Plans Emerge to Rebuild College Hills Boulevard Sooner Using Federal Funds

SAN ANGELO, TX — Tom Green County Commissioners Tuesday approved a letter of support for the City of San Angelo’s application for Federal Department Of Transportation grant funding to rebuild College Hills Blvd. and alleviate flooding issues along the busy thoroughfare.

The street has been plagued with frequent water main breaks underneath and pot holes. In January 2018, a mother, daughter and their dog had to be rescued when their Nissan was engulfed by a sink hole that developed at College Hills and Oxford.

The county action today is part of the effort by the City of San Angelo and the county to accelerate rebuilding the street.

The city council last week approved applying for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD transportation discretionary grant program funds.  According to the report to the city council, the BUILD grant funding can be used for drainage improvements, flooding impacts, recreational benefits, tourism benefits, effects on schools in the area and inter-connectivity.

The city can apply for up to $25 million.  College Hills Blvd. is in bad shape from Ave. N to Loop 306 and is scheduled to be rebuilt after construction on Bell St. is completed in about two years.  The BUILD grant would allow the city to begin rebuilding College Hills before Bell St. is finished.

Rebuilding College Hills is the next project in line in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan.  The pavement is damaged the entire way in all four lanes from Ave. N to Loop 306 due to flood damage and years of inadequate maintenance.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Congress has dedicated $7.1 billion for ten rounds of competitive grant applications that have a significant local or regional impact. “The BUILD program enables DOT to use a rigorous merit-based process to select projects with exceptional benefits, explore ways to deliver projects faster and save on construction costs, and make needed investments in our Nation’s infrastructure.”

The BUILD grant application is due in the middle of July.  According to the report to the city council, the grant may not require matching funds and will compete with other projects for funding.

If the city fails to secure the BUILD grant funding, rebuilding College Hills will still go forward using existing bond funds and enterprise funds.