46
safety plans at Bandera meet
Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation presented proposed safety improvements for Texas 46 during the May 14 meeting of the Bandera County Commissioners Court following ongoing concerns over fatal crashes along the roadway.
County officials previously declared portions of 46 inadequate because of repeated serious and fatal accidents, many involving head-on collisions.
The corridor under discussion stretches roughly 11 miles between Highway 16 in Bandera County and Interstate 10 near Boerne in Kendall County.
According to information presented during the meeting, TxDOT is pursuing both short-term and long-term safety projects aimed at reducing crashes and improving traffic flow along the heavily traveled route.
Officials said near-term improvements are planned at several intersections and along at least one curve identified as highrisk locations.
Proposed upgrades include widened roadways, additional turn lanes, pavement markings, rumble strips, friction treatments, warning signs and visibility improvements.
TxDOT representatives told commissioners that approximately $2 million has already been invested in immediate safety measures along the corridor.
Officials also said the agency has secured about $7 million through the Highway Safety Improvement Program for additional intersection projects in Bandera and Kendall counties.
According to TxDOT data presented at the meeting, 244 crashes were reported along the section of Texas 46 between 2021 and 2025, including six fatal crashes.
Transportation officials said common contributing factors identified in crash investigations included unsafe speed, failure to control speed and driver inattention.
County officials raised concerns about the pace of the planned improvements and the overall safety of the roadway, citing increased traffic volumes, narrow shoulders, sharp curves and limited visibility in some areas.
Officials also discussed the need for broader longterm planning rather than isolated improvements at specific locations.
TxDOT said a feasibility study is underway to evaluate larger-scale future improvements to 46.
Options under review include widening portions of the highway into a fourlane divided roadway, adding wider shoulders and medians, creating additional passing areas and realigning curves.
Transportation officials said those larger projects would require additional funding and possible rightof- way acquisition before construction could begin.
TxDOT officials said they exepct to present similar roadway improvement plans to Kendall County commissioners later this month.
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