NOVEMBER 16, 2022 SAN MARCOS ART LEAGUE HOSTS VETERANS ART SHOWCASE
KYLE TEACHER REUSE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING PAGE 6
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HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 128 • No. 36
Serving Hays County, TX
Developers halt railroad underpass project Pedestrian tunnel deemed 'not viable' BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
KYLE — Kyle residents finally have an update to the underground pedestrian tunnel planned months ago: it isn’t going to be built. Kyle Communications Director Rachel Sonnier said that the project proved to “not be viable” after Union Pacific Railroad (UPR) did not approve it to be built under its tracks — a decision made back in August. The tunnel was set to be constructed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company (TBC) and link into Kyle’s Vybe trail project, an 80mile citywide trail network connecting neighborhoods to commercial spaces as a vehicleless transportation option.
The tunnel was discussed in Kyle City Council meetings earlier this year. In a 6-1 vote on May 3, council members approved a $50,000 professional services agreement with TBC to construct the tunnel under the UPR tracks located southwest of Kyle Marketplace and FM 1626. Yvonne Flores-Cale cast the dissenting vote. At the meeting, former city manager Scott Sellers told council that $3 million of funding for the project — including the cost of the professional services agreement — was to come from developer CSW Development, as outlined in the development agreement, and that no taxpayer dollars were anticipated to be expended on the project. CSW is
developing Kyle Crossing Phase II, the area where the tunnel was planned. The city was set to have to pay only if the project exceeded $3 million — a point at which council could decide to add more funds or scrap the project altogether. During initial discussions with the city, UPR had already expressed concerns with the tunnel and how it might affect its tracks. According to Sellers, geotechnical engineering was to be performed as part of the professional services agreement in order to satisfy UPR. Allen Ross, president of engineering services provider Schaumburg & Polk Inc., also told council during a May 17 meeting that the city was to prepare
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Boring Company’s pedestrian tunnel was planned to be constructed underneath the UPR tracks located southwest of Marketplace and FM 1626 in Kyle, connecting to the Vybe trail network. engineering drawings for UPR’s approval before any construction or infrastructure. However, UPR made a decision and plans for the tunnel have been halted. Sonnier said that the project cannot proceed
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED
Kyle hosts 2nd annual Veterans Day Parade
BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
KYLE — Hundreds of Kyle residents attended the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade, honoring local veterans at Mary Hartson Square Park at noon on Saturday. The parade route started at Gregg-Clarke Park and traveled along Center Street, ending at Front Street of the square. Nearly 30 organizations attended including the Kyle Police Department, Kyle VFW
Post 12058, Scouts BSA Troop 812 of Kyle, Citizens on Patrol, Lehman High School Navy JROTC, AMVETS Post 115, City of Kyle Parks and Hays County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Community and the Kyle Fire Department. Parade-goers were also invited to attend the city’s Market Day event once the parade ended when they could listen to live music and shop with local vendors.
PHOTO BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Christopher Calkins, who served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1986, waves.
PHOTO BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Violet Tijerina, 5, and Oakley Tijerina, 1, get ready to watch the Veterans Day parade in Kyle.
that a pedestrian overpass is on the drawing board again. The development agreement outlines that in the event the tunnel is not feasible, the city and CSW will enter into an “alternate improvements” agreement, still part of the $3 million funding.
Kyle road bond moves forward STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Cub Scout Pack 105 march in the Kyle Veterans Parade.
without UPR’s approval and as such, the city is “no longer pursuing it as an option.” Prior to the tunnel, both a bridge and pedestrian overpass were considered before the requests were nixed due to various safety concerns, but Sonnier said
KYLE – City leaders say they will move forward on road improvements after Kyle residents passed a $294.4 million transportation bond package during the Nov. 8 general election. The bond aims to provide critical transportation projects that will decrease congestion and improve overall safety and mobility in the city through a series of eight projects that total 10.3 miles. Proposition A includes the following projects: • Bebee Road, $67.1 million, 2.8 miles: Realign the sharp curves of Bebee Road between I-35 and Sunlight Boulevard and upgrade Bebee between I-35 and Goforth Road to a four-lane minor arterial road east of the Seton
Parkway extension. • Bunton Creek Road, $28.7 million, 2.1 miles: Straighten the curves along Bunton Creek Road between Dacy Lane and Goforth Road. The proposed road is a fourlane minor arterial road and roundabouts will be installed at Lehman and Goforth. • Center Street, $10.2 million, 0.4 miles: Full reconstruction of Center Street from Veterans Drive to Main Street to a threelane minor curbed arterial road and implementation of intersection upgrades at Veterans Drive and Burleson Street, storm drain, sidewalk, illumination and water/ wastewater replacement and overhead electric conversion to underground. • Kohler’s Overpass to
See KYLE, page 3
Family plans Kyle billboard to raise fentanyl awareness Community invited to donate $1,800 by next month BY BRITTANY ANDERSON KYLE — One family is turning its pain into action in hopes of preventing even just one fentanyl-related death. Noah Rodriguez, 15, was one of four children who died over the summer from fentanyl poisoning. Since his death, his mother Janel has been active around Hays County, sharing her son’s story with anyone and everyone who will listen. From local schools and events
to collaborating with law enforcement at fentanyl presentations, her hope is that putting up a billboard in Kyle to raise awareness will be the big, bold message the community needs to understand the reality of the situation and prevent more deaths. Janel’s plan is for the billboard to be located off exit 217 on I-35 by the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Kyle and say, “Fentanyl steals your friends.” It will also feature the photos of the four children from the area who died over the summer,
COMMUNITY JOINS BELOVED RACE DIRECTOR FOR PIE RUN PAGE 2
including Noah. The billboard is lined up to start on Jan. 8 and run until April 7, but such a project comes with a price tag. The total cost of the billboard is $5,400. Janel has set up a Venmo account and CashApp account for donations; they will need $1,800 for the billboard deposit by Dec. 5 and $3,600 by Jan. 7. If you are interested in donating, money can be sent via Venmo @ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FentanylAwareness Billboard and CashApp Noah Rodriguez, left, with his parents and siblings. $FentanylAwareness. The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc.
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