1. Mays Street
The city of Georgetown broke ground in October on a project to extend Mays Street from Teravista Parkway and Bass Pro Drive in Round Rock to the intersection of Westinghouse and Rabbit Hill roads in Georgetown. Base and curb work are currently underway. Williamson County has plans to extend Mays north from Oakmont and Paloma drives in Round Rock.
2. FM 1460
Construction continues to widen FM 1460 to a four-lane, divided roadway Quail Valley Drive in Georgetown to just north of University Boulevard in Round Rock. Pavement on the southbound lanes is currently being laid. High Tech Drive has been closed until further notice. Texstar Drive and Quail Valley Drive serve as detour routes.
3. Austin Avenue/Fifth Street traffic signal, sidewalks
The city of Georgetown is currently evaluating construction bids for plans to install a traffic signal at the Fifth Street and Austin Avenue intersection in
addition to sidewalk and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant improvements.
Timeline: Awaiting funding decision
4. University Avenue sidewalk
The city project to build a sidewalk along University Avenue between I-35 and Scenic Drive that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines wrapped up in late February.
Timeline: October 2016–February 2017
5. I-35 frontage road sidewalks
The city is evaluating construction bids to build a sidewalk along the southbound frontage road of I-35 between Hwy. 29 and Leander Road. In February, the city approved adding $300,000 more to the project to offset design challenges and cost-of-construction increases.
Timeline: Spring 2017-summer 2017
6. Rivery Boulevard extension
Right of way acquisitions are close to complete so the city of Georgetown can have a plan in place when city officials begin to form the 2017-18 budget. The Rivery Boulevard extension will allow Rivery to connect Williams Drive to Northwest Boulevard, providing more direct access from the Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center to other existing hotels near the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and I-35.
Timeline: spring 2015-fall 2017
How it works
How are state speed limits determined?
Whenever a new road is built in Texas, the entity constructing the roadway is required to reach out to the Texas Transportation Commission to determine the speed limit for the new road, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
Factors that determine a road’s speed limit include the road’s length and location, transitions from other speed limits, directional differences, trial runs of the roadway and the location of regulatory speed limit signs along the road, according to TxDOT.
Local governments hold some control over determining speed limits as well. Cities, counties and other government officials work with TxDOT to conduct traffic and engineering studies and pass city speed ordinances based on TxDOT recommendations, TxDOT Public Information Officer Deidrea George said.
Legislation filed this session could affect speed limits across the state. State Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, filed House Bill 1368 to lower the prima facie speed limits on urban district roads in Texas from 30 mph to 25 mph. The prima facie speed limit is the unspoken speed limit on roads without a posted limit.
