Kendall County joins Bandera in demanding Hwy 46 safety fixes. Residents push for immediate barriers as crashes rise and pressure mounts on TxDOT to act.
KENDALL COUNTY, Texas — The push to improve safety along a dangerous stretch of Highway 46 West is now official from end to end.
Kendall County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday demanding the Texas Department of Transportation deliver a safety plan with firm timelines for the 12-mile, two-lane corridor connecting Bandera County to Boerne. Bandera County leaders passed a similar measure earlier this month, meaning the entire stretch is now covered by a formal call for action.
But Kendall County leaders say their efforts won’t stop there.
Commissioners are amending the resolution to also include Highway 46 East—asking TxDOT to evaluate and address any safety improvements that may be needed along that portion of the roadway as well, even though it has seen fewer fatalities and different driving conditions.
The resolution will be sent to state leaders as pressure builds at both the local and state level, with State Sen. Donna Campbell also monitoring the issue.
At the same time, community pressure is growing beyond government chambers.
An online petition calling on TxDOT to widen Highway 46 West between Boerne and Pipe Creek has gathered more than 1,100 signatures, urging the state to address what supporters describe as a dangerous and outdated roadway struggling to handle rapid growth.
The petition describes the corridor as “dangerously narrow and inadequate” for increasing traffic and calls for added lanes, wider shoulders and other safety improvements.
Crash data underscores concerns
The renewed push comes after years of crashes and growing concerns from residents who say the road has not kept up with increased traffic from new subdivisions and a planned state park nearby.
“There’s just been so many accidents, so many deaths,” said Kendall County Commissioner Jennifer McCall, who co-wrote the resolution along with Commisioner Andra Wisian.
According to TxDOT data, more than 550 crashes have been reported along the Highway 46 West corridor since 2016, resulting in 13 deaths and at least 44 serious injuries. Eight of those fatalities were caused by head-on collisions.
McCall said she became aware of the severity of the problem almost immediately after taking office.
“I knew the roadway was of concern, but I didn’t know the depth,” she said, adding that a crash occurred within her first week in office.
Since then, McCall says she’s met with TxDOT and worked to bring more coordination between the state and local stakeholders.
“I want all the people who drive on that roadway to be able to have input,” she said. “Not all of us drive that road every day, and a lot of our constituents do.”
Her resolution calls for a current safety assessment, public input and clearly defined timelines for short-term, intermediate and long-term improvements.
“We’re concerned, we want to make this official. Let’s coordinate,” McCall said. “My question is, can we move this up? Can we make this happen sooner?”
TxDOT response and ongoing plans
In a statement, TxDOT said safety is its top priority and acknowledged a significant increase in traffic along SH 46 from SH 16 to I-10.
The agency said it has developed and implemented a phased strategy to improve safety and address growing traffic demands along the corridor.
Between 2021 and 2025, there were 244 reported crashes along this portion of SH 46, including six fatal crashes. TxDOT said the most common contributing factors were unsafe speed, failure to control speed and driver inattention.
TxDOT said it has already invested approximately $2 million in near-term safety improvements, including enhanced pavement markings, additional warning signs, rumble strips, friction treatments, pavement repairs and improved sight distance. Preliminary 2025 data shows a 7% reduction in crashes compared to the previous year.
In addition, the agency has secured $7 million in Highway Safety Improvement Program funding to design intersection upgrades at several high-crash locations in Kendall and Bandera counties. Those projects, which include widening and adding dedicated left-turn lanes, are currently in design and are expected to begin in late 2027.
Looking ahead, TxDOT said it is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate long-term improvements for State Highway 46, including a potential four-lane divided roadway with wider shoulders, medians or center turn lanes, added passing opportunities and curve realignments. The agency noted those improvements would require additional funding and right-of-way acquisition.
TxDOT said it remains committed to working with local partners to improve safety along the corridor.
Residents: ‘You can’t travel that road without fear’
For those who spoke during Tuesday morning’s commissioners court meeting, long-term plans are not enough.
“You can’t travel that road without fear,” said Karen Shaffer, who lives off Highway 46.
Shaffer pointed to specific danger zones, including a stretch known locally as “Dead Man’s Curve,” where sharp turns and elevation changes increase the risk of head-on collisions.
“When you present the facts, I don’t think there’s any argument of the conditions on this road needs to be addressed,” said Richard Chapman, Kendall County Commissioner for Precinct 3, in Tuesday’s meeting.
Residents who live along Highway 46 say their biggest concern is drivers crossing the center line — often with deadly consequences.
“Every time we travel down this road, all I can think about is someone crossing a painted yellow line,” said Nikki Dobson, who has lived off Highway 46 since 2015 and drives it daily with her two young sons.
Dobson said while TxDOT has proposed improvements like turn lanes, those do not address the core issue.
“The things they’re proposing do not address people crossing the center yellow line,” she said.
She pointed to data showing 101 head-on collisions in the past decade and said more targeted safety measures could make a difference.
“If they would do a safety audit, I think they could pinpoint the areas and save a lot of lives,” Dobson said.
She and other residents are calling for short-term solutions such as concrete barriers or a center median in high-crash areas.
“Do a four-foot center median … put in the concrete barriers and save lives,” she said. “We understand there’s financing involved … but there are things that can be done in the short term.”
‘Stop the deaths, then finish the planning’
Karen Shaffer said the danger has become personal for her family.
“We have watched so many accidents in the five years we have lived there. It’s beyond anything I would have ever imagined,” she said.
She recalled one crash her husband responded to, where a driver was trapped inside a burning vehicle.
“He came home utterly traumatized,” she said. “We’ve had enough near-misses to realize something must be done or the next one’s going to be someone we know.”
Like others, she is urging immediate safety measures while long-term plans move forward.
“We could put a median barrier down the middle of the road and it would stop the deaths while we finalize the rest of the permanent solution,” she said. “Stop the deaths, then finish the planning.”
Residents say they are encouraged that both Kendall and Bandera counties are now taking formal action, covering the entire stretch of Highway 46 West.
Now, with Kendall County also pushing to include Highway 46 East, the scope of that pressure is expanding.
Neighbors are urging others to contact state leaders to keep momentum going—saying while long-term solutions are in motion, immediate safety improvements cannot wait.