As many of you may have read or heard, I have chosen not to seek election to remain the Councilman for District 9. It was a tough decision but ultimately one that I feel is best for my family and the employees of my business. I am truly honored to have had this opportunity to serve you and am deeply grateful for all the encouragement I received from many of you these last 12 months.
Over the past year I have listened to your needs and formulated an ambitious agenda to improve the infrastructure and quality of life for the residents of District 9. With my remaining time in office I am committed to moving forward aggressively with these priorities. I hope that many can be completed before the end of my term but for those that will carry forward, my focus will be on allowing an easy transition for whoever will inherit this office.
Within the next month we will have information available on my website that details all these projects and their status. Each item will be complete with timelines and estimates for design and construction. In many cases we will be looking to you to help us make sure these projects are done correctly and promptly. After all, these projects are your projects; culled directly from a list of needs provided to us by the residents of District 9.
I will also be working with the candidates for this office to make sure they are fully briefed on the progress of these initiatives. Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to meet personally with Elisa Chan and Weston Martinez. Both have expressed that they are excited about these projects and are ready to get to work for District 9. Should any other candidates enter the race I will work with them as well.
Thank you again for the wonderful experience of serving as your Councilman. As part of that obligation to you I will work tirelessly on these projects that you have identified for me. Please continue communicating with my office and letting me know how I can help you.
District 9 News
North
I am pleased to announce several new quality of life improvements that will be realized very soon. Among the improvements, the new District 9 library However, I am glad to announce that we also have several other enhancements to mitigate traffic congestion in Stone Oak and surrounding areas.
These include:
• Several intersection improvements along the Stone Oak Parkway corridor
• Improvements to Evans and Encino Commons intersection
• Median modifications along Stone Oak Parkway
• Increased capacity on Bulverde Road (currently under design)
• Possible implementation of US 281 "superstreet"
• Increased capacity on Redland Road and completion of Stone Oak Parkway east of US 281
• Funding acquisition for completion of Hardy Oak Blvd. through Metropolitan Planning Organization
Central
While we begin to realize the long-awaited Voelcker Park, which is slated for a partial opening in April, several other exciting initiatives are taking place in and around the central portion of our district. I am happy to announce several improvements that will help keep traffic gridlock to a minimum, including:
• Intersection improvements at Bitters and Huebner
• Construction of right turn lane at West Ave and Parliament
• Upgrades to school zone pavement markings near Bradley, Eisenhower and Larkspur schools
I have also allocated funding for the following project:
• Voelcker Park improvements to include the construction of a playground
Additionally, I continue to work with SAPD and other City departments on the following initiatives to improve living conditions near Larkspur Elementary
• Examining possible infrastructure improvements and additional lighting in the area
• Working with City departments and community organizations on neighborhood organizing, resident driven community initiatives and non-profit assistance
South
If you have ever visited the Quarry Market during the holiday season or during the morning and evening rush hour, you know the traffic nightmare that plagues the Jones-Maltsberger and 281 intersection. Although this project has been scheduled for widening for several years, I am happy to announce that the City and Union Pacific Railroad have reached an agreement on a final project timeline!
In addition to the Jones-Maltsberger project, the following improvements are also forthcoming for residents south of 410:
• Multiple improvements along Hildebrand Ave to improve traffic flow and intersection improvements at Broadway and Hildebrand
• Funding assistance for Master Plan implementation at Witte Museum and Botanical Gardens
• Compiling cost estimates for sidewalk improvements throughout Mahncke Park
• Intersection improvements at New Braunfels and Nacogdoches (currently under design)
• Drainage improvements on Broadway near Carnahan Ave.
• Cost estimating drainage improvements on Janda Susan
While I am unable to address every area that needs attention, primarily due to a lack of funding, I continue to encourage you to contact my office with any concerns you may have. The above list was developed primarily as a result of your input, so keep it coming! I believe we have made great strides in the projects that will be completed through these funding allocations.
As always, it is an honor and a pleasure to serve you on City Council. Please let me know how I can help you in any way.
Sincerely,
Louis E. Rowe
San Antonio City Council
District 9