Area transportation planners acknowledge Central Texass continued growth and limited funding means congestion may never be eliminated even with pumping $4.25 billion in improving I-35.

Were only going to be able to increase our road capacity [by 2040] by about 15 percent but the vehicle miles traveled in the region are expected to double. This means that we have a very uphill battle against congestion. We can at best manage it, said Cathy Stephens, environmental and planning program manager at the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

During the policy boards March 9 meeting staff members presented the draft of the 2040 long-range plan containing $35.1 billion for transportation projects in the six-county region of Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson. The policy board, consisting of local elected officials from those counties, will approve the plan in May.

The $35.1 billion plan includes an estimated $8.66 billion in state and federal funding and $11.77 billion coming from local jurisdictions.

CAMPO is the agency responsible for coordinating regional transportation planning in Central Texas and approves the use of federal funds. Every five years the agency must approve a long-range plan of transportation and transit projects that are regionally significant.

The purpose of long-range plans is to guide transportation planning and assist CAMPO with assigning funds to address existing and future needs. The agency is responsible for approving use of federal funds in the region and works with the cities and counties in its service area.

Projects listed in the plan include those likely to secure funding between 2015 and 2040, urban transit such as expanding bus-rapid transit.

Proposed improvements:

  • Widen RM 620 to a six-lane divided roadway from Pecan Park Blvd. to SH 71 W (Williamson and Travis counties)
  • Widen FM 973 to four-lane divided roadway from US 183 to US 290 (Travis County)
  • Widen RM 1826 to four-lane divided roadway from US 290 W to Nutty Brown Road (Hays and Travis counties)
  • Widen US 290 W six-lane divided roadway from RM 1826 to Nutty Brown Road (Travis County)
  • Reconstruct US 79 from I-35 to A.W. Grimes Boulevard to a six-lane divided roadway with sidewalks (Williamson County)
  • Reconstruct RM 1431 from Sam Bass Road to I-35 to a six-lane divided roadway (Williamson County)
  • Widen FM 1626 to a four-lane divided roadway from I-35 to Brodie Lane (Travis County) and from FM 967 to FM 2770 (Hays County)
  • Widen Post Road from I-35 to Aquarena Springs Road to a four-lane undivided roadway (Hays County)

Several residents criticized the plan during the March 9 open house with some saying it is too expensive and achieves too little.

You need to focus relentlessly on reducing vehicle mile traveled, said Bill Bunch, executive director of the Save Our Springs Alliance.

Resident Susan Pantell said the plan does not meet air quality or mobility standards and does not make transportation equitable for everyone.

If youre only increasing toll trips, that is not improving mobility for region, she said.

The 2040 plan also includes an illustrative list of projects, which are those without identified funding or a sponsor. One of those projects is the city of Lakeways proposed elevated toll road to connect RM 620 from SH 45 in South Austin to RM 2222. The proposed route would travel through areas of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and several neighborhoods.

We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the effort to protect the Hill Country, said resident Jon Beall from the Save Barton Creek Association. Having the outer loop in the 2040 plan indicates that this toll road is on the communitys wish list, and it is not. I believe we should preserve the beautiful places in Central Texas.

Public input

The public comment period lasts through April 2, and residents may submit feedback through a variety of ways:

Upcoming meetings: All meetings are from 5:307:30 p.m.

Hays County

  • March 12: Wallace Middle School, 1302 W. Center St., Kyle
  • March 26: San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos

Travis County

  • March 23: Pflugerville Public Library Lantana Room, 1008 W. Pfluger St., Pflugerville
  • April 1: One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Ste. 325, Austin

Williamson County

  • March 24: Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main St., Cedar Park
  • March 30: Williamson County Central Maintenance Facility, 3151 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown