Angled parking along Broadway through Alamo Heights could largely disappear under new designs from the Texas Department of Transportation, putting at risk the handful of curbside spaces that neighborhood shops say they lean on every day. Business owners warn that losing those spots would make quick stops and lunchtime drop-ins tougher, even as the plans promise wider sidewalks, drainage upgrades and new bike and pedestrian accommodations. With TxDOT eyeing a final design by fall 2027 and a contract letting by late 2027, the familiar corridor may not look or function the same for long.
What's in the drawings
TxDOT's SL 368 project page says the work would “maintain three travel lanes in each direction” while upgrading drainage, sidewalks and ADA access, according to TxDOT. Preliminary schematics shown at a May 2025 open house depict widened sidewalks, shared-use paths and landscaping in place of large stretches of angled curb parking on the Alamo Heights commercial strip; the plan exhibits are available online from the project team. TxDOT design schematics label those angled spaces as “proposed for removal” while keeping three travel lanes in each direction.
Business owners caught off guard
Several shop owners told reporters they were never looped in on this latest round of designs and some even thought the whole project had quietly fizzled out. Broadway 5050 owner P.J. Gottsacker told MySA the angled curb spaces are “critical” for the restaurant, which has little other parking to fall back on. Nowhere Bookshop also said it was not made aware of the proposal, and business leaders worry that removing the few on-street spots would push customers into already tight lots or convince them to skip short visits altogether.
Where this fight came from
The Broadway corridor has been a long-running battleground between local leaders who want a narrower, more pedestrian-friendly street and state officials intent on preserving traffic capacity, a clash that escalated after the Texas Transportation Commission reclaimed control of parts of Broadway in 2022. Axios reported that voters approved bond funding years ago to reduce lanes, but the state has pressed ahead with a version of the project that keeps three travel lanes in each direction.
What's next and how to weigh in
TxDOT says the design phase will continue through 2027, with a final design planned for fall 2027 and contract letting expected in late 2027, and it stresses that coordination with the City of Alamo Heights and public outreach will continue. The agency’s project page and open-house materials include a contact and an email sign-up so residents and property owners can track the evolving plans and submit comments. For now, designs remain preliminary, and the public is expected to have additional chances to review exhibits and raise concerns about parking or access before any construction starts.
Local business owners say they want clearer timelines and concrete mitigation options, such as reserved short-term loading spaces, improved rear-lot access or a phased approach that keeps neighborhood commerce functioning during construction. Residents can find project documents, notices of future events and agency contact information on TxDOT’s SL 368 project page to stay plugged into what happens next on Broadway.
