New Braunfels City Council unanimously adopted its bicycle and pedestrian network plan during a regular council meeting on Sept. 28. 

The overview: The New Braunfels Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan looks to integrate walking and biking into the city’s existing transportation network and improve multimodal connectivity. The plan will also build on the city’s recent success with city projects, like the pedestrian improvements made to Common Street, said Garry Ford, the city’s director of transportation and construction services.  

The plan identifies a total of 27 pedestrian- and bicycle-focused projects based on connectivity, safety impact and resident feedback, according to the meeting presentation. 

The bicycle and pedestrian network plan will help city officials prioritize projects and pursue state and federal funding for the plan's proposed projects.

Digging deeper: The plan recommends:

• 13 city recommended projects

• 8 Texas Texas Department of Transportation recommended projects

• 6 crossing improvement projects

• 4 strategic trail connections

The proposed crossing improvements would connect the network across high-traffic roadways and rail lines, according to agenda documents.

A new arcade has opened its doors in New Braunfels.

Ninja Claw, a claw machine arcade, opened on Oct. 11, owner Julie Rodriguez told Community Impact. Ninja Claw is located at 840 S. Business I-35, Ste. C1, next to Munchies Locos' new brick-and-mortar location.

What they offer: The arcade has various claw machine games that customers can play to win different plushie prizes. Rodriguez said they regularly switch out the prizes.

• 840 S. Business I-35, Ste. C1, New Braunfels

San Marcos businesses have seen major updates, including construction beginning on the Home Depot and Rooms to Go and the opening of the city's third H-E-B. Check out 11 business updates from San Marcos.

Now open

H-E-B: The third H-E-B grocery store location in San Marcos celebrated its official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 6.

Coming soon

H-E-B Fresh Bites convenience store: The new H-E-B on McCarty Lane will soon be accompanied by the business's convenience store.

The Home Depot: The 107,797-square-foot store will be the first in San Marcos and feature a 28,120-square-foot garden center.

Paradis Vineyard & Winery: The locally owned and operated vineyard and winery will offer a variety of wines made from grapes grown in the Texas Hill Country.

Rooms To Go: Construction on the upcoming San Marcos location began in June.

Timberland: The company, known for its iconic waterproof leather boots, will open a second San Marcos outlet location.

Texans interested in casting their midterm election ballots before Election Day can do so from Oct. 19-30, the state's early voting period.

The overview: Registered voters can visit any polling place in their county during early voting. They will receive a ballot with federal, state and local races—from the U.S. Senate and Texas governor to city and school district officials.

Dates to know

• Oct. 19: Early in-person voting begins

• Oct. 23: Deadline to apply to vote by mail

• Oct. 30: Early in-person voting ends

• Nov. 3: Election Day

Something to note: Local election officials are also working through a backlog of voter registrations after the Texas Department of Public Safety failed to send some registration records to counties, according to previous reporting. Texans who registered before the Oct. 5 deadline but do not appear on the rolls can still cast a provisional ballot, per the secretary of state.

More details: To check out candidate Q&As and review all races on local ballots, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.