Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Transportation Alternatives (TA) Project Application

1. CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phil Laney, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion and possible action on a Resolution requesting sponsorship by the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the City’s application to TxDOT’s 2023
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Call for Projects and supporting TxDOT’s
application submission on behalf of the City
DATE: May 22, 2023
SUMMARY
Discussion and possible action on a Resolution requesting sponsorship by the Texas Department of
Transportation for the City’s application to TxDOT’s 2023 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA)
Call for Projects and supporting TxDOT’s application submission on behalf of the City. If awarded, the
TA funding would assist in supporting a road and stormwater improvement project on Lower Broadway
between Austin Highway and Burr Road.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
TxDOT’s 2023 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Project Call will make available $250
million in TA funds associated with FY 2022 through 2025 for all population areas in Texas. The TA
program provides funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and planning. The TA program is not
a grant program, but a federal reimbursement program for eligible activities. There are four project
categories available within the TA project call include community-based projects, large-scale active
transportation infrastructure, active transportation network enhancements, and active transportation non-
infrastructure. The TA Project Call opened on December 2, 2022. Preliminary applications were due to
TxDOT by January 27, 2023. TxDOT notifies project sponsors of eligibility and provides Detailed
Application by March 27, 2023. The Detailed Application deadline is June 5th
, and after a period of
review by TxDOT, the funding award is anticipated in October 2023.
In consultation with TxDOT, the City has been advised of the TA Project eligibility for the Lower
Broadway road and stormwater improvement project, referred to as the State Loop 368 Project by
TxDOT. The Lower Broadway project, which includes improvements on Broadway between Austin
Highway and Burr Road, is categorized under the TA program as a large scale active transportation
infrastructure, making the project eligible for up to $5 million to $25 million per project. The SL 368
Project includes surface improvements to the roadway and upgrades shared use paths, traffic signals,
underground storm water system, City-owned water and sewer lines, landscaping, LID features and the
potential burial of overhead utilities. In addition, on April 11th
, 2022, the Alamo Heights City Council
adopted Resolution No. 2022R – 149 to work jointly with TxDOT on the project and agreed the project
would result in no reduction in the current number of driving lanes that exist today, which is currently 6
lanes with center turn lanes in some areas. In order to help fund these efforts, the City has financial
commitments from multiple partners, including from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO), Bexar County, TxDOT, and San Antonio River Authority (SARA). In addition,

2. Alamo Heights voters in the November 2020 election approved the City to issue $13.25 million in
General Obligation bonds to address stormwater drainage improvements.
State Loop (SL) 368 is developed, owned and maintained by TxDOT, and they are overseeing all details
regarding cost estimates, design, engineering, environmental and project management for the State Loop
368 Project. Since August 2022, staff have met regularly with TxDOT and TxDOT’s contracted
engineering and design team to develop the project design and plans. There are many phases, and likely
several years, remaining until the project is ready for construction, including the future adoption of the
Advance Funding Agreement, a negotiated contract between TxDOT and the City on funding
arrangements for the project.
City staff has formally requested TxDOT to serve as a designated sponsor for the City’s application to
TxDOT’s 2023 TA Project Call for the State Loop 368 Project. The Resolution under consideration
affirms the sponsorship request from City Council. In addition, the TA Project Call requires adoption of
a Resolution of Support from the governing body supporting the project’s application for funding. In the
event Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Project Call funding is awarded, the Resolution affirms the
City and dedicated project sponsor TxDOT will support the development, implementation, and
completion of the proposed State Loop 368 Project.
POLICY ANALYSIS
The Resolution supporting the City and TxDOT’s application for TxDOT’s 2023 TA Project Call for the
State Loop 368 Project is consistent with the City’s intent to explore financial alternatives to support the
project’s success. The TA program funding, if awarded, would contribute greatly to addressing needed
flooding issues and provide multi-modal enhancements that will be a huge benefit to the City and the
community.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Resolution authorizes support for the City and TxDOT’s application to TxDOT’s 2023
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Call for Projects for the State Loop 368 Project for an award
amount of $5,000,000.00 to $25,000,000.00. The TA program is a federal reimbursement program; if
awarded, all eligible expenses would be first incurred by the City and dedicated sponsor TxDOT, then
reimbursed by the TA program. In the event the City is awarded TA Program funds, an agreement would
be developed with the City’s financial services providers to obtain initial funding to be reimbursed.
COORDINATION
Staff coordinated with TxDOT’s San Antonio District Office, City Attorney and City Manager.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Resolution
_______________________
Phil Laney
Assistant City Manager
______________________
Buddy Kuhn
City Manager

3. Attachment A
RESOLUTION NO. 2023R - 165
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS, TEXAS
REQUESTING SPONSORSHIP BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (TXDOT) FOR THE CITY’S APPLICATION TO
TXDOT’S 2023 TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET-ASIDE
(TA) CALL FOR PROJECTS; AND SUPPORTING TXDOT’S
APPLICATION SUBMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY; AND
SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation (“TxDOT”) issued a call for projects
in December 2022 for communities to apply for funding assistance through the Transportation
Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Program; and
WHEREAS, the TA funds may be used for development of preliminary engineering (to
include plans, specifications, and estimates and environmental documentation) and construction
of pedestrian and/or bicycle infrastructure, and the TA funds require a local match, comprised of
cash or Transportation Development Credits (TDC’s), which the City of Alamo Heights is eligible
(herein referred to as “City”); and
WHEREAS, on April 11th
, 2022, the City Council of the City adopted Resolution No.
2022R – 149 to work jointly with TxDOT to identify and complete improvements on Broadway
between Austin Highway and Burr Road, a portion of State Loop 368 within the City of Alamo
Heights (“State Loop 368 Project”); and
WHEREAS, per the resolution, the project would result in no reduction in the current
number of driving lanes that exist today, and include surface improvements to the roadway and
upgrade shared use paths, traffic signals, underground storm water system, City-owned water and
sewer lines, landscaping, LID features and the potential burial of overhead utilities; and
WHEREAS, the City has financial commitments from the Alamo Area Metropolitan
Planning Organization (AAMPO), Bexar County, TxDOT, and from the San Antonio River
Authority. In addition, in the November 2020 election, City voters approved the issuance of
General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $13.25 million to address storm water drainage
improvements; and
WHEREAS, TxDOT is overseeing all details regarding cost estimates, design,
engineering, environmental and project management for the State Loop 368 Project; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ALAMO HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL:
SECTION 1. The City supports working with TxDOT to improve lower Broadway and
address flooding issues that will be a huge benefit to the City and the public.
SECTION 2. The City of Alamo Heights formally requests sponsorship by the Texas
Department of Transportation for the City’s application to TxDOT’s 2023 Transportation
Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Call for Projects for the State Loop 368 Project.

4. 2
SECTION 3. The City of Alamo Heights, in conjunction with dedicated Project Sponsor
TxDOT, supports funding this project for the purposes and amounts described in the 2023 TA
Detailed Application and is willing to commit to the project’s development, implementation,
construction, maintenance, management, and financing, if so agreed upon and incorporated into
formal written agreement between the City and TxDOT in the Advance Funding Agreement,
which will be approved at a future date.
SECTION 4. The City of Alamo Heights, in conjunction with dedicated Project Sponsor
TxDOT, is willing and able to enter into an agreement with the department by resolution or
ordinance, should the project be selected for funding.
SECTION 5. This Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 22nd day of May, 2023
BOBBY ROSENTHAL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ELSA T. ROBLES, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
FRANK J. GARZA, CITY ATTORNEY