-of-way, between existing US 281 and approximately 1.2 miles west of existing US 281.
Currently, the east-west connectivity between US 281 and SH 16 traffic is handled by Loop 1604 and Loop 410. These limited connections are why Kelly Parkway and the East-West Connector are proposed in the Major Thoroughfare Plan to provide access destinations between US 281 and SH 16. The major trip generators in the region are Texas A&M San Antonio Campus, Toyota Manufacturing Plant, Mission del Lago Master planned development and the NAVISTAR manufacturing plant. The Master Plan 2020 for Texas A&M University suggests plans of expanding the campus and significant increase the student intake through 2025. The possible future growth of the undeveloped parcels in the region and the NAVISTAR plant's finished construction will attract more trips to the region. The existing roadways will exceed capacity and operate at an undesirable level of service in the study area. The future traffic growth supports the essential need to implement Kelly Parkway.
Kelly Parkway's realignment will allow for the proposed NAVISTAR plant and reduce the CPS transmission line conflicts. This realignment also retains the connection that Kelly Parkway is meant to serve as adopted in the Major Thoroughfare Plan. Pape-Dawson Engineers assessed Kelly Parkway with the projected 2045 design year traffic to recommend through and turning lane recommendations and determining their effectiveness. The additional capacity and access will support the continued development of Verano, Texas A&M San Antonio Campus, and handle the future traffic demand as a result of the growth of undeveloped regions near the Kelly Parkway MTP alignment. This Kelly Parkway segment will support distributing traffic to and from SH 16, Applewhite, Zarzamora and US 281 limiting traffic on existing roadways that would otherwise operate over capacity.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to authorize the MTP amendment to realign Kelly Parkway to keep the adopted alignment unchanged.
If the alignment remains unchanged as adopted, any future development along the alignment will need to dedicate the minimum 200’ feet of right-of-way to meet the MTP requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this amendment.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance amending the Major Thoroughfare Plan (MTP), a component of the City of San Antonio Master Plan, by realigning a proposed segment of Kelly Parkway, a Super Arterial Type A requiring 200’ - 250’ feet of right-of-way, between existing US 281 and approximately 1.2 miles west of existing US 281.
The MTP Amendment for Kelly Parkway was reviewed by the Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) on March 8, 2021 and the Planning Commission on March 24, 2021.