Texas State Highway 211
Encyclopedia
State Highway 211 or SH 211 (Hill Country Parkway) is a 11.184 miles (17.999 km) state highway
west of the city of San Antonio
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. This route was designated in 1986 as an access route to the Texas Research Park. Portions of the route were built, but significant landowner opposition kept the connecting section from being completed. The completed sections of the route consist of a southern section from U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) north to Farm to Market Road 1957 (FM 1957) and a northern section from FM 471 north to SH 16. The Texas Transportation Commission has approved a pass-through toll agreement that Bexar County submitted in October 2008. This proposal will allow for development of a segment of SH 211 (Hill Country Parkway) from 1.33 miles south of FM 1957 to FM 471 and improvements to FM 1957 (Potranco Road) from Loop 1604 to the Medina County line. The completion of the section between FM 1957 (Potranco Road) to FM 471 (Culebra Road) will finally allow for seamless travel from Hwy 90 at the south end, north to SH 16 (Bandera Road). The improvements to FM 1957 (Potranco Road) will allow for the necessary widening of the two-lane roadway which is dealing with new suburban growth and traffic for which it wasn't built to handle.
SH 211 was previously designated between 1933 and 1936 on a route from Brenham northward to Independence. This route was transferred in 1942 to Farm to Market Road 50 and State Highway Spur 197.
with US 90 in western Bexar County
. The route travels to the north as a two-lane highway with a northbound passing lane for the majority of the route and is known as either the Texas Research Parkway or the Hill Country Parkway (once its finally completed), providing access to the Texas Research Park and a Citi
service center. This 3.7 miles (6 km) section of the highway ends at FM 1957 just east of the Bexar/Medina county line.
The northern section (Hill Country Parkway) begins at FM 471 in Medina County and heads north as a two-lane highway, crossing back over into Bexar County and passes briefly through the San Antonio city limits before ending at SH 16. The northern section of the highway features the occasional passing lane in both directions. This 7.4 miles (11.9 km) section of the roadway includes a design to provide protection to the Edwards Aquifer
, the drinking water supply of San Antonio. To prevent runoff from the highway entering the aquifer, a 555 feet (169.2 m) long bridge was sealed to prevent it from leaking and an aqueduct
was constructed nearby to carry the runoff.
There are plans to connect the two segments, but there are insufficient funds available to complete the nearly 8 miles (12.9 km) project and right-of-way needs to be acquired. TxDOT only has $7.7 million of the $30 million required for construction costs. Bexar County will pay for the balance of the project costs with TxDOT reimbursing the county when funds become available. Relocation assistance is being provided to landowners to persuade them to sell their property for the highway. With a shortage of funds and the right-of-way not purchased, there is no time table for construction. Local opposition to the extension cite greater highway needs elsewhere, environmental concerns in the corridor, and a reluctance to sell land needed for the highway as chief concerns of the highway. Once completed, the highway is believed to provide relief to nearby Loop 1604.
The traffic volume of the highway is dramatically different between the southern and northern sections. The southern section sees traffic volumes six times of that of the northern section. The traffic volume of the southern section saw a slight increase from 2005 to 2006. In 2005, it had a traffic volume of 6,450 annual average daily traffic
(AADT), which increased to 6,700 AADT in 2006. The traffic volume of the northern section saw a slight increase from 2005 to 2006 as well. In 2005, it had a traffic volume of 1,000 AADT near the southern end of the road and 1,300 AADT near the northern end. In 2006, these numbers had increased to 1,050 and 1,550 AADT respectively.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
west of the city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. This route was designated in 1986 as an access route to the Texas Research Park. Portions of the route were built, but significant landowner opposition kept the connecting section from being completed. The completed sections of the route consist of a southern section from U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) north to Farm to Market Road 1957 (FM 1957) and a northern section from FM 471 north to SH 16. The Texas Transportation Commission has approved a pass-through toll agreement that Bexar County submitted in October 2008. This proposal will allow for development of a segment of SH 211 (Hill Country Parkway) from 1.33 miles south of FM 1957 to FM 471 and improvements to FM 1957 (Potranco Road) from Loop 1604 to the Medina County line. The completion of the section between FM 1957 (Potranco Road) to FM 471 (Culebra Road) will finally allow for seamless travel from Hwy 90 at the south end, north to SH 16 (Bandera Road). The improvements to FM 1957 (Potranco Road) will allow for the necessary widening of the two-lane roadway which is dealing with new suburban growth and traffic for which it wasn't built to handle.
History
The current alignment was designated in March 1986 from US 90 northward to SH 16. In November 1988, the designation was extended northeastward from SH 16 to FM 3351. Construction of the current segments of the highway were completed in the early 1990s. The southern portion was the first to be completed with the interchange at US 90 and the bridge over Lucas Creek completed in 1990. The northern portion was completed the following year in 1991 with the completion of the bridges over San Geronimo Creek.SH 211 was previously designated between 1933 and 1936 on a route from Brenham northward to Independence. This route was transferred in 1942 to Farm to Market Road 50 and State Highway Spur 197.
Route description
SH 211 currently exists in two separate sections west of San Antonio. The southern section begins at a diamond interchangeDiamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with US 90 in western Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
. The route travels to the north as a two-lane highway with a northbound passing lane for the majority of the route and is known as either the Texas Research Parkway or the Hill Country Parkway (once its finally completed), providing access to the Texas Research Park and a Citi
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
service center. This 3.7 miles (6 km) section of the highway ends at FM 1957 just east of the Bexar/Medina county line.
The northern section (Hill Country Parkway) begins at FM 471 in Medina County and heads north as a two-lane highway, crossing back over into Bexar County and passes briefly through the San Antonio city limits before ending at SH 16. The northern section of the highway features the occasional passing lane in both directions. This 7.4 miles (11.9 km) section of the roadway includes a design to provide protection to the Edwards Aquifer
Edwards Aquifer
The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Located on the eastern edge of Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas, it discharges about of water a year and directly serves about two million people...
, the drinking water supply of San Antonio. To prevent runoff from the highway entering the aquifer, a 555 feet (169.2 m) long bridge was sealed to prevent it from leaking and an aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
was constructed nearby to carry the runoff.
There are plans to connect the two segments, but there are insufficient funds available to complete the nearly 8 miles (12.9 km) project and right-of-way needs to be acquired. TxDOT only has $7.7 million of the $30 million required for construction costs. Bexar County will pay for the balance of the project costs with TxDOT reimbursing the county when funds become available. Relocation assistance is being provided to landowners to persuade them to sell their property for the highway. With a shortage of funds and the right-of-way not purchased, there is no time table for construction. Local opposition to the extension cite greater highway needs elsewhere, environmental concerns in the corridor, and a reluctance to sell land needed for the highway as chief concerns of the highway. Once completed, the highway is believed to provide relief to nearby Loop 1604.
The traffic volume of the highway is dramatically different between the southern and northern sections. The southern section sees traffic volumes six times of that of the northern section. The traffic volume of the southern section saw a slight increase from 2005 to 2006. In 2005, it had a traffic volume of 6,450 annual average daily traffic
Annual average daily traffic
Average Annual daily traffic, abbreviated AADT, is a measure used primarily in transportation planning and transportation engineering. It is the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided by 365 days. AADT is a useful and simple measurement of how busy the road is...
(AADT), which increased to 6,700 AADT in 2006. The traffic volume of the northern section saw a slight increase from 2005 to 2006 as well. In 2005, it had a traffic volume of 1,000 AADT near the southern end of the road and 1,300 AADT near the northern end. In 2006, these numbers had increased to 1,050 and 1,550 AADT respectively.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexar Bexar County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile... |
0.0 | |||
| 3.7 | Discontinuous between FM 1957 and FM 471 | |||
| Medina | 3.7 | |||
| Bexar Bexar County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile... |
11.1 |