While Buda officials don’t have set finish dates for street, park and drainage improvement projects under its 2014 bond, the city’s public safety and municipal facility buildings are nearing completion.
John Nett and other city officials gave an update Dec. 5 on the status of its $55 million dollar bond approved by voters in November 2014.
The city’s $21 million municipal facility, which includes a new library and city hall, is set to be ready for move-in April 2018 once the interiors are completed, said David Marino, Buda public information officer.
The library will grow from its current space of 5,200 square foot to 25,000 square feet, allowing for an increase in programming for patrons, he said.
Buda’s Public Safety building, which houses its police department, has been completed and was moved into earlier this month, Marino said.
Street improvements, which are part of Proposition 4 of the bond, include upgrades to several intersections, including Old Goforth Road and areas along Main Street. Other aspects include improving pedestrian and bike paths to increase safety.
The city’s $21 million municipal facility, which includes a new library and city hall, is set to be ready for move-in April 2018 once the interiors are completed, said David Marino, Buda public information officer.
On Old Goforth Road, some of the ongoing projects are creating dedicated left and right turn lanes at Tom Green Elementary School.
However, one of the delays to roadway alignment was caused by Hurricane Harvey and Irma. Alan Crozier, a representative with HDR Engineering, said the storms delayed Pedernales Electric Cooperative from relocating lines in order to complete the work.
At the Main Street and RM 967 intersection, plans to install a huge city medallion on the road has been scrapped due to concern for the long term appearance and maintenance cost associated with.
The possibility to add a right turn lane from RM 967 to Main Street is being explored. Officials are looking at what modifications to the intersection would need to be made, depending on the type of truck allowed to use the turn.
Crozier said the Texas Department of Transportation “blocked access to the right hand turning lane . . due to incidents with large trucks.”
Another improvement to the Main St. and RM 967 intersection may include moving utilities underground.
Moving the utilities underground will improve the aesthetics in the area, and will protect those utilities from above ground weather conditions, Nett said.
Cozier said they have not received proposals associated with moving utilities underground but estimate costs that range from $500,000 to close to $1 million.
City council members said they would like to hear from businesses on Main Street regarding the value they put in aesthetics.
Buda’s drainage improvements, part of Proposition 3, extend to flood control in the Oxbow subdivision, Houston and Bluff streets and the Lifschultz Headwaters area.
The goals are to reduce flooding of habitable structures and reduce roadway overtopping, said Cris Parker, HDR senior project manager.
The improvements take into account 500 year floods, a change from original 100 year flood consideration. Within a three year time period, the area saw extensive flooding in 2013 and 2015, Parker said.
Some of the proposed solutions are increasing the size of drainage ditches, making culvert improvements, and, in one area, increasing a flood diversion channel to Onion Creek.
