” It’s sprawl relief, a costly fix to a traffic problem caused by unplanned growth. The result is that taxpayers across the city are paying the bill for upgrades needed in the aftermath of continuing suburban sprawl.”
The Rivard Report – To understand the funding dilemma that city officials face as they manage an ever-sprawling San Antonio at the expense of investing in the urban core, look no farther than the Hausman Road Project in the 2012-2017 bond. The project, which is nearing completion, is the most expensive street improvement project in city history, costing a total of $75,189,555. Yet many in San Antonio would be hard pressed to identify the road’s exact location.
The single 3.4-mile stretch of roadway between Loop 1604 and I-10 West was budgeted in the 2012-2017 city bond at $43.5 million, including $30 million for street improvements and $13.5 million for flood control and drainage work. Because the project involved major utility relocations, a connection to the Leon Creek Greenway and an extension of the hike and bike path, additional money came from Bexar County, SAWS, CPS Energy, AT&T, and the City’sLinear Creekway Park Trails Program and Proposition Two fund.
Add it all up and the cost is $75.1 million, or $22.1 million a mile… Read more from the Rivard Report