WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a visit with Bob Colwell of the Texas Department of Transportation Bryan district office and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Ten to 15 years from now, a bypass could be built around Hearne.

The first step in that process takes place this Thursday (March 7).That's when the Texas Department of Transportation holds its first public meeting.

TxDOT Bryan district office spokesman Bob Colwell says no location has been chosen for a Hearne bypass.

This project follows a feasibility study that began in 2021 to widen Highway 6 between Hearne and Highway 21 in Bryan. Colwell said the soonest there will be detailed information about that project is 2026. Then the earliest construction could start is 2031. And construction would take three to four years to complete.

A third feasibility study that affects the other two is the future construction of Interstate 14.

Back to the future Hearne bypass, TxDOT staff will be collecting public opinions at Hearne elementary school Thursday (March 7) between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

The meeting is also available online. Go to www.txdot.gov and in the search bar type "Hearne Relief Route".

Written comments can be submitted by mail or e-mail. In either format, the submission deadline is March 22.

Send e-mails to [email protected].

The snail mail address is TxDOT Bryan District Office, Attn: E. Sydney Fox, 2591 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan, Texas 77803.

This podcast is with city of Bryan deputy city manager Hugh Walker and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The city of Bryan's decision to remove disc golf from the Park Hudson area involves 12 baskets.

Six baskets that were part of the Park Hudson course were installed more than ten years ago at the nearby Tiffany Park.

Deputy city manager Hugh Walker says the six baskets that were incorporated into the Park Hudson course will remain.

Walker says the six original baskets next to Bowen elementary school were provided through a grant that was given to a Bryan ISD teacher.

Some of the original baskets are being moved. Walker says one will be farther away from a Bryan ISD security fence. Another basket is being moved so that players will not be required to fly the disc over a sidewalk.

And Walker says the city is removing concrete tee pads from Park Hudson and Tiffany Park where it won't cause more damage as opposed to leaving the pad.

Tiffany Park is one of four disc golf locations in Bryan. There is a six hole course at Cherry Park and nine hole courses at Austin's Colony and Bonham parks.

Additional information from the city of Bryan:

The City of Bryan is seeing and receiving misinformation about the Park Hudson Disc Golf Course and would like to provide some clarity.

About 10 – 15 years ago, a 6-hole disc golf course was installed in Tiffany Park through a Bowen Elementary School grant-funded project.

Late last year, this course was expanded, around the Park Hudson Trail area, into an 18-hole course. This included the installment of 12 new holes, and new baskets and concrete tee pads at each of the 18 holes. Since the expanded course opened, residents began to recognize the impact of the new amenity and voiced their concerns to the City.

The expanded portion of the Park Hudson Disc Golf Course is being removed along with tee pads. The removal process started this week. A number of reasons prompted the removal, including the City not having more public input before proceeding with the course, the City not doing a thorough review of the property before implementing changes, complaints from residents in the area, an injury claim from an alleged disc golfer, etc. The City recognizes the oversights and is working to address them.

Essentially, the original 6-hole disc golf course will remain. Staff is working on removing concrete tee pads and making basket location adjustments to the original 6 holes, based on concerns from the expanded portion. The plan is to put Tiffany Park back to its original, natural state.

This podcast contains comments from the February 19, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

The February 19th meeting of the Bryan ISD school board included private discussions about two items involving the superintendent.

On the agenda, there was an item titled "Consideration and Possible Action Regarding Superintendent’s Request for Investigation of Administrative Matters." Draft minutes of the board meeting says this was discussed in executive session. WTAW News asked board president Julie Harlin about the nature of the request. Dr. Harlin said "As I mentioned in open session, no action was taken on that agenda item." There has been no response from the superintendent about the nature of her request to investigate undisclosed administrative matters.

Not on the agenda, was a request during public comments by Bishop Maurice Green Jr. that he said "was of the utmost concern to me as well as to my community." When the board president asked if the request involved a BISD employee, Green said it involved the superintendent. That led Dr. Harlin to call for an executive session.

After meeting with Green for nine minutes, the board returned to open session, took no action on Green's undisclosed issue, then resumed its agenda business.

David Brower, Community Development Analyst, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about a housing action committee, housing challenges, using surveys to gather citizen feedback, upcoming public meetings, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the February 22, 2024 meeting of the College Station city council.

The College Station city council sets a new speed limit for the recently widened portion of Greens Prairie Road from where the school zone ends by Forest Ridge elementary to Dalton Drive.

Staff recommended 40 miles per hour.

But mayor John Nichols recommendation of 45 passed by a six to one vote.

Nichols said the 45 speed limit matched South Holleman, Fitch west of Lakeway, and Southwest Parkway between Dartmouth and the freeway.

Before Greens Prairie Road was widened between Arrington and Dalton, the speed limit was 55.

The mayor also said it will be 12 to 14 months before widening starts on the county's portion of Greens Prairie, which is being administered by the city and paid by the county.

Click HERE to read and download the ordinance that was passed at the February 22, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

Caden Jones of the Destination Bryan tourism office visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver about March First Friday activities in downtown Bryan, community events associated with April's solar eclipse, and May's inaugural Big Barn Dance music festival in Bryan.

Jamie Cox, General Manager of Legends Event Center, and Kyle Walton, Director of Sports, visit with WTAW's Scott DeLucia and Chelsea Reber about this year's events, the new sand volleyball courts, and more during their appearance on The Infomaniacs.

United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss and Lisa Wamsley of UWBV partner agency Son Shine Outreach Center visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver.

This podcast contains comments from the February 22, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

In December 2022, College Station became Amazon's second location for drone delivery service.
Amazon officials returned to College Station to attend the last city council meeting (February 22) where announcements were made and to take in public comments.

The global leader of regulatory strategy for Amazon Prime Air Matt McCardle said they are not close to reaching their current capacity, they have applied to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase capacity from 200 to 470 operations per day, and they have applied to the FAA to use a new drone model that is 40 percent quieter.

McCardle says pending FAA approval, the new drone will debut in College Station this summer.

And "after we successfully begin our operation here with that new drone", McCardle said "we will then open up a new facility somewhere in the United States that we haven't announced yet, and then go to two sites including Italy by the end of 2024."

13 neighborhood residents near or bordering what some called Amazon's "drone port" said the constant noise from drones have disturbed their way of life.

Two councilmembers who live near Amazon's facility also spoke. Mark Smith thanked his neighbors for speaking and Dennis Maloney said he looks forward to Amazon moving their operation to an industrial zone.

The council also heard from six people who thanked Amazon for their financial support of community non profit agencies. The council also received written comments from seven other people.

Dr. Susan Ballabina, Texas A&M President's Chief of Staff, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the new dean of the College of Engineering, results and recommendations from the recent space allocation study, the future of KAMU, parking in Downtown Bryan, the decision to close the campus in Qatar, the upcoming para-cycling competition at RELLIS, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.