Waterway Lane Trail Agreement Wins Council Approval

The agreement estimates a $59,800 payment from New Braunfels to TxDOT for direct state costs, due within 30 days after the contract is executed. Park District 1 funds can cover the city’s design and direct-state-cost share, according to the staff report.

Why Waterway Lane changed course

In 2021, New Braunfels studied a road connection on Waterway Lane; after residents opposed the roadway, the city shifted to a shared-use path and backed a grant application in January 2025.

That history matters because the approved agreement advances a different use of the city-owned transportation right-of-way: a walking and bicycling connection instead of the earlier roadway concept. Comal.News previously examined the proposed cost split and overrun exposure before the vote.

What happens next

Construction is expected to begin in May 2028, after design and the city chooses funding for its construction share.

Council approval authorizes the city manager to execute the agreement; it does not start construction. The next useful records are the executed agreement, design updates and the city’s construction-funding decision.

Readers can inspect the project budget and local obligations in the full TxDOT agreement and verify the council action in the official meeting recording.