The Texas Department of Transportation plans to start a corridor study of Parmer Lane by the end of the year.

The study will determine short- and long-term roadway improvements on Parmer between RM 1431 and SH 45 N, approximately 4.4 miles, according to Adeliza Ramirez, TxDOT transportation engineer for the Austin District.

“Parmer’s in need of expansion,” Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell said. “Parmer gets messy each day in both directions now; it’s become an over-utilized road.”

In recent years Cedar Park’s population has skyrocketed as the 12th-fastest growing city in the nation, according to U.S. Census population estimates. The city’s population grew from 57,957 in 2012 to 68,918 in 2016.

As Cedar Park’s population grew by 19 percent between 2012 and 2016, traffic on the roadway increased by 20 percent near the intersection with RM 1431 and by 12 percent near the intersection near SH 45 N, according to TxDOT traffic maps.

“Cedar Park’s growth is only a small part of the Parmer Lane issue,” said Tom Gdala, Cedar Park senior engineering associate. “The fast growth of Leander and communities in the surrounding region are adding daily vehicle trips to Parmer Lane.”

Ramirez said the current proposal for Parmer includes expanding the roadway to six lanes with three lanes in each direction.

Before any construction begins, the study will determine possible environmental impacts, conduct traffic modeling and complete public outreach to identify concerns and ideas, Ramirez said. A traffic signal warrant analysis will consider if additional traffic lights should be installed on Parmer, she said, and intersections will also be studied.

Once the study is complete—potentially in 2020—final design for the project will begin, funded by the city of Austin and TxDOT, Ramirez said.

“The city of Austin has committed funds to the project, but those funds do not cover the entire cost of the project,” Ramirez said. “The state will look at all avenues for the remaining funding.”

The study will cost $2.5 million, funded exclusively by TxDOT, she said. Construction costs for the improvements have not yet been determined, but the city of Austin will provide $17 million of mobility bond funds for the project, Ramirez said.

Reporting contributed by Joe Lanane and Caitlin Perrone.