With the county eyeing a potential bond election in November, Georgetown City Council approved a list of three projects to request funding for April 25, starting with a SE Inner Loop widening project from FM 1460 to Hwy. 29. From Hwy. 29 to Sam House Avenue, there would be a four-lane road; from Sam Houston Avenue to FM 1460 would be a five-lane road.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $55.8 million. The city is requesting the county to fund $23.5 million, and the city would contribute $32 million, using funding from Georgetown’s 2021 mobility bond.
“The other benefit to that one—beyond it being a huge regional project—is it’s going to be ready for construction,” Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said. “So we’re working on 100% design; it’s shovel ready—a really good partnership project to get going quickly.”
Georgetown’s second funding proposal is for a project to widen FM 971 from SH 130 to Gann Street, adding pedestrian and bike facilities. With a total estimated cost of $35 million, the city is asking for $4 million in funding from Williamson County.
Woolery said the city would use $5 million in 2008 road bond funding as well as $4 million it has received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city would then request $22 million in funding from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“So that would be the goal of this project—get some support financially from Williamson County,” Woolery said. “It also looks good when you go to CAMPO and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got other federal support; we’ve got county support [and] city support. It would make that application really strong.”
The last request from Georgetown is for $29.5 million to widen Shell Road from 500 feet north of Williams Drive to 300 feet north of Sycamore Street, adding a shared-use path. The city is proposing a 50-50 split, pitching in $29.5 million through future bonds.
“Obviously, our voters have not approved that project,” Woolery said. “So our match source would be a future city bond election.”
