City and organization representatives in Williamson County precinct two presented their bond project proposals at the last regular meeting of the bond advisory committee June 10.

Darwin Marchell, Cedar Park's director of engineering, presented five road project possibilities to the committee:

  • reconstruction and widening of 1.2 miles of Whitestone Boulevard from Cottonwood Creek Trail to Market Street estimated to cost $17.7 million,
  • reconstruction of 1.15 miles of New Hope Drive, including new roadway across undeveloped land, estimated to cost $11.2 million,
  • completion of Little Elm Trail from Lakeline Boulevard to US 183 to relieve congestion on Lakeline Boulevard estimated to cost $4.4 million,
  • a new 1.8 mile, four-lane arterial extension of New Hope Drive from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Sam Bass estimated to cost $16.3 million,
  • and improving and expanding 1.5 miles of Anderson Mill Road to serve expected traffic from a Leander housing development, estimated to cost $11.9 million.

Sam Roberts, Cedar Park assistant city manager, said the city has not yet discussed offering matching funds for the projects, but will do so as projects move forward.

Cedar Park Parks and Recreation Department assistant director James Hemenes offered two trails projects to the committee: a pedestrian underpass under US 183 connecting Brushy Creek Regional Trail expected to cost $1.5 million; and improvements to Lakeline Park hike and bike trails, including possible continuation of the Brushy Creek Regional Trails through Cedar Park parkland, expected to cost $1.1 million.

Jim Bechtol, Leander director of development services, presented three road projects to the committee:

  • a two-phase project to connect Hero Way from the Lakeline Boulevard extension to Ronald Reagan Boulevard estimated to cost $26 million,
  • improvements to Bagdad Road North from FM 2243 to CR 280 estimated to cost $9 million,
  • and improvements to San Gabriel Parkway from CR 170 to Ronald Reagan Boulevard, estimated to cost $7.5 million.

For each of the road projects, the City of Leander is prepared to match the county's contribution by 50 percent, Bechtol said.

Regarding Leander parks, Bechtol presented two projects: a continuation of Bagdad Heritage Trail from Bledsoe Park to Crystal Falls Parkway, which is expected to cost $900,000; and construction of a 7,500-foot trail to connect the existing 183A Trail from the metro station to US 183, which is expected to cost $600,000.

Bechtol said the city Leander was prepared to contribute 20 percent of the trails project costs if the county could provide the rest.

Robert Hart, superintendent at Liberty Hill Independent School District, approached the committee with reconstruction and improvement project to CR 277 in order to better serve traffic at the new Liberty Hill High School, which opens in August. The project would add shoulders to the roadway and is anticipated to cost $703,000.

Hart also presented a city-proposed project to add 8-foot shoulders at the intersection of CR 200 and Loop 332, which could cost $3.2 million.

Lee Kinder and Keith Hickman also spoke on behalf of the Greater Williamson County YMCA to request $1.3 million to improve safety and infrastructure at the south side of Twin Lakes Park.

The bond advisory committee will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, June 24, to discuss all of the proposed projects at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St., in Georgetown.