Construction on a new ramp connecting Frio City Road and General Hudnell Drive could begin in December now that an interlocal agreement between the city and Port Authority of San Antonio has been approved, according to Joe Saenz, director of engineering for the Port Authority.
The access ramp will connect from Quintana Road to eastbound General Hudnell Road, allowing greater access for truck traffic between Port San Antonio and the East Kelly Railport, which is being constructed by Titan Industries.
Saenz said without the ramp, schools, churches, businesses and residents on Cupples Road would have to deal with even more traffic congestion.
March 2008 is the estimated completion date, he said.
"The East Kelly Railport will be able to operate rail services without trucks carrying freight going through community streets," Saenz said.
The East Kelly Railport is a $35 million redevelopment project that the authority is hoping will turn the city into an international transportation distribution center.
The total cost of the ramp project is estimated at nearly $2.5 million. The authority will build the ramp and oversee bids, but the city will do the inspection and review the plans, according to City Council documents.
The agreement allows for a transfer of $1.9 million in capital improvement funds from District 4, Councilman Richard Perez said. The authority will pay the remaining $600,000 and reimburse the city a maximum of 7 percent of the construction costs for the work the city will do, including construction management assistance and the inspection, also according to City Council documents.
The ramp construction also will include work to address drainage problems at Quintana Road.
"I think the effect will be positive," Perez said. "It will cut down on truck traffic through the area."
Genaro Rendon with the Southwest Workers' Union, a grass-roots organization in the area, said the increase in traffic as a result of the railport will negatively affect the community regardless of the new ramp. He also said the community wants more input on such projects.
"I'm glad the city is investing money, but I question how," Rendon said "I think this is again the same situation we've been dealing with — resources are going into the Port Authority but our community is without sidewalks and has horrible drainage problems."
Perez said he understands the concerns of residents but added that the city has to weigh economic development with infrastructure improvements.
"We need to be able to provide job opportunities for our citizens so they can improve their quality of life," the councilman said.
"This coming budget there is an additional $10 million for streets and additional $3 million for sidewalks. I think we are hitting Genaro's priorities in the best way we can."
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