Public safety concerns, as well as confusion among drivers, were the leading factors for Kyle city leaders to start the process of renaming Goforth and Bunton roads east of Interstate 35 earlier this month.
One section of what was Goforth Road, which spanned from the I-35 frontage road north to Bunton Road and passes in front of Fuentes Elementary, will be named Philomena Street.
Bunton Road, which currently changes to Goforth Road and then Bunton Lane, will be the name for the four-mile stretch that connects Heidenreich Lane to the I-35 frontage road.
“That conflicting naming assignment has been an issue for many years,” said City Manager Scott Sellers. “It has been an issue for public safety and their response, not knowing where exactly on Goforth or Bunton, or is it Bunton Road, Bunton Creek, Bunton Lane.”
City officials began discussing renaming the roads because having multiple names on a single road that’s a direct route to Seton Medical Center Hays seemed like a bad idea, said Mayor Todd Webster.
“This eliminates the confusion and makes things easier for public safety,” Sellers said.
Renaming roads is a lengthy process and will take some time before official renaming is enacted, Sellers said. There is a protocol to follow for re-addressing that has to follow the public safety process.
The road name changes would impact homeowners and businesses located on parts of Bunton and Goforth Rd, including Fuentes Elementary School.
City staff might hold a town hall meeting in the area to explain the renaming process and the purpose to residents, Sellers said.
“We would give a reasonable amount of time for businesses and homeowners to change their address,” Sellers said. “We understand there is a cost associated with that.”
Businesses might have to spend several hundreds of dollars, filing paperwork with the state and updating business information, Sellers said.
“It’s obviously logical, but it is unfortunate it has some cost and inconvenience,” Webster said.
Councilmember Damon Fogley, said as a business owner on Goforth Road, his customers have trouble locating his business.
Fogley said business owners would be willing to go through the renaming process in order to make it easier to give directions to customers.
“I think the business owners will support it,” Councilmember Travis Mitchell said. “There’s nothing that a business hates worse than having confusing directions.”
Sellers said staff will bring the item to city council for approval after going through the renaming process.
