San Marcos - The Hays County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to work with Travis County on a roadway project designed to clear traffic congestion for motorists in both counties.
The vote authorizes Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., to negotiate an inter-local agreement with Travis County to:
Request that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) remove State Highway (SH) 45 between Loop 1 and Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 1626 from the State Highway System and transfer the right-of-way, which was previously purchased with local money, back to Travis and Hays counties; and
Outline a process for the counties to develop and construct a two- to three-lane county road, approximately three miles in length, between Loop 1 and FM 1626 near the north Hays County line.
In addition to the court's direction to negotiate an agreement with Travis County, commissioners also pledged up to $5 million to the project's construction.
"Today's vote signals our determination to follow through on this incredibly important project, which is long overdue," Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley said. "Without it, our citizens are subjected daily to increasing congestion and deteriorating safety conditions and that is simply unacceptable. We're committed to improving the safety of the traveling public and protecting neighborhoods."
Hays County's population has increased by 60 percent over the last 10 years, making it one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Many of its residents commute daily to Travis County using FM 1626 and Brodie Lane.
"By taking the project back from TxDOT, we will have local control and can build the road faster, cheaper and in accordance with all environmental guidelines," Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones said. "You have to remember, right-of-way for SH 45 was purchased years ago with voter-approved money from Travis county and local Hays County general funds. We want to finish what was started and what our respective county residents expected and deserve."
For nearly 25 years, this portion of SH 45 had been planned as a part of the roadway system to serve southern Travis County and northern Hays County and to reduce traffic on smaller roadways in the area. But the project did not move forward, and as a result, thousands of Hays County citizens commuting to and from Austin each day confront ever-increasing congestion and reduced traffic safety, Hays county officials said.
Residents in Austin neighborhoods along Brodie Lane fare even worse, many say. Access in and out of the area is increasingly difficult due to all of the commuter traffic.
"With the growth of Kyle, Buda and other areas of Hays County, the need for this important regional connector has only grown more urgent," Conley said. "That's why we have committed funding to build this as a county road in partnership with Travis County. We want to get it done for our community."
In addition to this project, Hays County is planning to construct, under TXDOT's Pass-Through Financing Program, a $70-million expansion of FM 1626 to a four-lane divided roadway from FM 2770 to the Hays/Travis County line. Travis County, also under TxDOT's Pass-Through Program, is proposing to widen FM 1626 to a four-lane divided roadway north from the Travis/Hays County Line.
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