By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
City council approved an application for a grant for the construction of new sidewalks on several
major Del Rio streets.
During their June 10 regular meeting, council members discussed a resolution to authorize the
city manager to submit a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program grant application to the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the construction of sidewalks on Bedell
Avenue, Braddie Drive and Dodson Avenue.
Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. made the motion to approve the resolution, and Mayor Pro-tem Jim
DeReus gave the second.
As mentioned in a memo submitted by Michael Garcia, assistant to the city manager and city
grants writer, the city of Del Rio is requesting $996,461 to construct 7,610 linear feet of five-foot-
wide sidewalks along Bedell Avenue and Braddie Drive, including American with Disabilities Act
(ADA) ramps and crosswalks. Garcia told the council the grant will not require a local match of
funds.
The project will have two segments, with one segment beginning at First Street, going north on
the east side of Bedell Avenue and ending on Dodson Avenue, and the second segment
beginning on U.S. Highway 90 West along Braddie Drive and ending on Dodson Avenue.
The grant application is in response to TxDOT’s statewide call for projects that could be funded
by its Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Program. The TA program provides funding to
plan for and construct a variety of alternative transportation projects that can improve safety and
mobility for citizens on foot. The city of Del Rio will submit its application, which will then go
through the review process, after which TxDOT will make the decision whether or not to fund
the project.
Lopez had questions about the resolution and asked if the construction will affect nearby traffic
based on the design of the sidewalks. Garcia was in attendance at the council meeting to
answer questions, and he said the construction of the sidewalks will not affect the areas
specified in the resolution.
“We discussed with TxDOT staff members and (city staff members) that the sidewalks will be on
the right (east) side of Bedell Avenue. We discussed that it will not affect the properties in the
area because it will be on the city’s right of way, so it should be good,” Garcia said.
Lopez asked Garcia to clarify if there will be space for citizens to move around when
construction is taking place in the area, and Garcia confirmed there will be available space for
walking.
Lopez thanked Garcia for the clarification, and the council voted unanimously to approve the
resolution before moving on to the next agenda topic.
