NEW BRAUNFELS – Monday, June 25, 2007, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) held the first public meeting in a series of two identical public meetings regarding the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study. The public meeting was attended by more than 200 area residents at Canyon High School.

The study area is approximately a 40-mile band around the City of New Braunfels that encompasses portions of Comal and Guadalupe counties. The outer loop could require two new crossings over the Guadalupe River and would connect to IH 35 on the north side of New Braunfels and to IH 35 on the south side of New Braunfels. The purpose of the study is to conduct the necessary planning and analysis needed to identify a corridor for the possible development of a New Braunfels Outer Loop.

The study will seek to:

  • Identify a potential corridor for land (right of way) preservation.
  • Identify and prioritize segments of the loop that are needed sooner than others.
  • Follow NEPA guidelines to ensure information collected can be used for the development of future environmental documents for the segments of independent utility.

"Public involvement will be an on-going component of this study," said Judy Friesenhahn, P.E., with TxDOT. "I encourage anyone who is interested in this study either because they own land within the study area or they simply want to learn more about it to participate in our planning efforts."

The public meeting began with an open house consisting of maps and displays describing the study area and current identified constraints. This was followed by a study overview presentation given by Clint Ray, P. E. with RJ RIVERA Associates, Inc. Following the presentation, participants had the opportunity to go to different stations around the cafeteria to view the study area, ask questions and provide input regarding constraints and corridor priorities. The meeting concluded with each station giving a report on what concerns, constraints, and corridor priorities were discovered and a public comment session.

For more information on the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study, please call the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study Hotline at (866) 704-1114 or visit the New Braunfels Outer Loop Study website at http://www.nbolstudy.com. Maps and photographs of the study area are available to members of the media upon request.

Contact:
Maggie Rios
Texas Department of Transportation
(210) 615-5836
mrios@dot.state.tx.us