County earmarks $1 mill toward Herff-Esser fix

Boerne motorists are well aware of — and avoid, whenever possible — the problematic Herff Road-Esser Road intersection, deemed the most congested intersection in the county.

The city of Boerne knows it, the Texas Department of Transportation knows it and the Kendall County Commissioners Court knows it.

Commissioners on Monday voted to adopt a resolution supporting a proposed TxDOT Highway 46 improvement project with $1 million in its 2024-25 budget earmarked for funding for the intersection improvement project.

“Kendall County encourages all appropriate measures to be taken to expedite the planning, funding and construction of this project,” County Judge Shane Stolarczyk read from the approved proclamation, “to ensure its timely completion and maximum benefit to the residents, businesses and travelers in Kendall County and Boerne.”

In the 2022 transportation report, “Community at a Crossroads: A Citizens’ Plan For Transportation in Kendall County,” the Herff-Esser intersection received an “F” label of service from professional traffic experts.

Commissioners set aside the $1 million in its upcoming budget as a means to move the project along as quickly as possible.

The resolution approved by the commissioners recognizes TxDOT’s commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure, specifically targeting Highway 46 improvements to address traffic flow, mobility and safety.

The city of Boerne has updated the counts at the intersection and TxDOT will soon do a traffic count for their records.

Chris Shadrock, Boerne communications director, said the city continues to apply for federal grants to help fund improvements.

“We continue to work collaboratively with TxDOT to ensure any future plans align with theirs, as River Road in that area is formally State Highway 46, a state-maintained roadway,” Shadrock said.

Several plans were addressed in the Crossroads project, including utilizing 15 acres adjacent to the heavily congested area purchased by the city. Roundabouts, rerouting traffic and building a bridge to raise the intersection out of the flood plain have all been discussed and proposed in the months since the August 2022 release of Community at a Crossroads.