By Samantha Smith
Buda city council took another step toward enhancing pedestrian safety in early June by approving an agreement to extend a pre-existing sidewalk along FM 967 to connect to the sidewalk at the Bella Vita neighborhood on the other side of the tracks.
Buda Parks and Recreation Director Drew Wells said the city only needs the agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) due to the sidewalk being constructed in its right-of-way.
The project will be split into two phases, with phase one ending at West Goforth Road and phase two extending from Goforth to the existing sidewalk at Bella Vita.
“The agreement with the railroad will provide general conditions as to how the construction of the sidewalk will take place, as well as the obligations of the city and its contractor when constructing and maintaining the sidewalk after construction,” Wells said.
According to Wells, the sidewalk needs to be extended in that area for the safety of residents, as well as its connectivity to the whole of Buda.
“Effectively, we want to provide pedestrians with safe routes within the city,” Wells said.
According to Wells, the city will be responsible for an initial fee to the railroad of $1,000, which acts as a one-time land lease for the railroad’s property.
Additional costs totaling $15,549 will be paid to the railroad to reimburse them for actual costs incurred related to installation of concrete planking at the tracks.
The safety of Buda residents is a concern that local businesses share with the city.
Buda Skate employee Ilind Farris likes the idea of the city trying to improve safety conditions for residents. But Farris said he would prefer the city concentrate more on crosswalks and pedestrian warning signage than sidewalks.
“People fly down this road so fast and they don’t see the people walking down the street or skating to the [Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial] skate park,” said Farris.
According to Farris, the city needs to amend the ordinances governing the new section of sidewalk to allow not just pedestrian walking traffic, but also bicyclists and skateboarders as well.
“If they aren’t going to allow everyone to use the sidewalk, then what’s the point of building it?” Farris said. “Jackson Tyler died skating in the street two years after we petitioned city council for a skate park.”
According to Wells, the current sidewalk ordinances allow city sidewalks to be used by skateboarders and cyclists as well as pedestrians.
