State moves to take back Broadway and stop San Antonio's redevelopment project
More than six years after the state officially handed San Antonio over 2.2 miles of Broadway from Burr Road at the border of Alamo Heights south to the Interstate 35 overpass, Texas Department of Transportation officials have stunned city officials by abruptly taking steps to rescind the deal.
The Texas Transportation Commission is set to meet Thursday morning to officially rescind minutes it approved in December 2014 and amended in February 2015 approving the transfer. The posted agenda states that an official Project Acceptance letter was never issued and thus the state retains ownership of the 2.2 miles of street and can rescind approval of the agreement.
“The commission is to consider a determination that [the tract] continues to be needed for state highway purposes,” the agenda states.
City officials say TxDOT staff has been unable to explain the reversal or what purpose the street would serve for the state going forward. Over the last decade, TxDOT has moved to transfer to local municipalities urban streets that once formed highway links between Texas cities. Broadway was once part of Texas 368 connecting to Austin Highway north to the capital.
“They’ve been our partner for six years, and now, suddenly they are taking a 180 degree turn for no credible reason,” said Razi Hosseini, the city’s director of public works.
Read more: https://sanantonioreport.org/broadway-txdot-move/
Blame Gov. Abbott for the change of heart and the money wasted by both city government and private business trying to redevelop the neighborhood.
