If you’ve ever driven down Blanco Street during school drop-off or pick-up, you’ve likely seen the same thing many of our neighbors have — kids and families carefully making their way along the roadway edge with no real separation from traffic. It’s a sight that has worried a lot of Kyle families for a long time. We heard you, and we’re doing something about it.
The City of Kyle is moving forward with a two-phase Blanco Street Sidewalk Project along the stretch between Veterans Drive (RM 150) and North Meyer Street — the very block that leads families directly to Kyle Elementary School. This project was identified as a priority in Kyle’s Sidewalk Master Plan, and identified as a critical gap through a walk audit conducted as part of the Safe Routes to School initiative.
What’s Happening First
City of Kyle Public Works crews are tentatively set to begin Phase One the week of March 16 — timed on purpose to coincide with Hays CISD’s spring break so the impact on school traffic is as small as possible. Our Public Works team will be out there for roughly four to five days installing interim safety improvements.
During that week, Blanco Street will mostly be closed to through traffic. City staff will be on site to assist local residents who need to access their homes and driveways — ensuring neighbors aren’t left in a bind.
Once the interim work is done, here’s what you’ll see: about 800 feet of Blanco Street will become one-way eastbound (from Veterans Drive toward North Meyer Street). The westbound lane will be cordoned off and converted into a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist corridor — a protected space where kids and families can walk or ride without being mixed in with moving vehicles. This temporary setup will stay in place while the City completes utility work and finalizes the permanent sidewalk design.
“We see families using this route every day, and we want parents to feel confident that their kids can get to school safely. This approach allows us to improve conditions now while we build a long-term solution.” — Ravali, City of Kyle Traffic Engineer
The Road to a Permanent Fix
The interim setup is just the beginning. Phase Two will deliver the lasting solution: a brand-new sidewalk built within the existing City right-of-way. Once that work is complete, Blanco Street will return to its normal two-way traffic flow — but this time, with a proper, permanent walking path that families can count on for years to come.
Part of a Bigger Commitment to Kyle
This project is about more than one street. Blanco Street was flagged in the City’s Sidewalk Master Plan — Kyle’s long-range roadmap for closing sidewalk gaps and building a connected, walkable community. Its designation as a school walking route made it a natural priority: not only does it address a known gap in the network, it directly protects our most vulnerable pedestrians travelling to school.
This project is also part of Kyle’s broader Safe Routes to School initiative, a sustained citywide effort to make sure every student has a safer path to and from campus. Just recently, the City wrapped up another project in that effort: new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the Philomena Drive crosswalk near IDEA Kyle. Those flashing lights are now up and running, helping drivers notice and yield to students crossing the road.
Small improvements like these add up. Together, they reflect something simple and deeply shared across our community — we all want Kyle’s children to be safe, and we’re building a city that makes that possible.
Stay Connected
If you notice a sidewalk gap or road hazard in your neighborhood, contact Kyle 3-1-1. For current updates on roadwork and closures, visit the City’s Traffic Notices page. Residents can also explore the Street Maintenance Dashboard and Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) Dashboard to follow ongoing and upcoming projects across Kyle.
