by Nolan Kuehn
Remember those tranquil days of our youth, riding our bicycles, no gears, probably no helmet, maybe through our neighborhood (and beyond), or, maybe a paper route? We’ve formed a new bicycle trail committee in the Texas Hill Country local area that has far more targeted goals and practical function.
To go back to the beginning: Ben Eldredge, Pam Hodges and I (Nolan Kuehn), were on the spin-off sub-group of the Kendall County/Boerne/Fair Oaks Ranch Transportation Committee. Our single charge of this group was to develop a county-wide bicycle plan; in this case, Kendall County.
We started our work in January of last year, and completed it last fall. The overall transportation plan now rests in the hands of the County Judge and the two Mayors. Piqued by our efforts and that of others, we recognized continued needs for development of bicycle trails in area, some of which were noted in our report. Our hope was that these noted trails will eventually become part of an overall bicycle trail network in the Hill Country of Texas – and become the envy of the nation. Look what San Antonio has done with the Linear Greenway Trail System, named after former SA Mayor Howard Peak. Over 100 miles of paved trails in the city- and widely touted for its progressive approach to transportation and recreational needs!
Specifically, my interest was for a paved multi-purpose trail coming from the 118-acre Lemon Creek Ranch development into Fair Oaks Ranch, on the Bexar County side of Balcones Creek. With the opening of the new HEB in the 1st quarter of 2024, I felt it incumbent that a safe passage to HEB be developed. Our auto traffic patterns will be changing drastically in Fair Oaks Ranch – not for the good.
We were also interested in a trail that would go from this same development to the proposed new Alamo Colleges campus on the west side of I-10. This focus on education grew, as we learned of the new Boerne ISD elementary school (the 8th in the district) under construction in the Corley Farms subdivision on Scenic Loop. We then decided to focus on the trail to the Alamo Colleges campus as a first step, because we felt it was more salable than the next phase, which would bring a trail into Fair Oaks Ranch. I might add that a small offshoot trail would take us into Kendall County and the new school being built at the Corley Farms subdivision. We’ll stick with the Alamo College terminus and Bexar County for now.
Link to drone videos of the area.
This education emphasis, however, caused me to react to the word “education”. (Hint: My wife was an educator). We are now saying this trail shall be hereby known as the Texas Education Trail. It’s our working moniker until someone comes along willing to drop a few million to have a trail named after them. It is succinct, it speaks to education, it speaks to safety, and mom and pop will take note. A Boerne BISD Board representative loves the name!
Now, let’s get to the make-up of our committee: We feel that this should be a Bexar County project, so there is Bexar County representation. The Lemon Creek developer is a Fair Oaks Ranch resident; he will be on the committee. Several other Fair Oaks citizens will serve, as well. Alamo Colleges will have a Vice Chancellor as their representative. HEB will have a Public Affairs employee to act in its behalf on the committee. I’ve also asked an individual well-respected and well-connected in the bicycling community to be a contributor to our efforts.
Ben Eldredge from Boerne will chair this committee as he did for the aforementioned spin-off sub-group. I’ve offered my assistance for chairing when he’s not available, as he has a lot on his plate, and because I have done a lot of the preliminary organization.
Pam Hodges, also from the Boerne area is an expert on water: water districts, rights, conservation, etc. I remember her first words on our previous team: Put bicycle trails on the estuaries, the waterways; they’re in a flood plain. Good words to follow.
Lastly, I’m excited about the committee that we have put together. We come from diverse backgrounds, we may have different interests, but we’ll have a common transportation goal of getting to an educational facility in a safe fashion and a safe mode.
Our first meeting, and it’ll be what I call a “getting to know you” organizational, goal-setting session, will be on October 5, 2023, 1:30 PM in the Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall complex off Dietz-Elkhorn and Chartwell St.
I’ll make public the results of this first meeting.
I’ve included my contact info should anyone wish to contact me for any reason.
Nolan Kuehn
