Multiuse path through Buda to pave way for more pedestrian-friendly access

Officials are ramping up plans to construct a multiuse path along FM 2001 that will run through Buda from Tom Green Elementary School to areas west of I-35.

The 10-foot-wide paved path, which was discussed during the Jan. 5 Buda City Council meeting, will be about 0.5 miles and run along FM 2001 from White Wing Trail to Old Goforth Road, according to city information.

Council authorized the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with construction engineering firm Lockwood Andrews and Newman for design of the path, and LAN representative Steve Widacki was on hand during the Jan. 5 council meeting to answer questions about the planned path.

Council’s approval Jan. 5 sets in motion a number of steps in the process, including preparation of environmental documents and setting up an initial meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation to finalize advance funding for the project.

The project is a cost-sharing project with an estimated price tag of $500,000 that has been allocated through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, City Engineer John Nett said, and added that cost comes with a city obligation to pay $100,000.

Additionally, the cost of LAN’s services agreement will total roughly $170,000 and includes line items for project management and implementation, design and subconsultant services.

Widacki said the path will provide pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safe access to commercial areas of Buda for the city’s more underserved populations.

“Bike and ped[estrian uses] are becoming pretty popular, and ... it’s a good opportunity to provide something like that for these multifamily residential areas,” Widacki said.

The project will request coordination with TxDOT to finalize and advance a funding agreement, and the city still needs to obtain easements and rights of way to create the path, Widacki said.

He added the project design should be complete by Sept. 30, with the entirety of construction not to exceed 32 months.