MPO looks to double its territory

Are they in? Plans by New Braunfels and Seguin to form their own metropolitan planning organization ran into trouble when census data released last year showed that a continuous urbanized area had formed between New Braunfels and San Antonio. That link could force New Braunfels to become part of the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization. less Are they in? Plans by New Braunfels and Seguin to form their own metropolitan planning organization ran into trouble when census data released last year showed that a continuous urbanized area had formed between ... more Photo: Harry Thomas Photo: Harry Thomas Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close MPO looks to double its territory 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization is preparing to expand its jurisdiction to points north and east — even as some expected new members in neighboring counties pursue the creation of their own planning organization.

In anticipation of extending its reach, the local MPO board on Monday endorsed a restructuring to get ready to provide voting seats on the 19-member panel for entities in Comal, Kendall and Guadalupe counties.

Selecting a new name for the reconstituted organization is among the next tasks, as well as updating its bylaws and asking the state to transfer oversight of existing projects in the new areas.

The MPO undertakes major transportation projects within its boundaries, set by the governor under federal rules and funded largely with federal and state gasoline taxes.

“This is the first time that the MPO expansion has gone much beyond Bexar County's limits,” MPO Executive Director Sid Martinez said Thursday. “We've had small portions of Comal and Guadalupe counties for a while.”

The MPO's size, now 1,250 square miles, would roughly double if it took in all of Guadalupe and Comal counties.

Boerne officials want to join.

“What we see as the advantage is the opportunity to gain access to additional state and federal roadway funding,” Boerne Assistant City Manager Jeff Thompson said of the City Council vote there on Tuesday to seek MPO membership.

It's strictly optional for Boerne, a city of about 12,000, since federal law requires cities to join an MPO, or form one, only when their population passes 50,000. Kendall County commissioners on Monday declined an invitation to join.

It isn't discretionary for New Braunfels, which crossed the 50,000 threshold in 2010 with a population of 57,740. Officials there and in Seguin had long planned, with the backing of their respective counties, to form a new group called the Guada-Coma MPO.

Their proximity, rural character and similar transportation issues make them a natural fit, officials there say. “The downside of being involved in a big MPO is you don't have that much voting strength,” said Guadalupe County Commissioner Kyle Kutscher.

But an analysis of 2010 Census data last year showed population growth along Interstate 35 between New Braunfels and San Antonio had effectively linked the two cities with a “continuous urbanized area,” which makes justifying a separate MPO for New Braunfels an uphill fight.

“Federal rules state that, to the extent possible, only one MPO shall be designated for one urbanized area,” Martinez said. “You can have two, but the governor and the existing MPO have to agree.”

New Braunfels officials are seeking state approval for the new MPO and have asked the Census Bureau to reconsider its finding that Interstate 35 is now one long urbanized area all the way to San Antonio.

“We haven't heard anything back yet,” New Braunfels Mayor Gale Pospisil said Thursday.

Martinez said a recent study of the issue concluded that having a second, adjacent MPO wouldn't cause great financial repercussions with his group but could hinder its future planning efforts on regional transportation issues.

While not officially opposing the Guada-Coma MPO, the San Antonio-Bexar County MPO board has signaled it would rather expand, and several officials from the targeted areas have participated in planning for an expected transition.

“Our desire is to have a separate, regional MPO, but if it is not approved, we wanted to be included in discussions that would affect our funding,” Pospisil said.

The board restructuring proposed Monday would grant one voting seat each to New Braunfels, Comal County, Guadalupe County, Seguin and the Kendall County area.

To maintain the board at 19 members, the plan calls for cutting two seats now held by legislators, one by the Alamo Area Council of Governments, and to reduce by half — to one vote — the number of seats held by VIA Metropolitan Transit and the Texas Department of Transportation.

Although Seguin could continue to rely on state transportation planners rather than join an MPO, Seguin Assistant City Manager Rick Cortes said there are potential advantages to joining the San Antonio group.

“If everyone signs off on the voting changes approved Monday, we would look favorably at making a staff recommendation to council to join the organization,” he said.