Eagle Pass adopts Safe Streets plan, council backs $10.5M project list and SS4A grant application

EAGLE PASS, Texas — The Eagle Pass City Council unanimously adopted a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan on May 19 and approved a resolution to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) implementation grant.

The TJKM consultant presenting the plan said the city’s collision analysis for 2021–2025 showed 987 total injury collisions, 61 resulting in killed or severe injury, and that 75% of collisions occurred at intersections. “Based on the collision analysis…there were 987 total injury collisions that were recorded,” the consultant said, summarizing the study’s rationale for prioritizing intersection treatments and pedestrian protections.

The plan identifies priority corridors including Veterans Boulevard, Main Street (US‑57), US‑277, Bib Avenue/Farm‑to‑Market Road 375 and Del Rio, and recommends a mix of short‑, mid‑ and long‑term projects: sidewalk and ADA upgrades, enhanced lighting, marked pedestrian crossings and RRFB installations, signal timing optimizations and multimodal connectivity near schools. Staff described short‑term projects as low‑cost items that can be completed within two years, with mid‑term work in the $2–3 million range and long‑term packages requiring significant funding.

City staff said they plan to apply first for an SS4A implementation grant to fund a Safe Routes to School component. The package under consideration had a planning‑level construction cost of about $10.5 million; staff cautioned the council that a 20% local match would be required (approximately $2 million), and outlined potential match strategies including in‑kind staff time and phased incorporation into the city’s capital improvements program.

Council members pressed staff on the match and implementation risk but expressed support. One council member noted the return on investment potential: “If we get $10 million plus worth of projects and we’re only contributing potentially two, ... that’s pretty significant,” the member said during discussion.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the plan and to authorize staff to pursue SS4A implementation funding, directing administration to pursue grant‑ready projects and return with follow‑up on match details.

What’s next: staff will prepare the SS4A implementation grant application, pursue partner contributions and in‑kind match options, and return to council with more detailed match and funding plans if the city proceeds to the implementation phase.