Several West Side neighborhood associations are asking local representatives to help them get Texas Department of Transportation to add street trees to medians in the planned public safety project for Bandera Road.
The request comes after TxDOT said it would not add trees to medians at an open house meeting on July 24.
The purpose of the meeting was for area residents and business owners to review the project, ask TxDOT staff questions directly, and leave written comments.
At the meeting, TxDOT said there were no plans for landscaping in the medians, considering impacts to pavement structure, irrigation in Central Texas, and the fact that the medians won’t remove existing greenery.
But since that meeting, West Side neighborhoods are pushing back.
In a joint letter, the Culebra Park, Thunderbird Hills, Ingram Hills, Jefferson, Woodlawn Lake and Inspiration Hills neighborhood associations asked for the support of State Sen. José Menéndez, State Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and Ray Lopez in persuading TxDOT to add street trees on the proposed medians.
“We, the undersigned neighborhood leadership along Spur 421 (Bandera Road) between Evers Road and Cincinnati Avenue, seek your support in amending the current proposed TxDOT plan for 13′ paved medians,” the letter reads.
District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito and District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Precinct 2) were CC’d in the email containing the letter, which was signed by nearby neighborhood association presidents.
“We recommend that the plan be amended so that all such medians along this redeveloped stretch of Bandera Rd be made to accommodate street trees to the greatest extent possible, as determined by a certified arborist, and that budget be allocated to support a 3-year watering schedule to establish these newly planted street trees.”
The letter lists three positive impacts for neighboring communities, including shade for pedestrians, reduced heat island effect in disadvantaged communities impacted by heat; a natural traffic calming for passing motorists, and a pleasant aesthetic.
On Thursday, Gavito’s office sent a letter to Martinez Fischer voicing her support for adding trees to the proposed medians.
“These benefits are essential for our community, which has historically received less investment. … I look forward to working with you to make this vision a reality,” the letter says.
This stretch of Bandera Road is a Spur road, meaning it’s TxDOT jurisdiction. That’s why adding tress might take collaboration with the state agency and the city or the county, said Menéndez.
If TxDOT says it doesn’t have a budget for landscaping, the city or county could provide landscaping and we can work with TxDOT, he said, adding drought resistant trees or a water catchment or cisterns could be available on site.
Menéndez said adding trees make more sense because TxDOT is adding pedestrian safety improvements.
“It would help people who might be walking, might be riding a bicycle, might might be waiting for a bus to have some shade as well, especially with these record heat waves that we’re having,” he said. “We all know that cities are heat islands, and a lot of it’s due to the lack of vegetation.”
He said he expected TxDOT will be responsive.
“TxDOT understands they are an agency that works for us, the people, and we need to do something to make sure this goes forward.”
Gavito on Thursday told the San Antonio Report that incorporating trees into the project will enhance the community’s appearance, reduce stormwater runoff, and offer a natural traffic calming effect.
“We have actively supported these measures and will continue to advocate for them with our state leaders. Investing in and upgrading our neighborhoods inside Loop 410 is essential,” she said.
This stretch of Bandera Road is located in areas with heat and equity scores ranging from four to 10, according to the city’s heat map. Higher scores indicate higher land surface temperatures and social inequalities represented by communities with more people of color and lower income levels.
Ray Lopez said he also supports the neighborhoods’ approach to beautifying community corridors.
He said TxDOT has a process that allows for community input and will consider the requests and weigh it against the funding that is available for the project. If the costs are greater than the amount budgeted, the partner organizations (city, county and state) will have to allocate the additional funding, he added.
He said the city and county will be encouraging TxDOT to honor the community request through a prepared letter.
“I hope that we can do this on this stretch. It’s not a big stretch, and inside this stretch of Bandera is a very populated part of our community, and it deserves to be beautiful,” Menéndez said.
TxDOT hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment on this matter.