In a unanimous decision, county commissioners voted to call a bond election for its 2024 Hays County Transportation Program on Aug. 13.
As the county continues to grow, Marti Reich, Hays County’s assistant director of transportation, said it will be “imperative” for drivers to get to their destinations safely.
“The current infrastructure that we have does not support all the traffic that you’re [going to] be putting on a roadway with all these developments,” Reich said.
The big picture
The bond will fund the construction, design and right of way needed for 35 transportation projects across the county. The plan focuses on projects that will enhance safety, mobility and regional connectivity in Hays County, county officials said.
The majority of projects in precincts 1 and 2 are on the east side of I-35—an area that has historically been neglected due to lack of growth, Reich said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Michelle Cohen said although the cost amount is a “big pill to swallow,” she believes the road infrastructure on the east side is “severely underserved.”
“As difficult as it is to see the number, I’m also very optimistic and excited about the potential that this is [going to] bring,” Cohen said.
Bond projects in precincts 3 and 4 will give drivers an alternative route to I-35, improving mobility and safety for individuals driving to and from Austin from Hays County.
For example, the SH 45 Southwest Extension project will extend the four-lane highway from FM 1626 to I-35 in Travis County, and the Dripping Springs Southwest Connection project will align a new four-lane roadway. Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell said the bond will improve east and west mobility, noting that FM 150—a state highway that moves through downtown Kyle—is the main pathway for individuals traveling east through the hill country.
“There’s not really a way to get around downtown, and as a result, the traffic often gets very, very gridlocked,” Mitchell said.
The road bond emphasizes preserving the right-of-way, according to a presentation. About $6.22 million is anticipated to be spent on right-of-way acquisition for the new alignment of the FM 2001 Gap project among several other projects including the roundabout for Windy Hill and connecting segments of Leah Avenue.
Why it matters
In Hays County’s 2021 Transportation Plan—a planning document that looks to identify safety improvements and improve regional connectivity—residents surveyed said it was difficult traveling inside and outside the county.
However, the majority of the projects in the 2024 bond are east and west connectors—which will give drivers an alternative route to I-35.
Cory Grell, project manager with HNTB, an engineering consultant for Hays County, said all projects from the 2024 bond program are intended to reduce traffic and provide faster commute times.
The impact
Hays County’s tax rate for fiscal year 2024 sits at $0.3075 per $100 in property valuation, which is one of the lowest tax rates in the state, according to a presentation given to the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce on July 23.
If residents vote to approve the ballot item in the November election, Hays County residents would see a tax rate increase of $.02 per •$100 valuat•ion according to the presentation.
This would result in an annual increase of about $80 for a $400,000 home—equating to a $7 monthly increase, according to the presentation.
“We’re doing what we can to keep the tax rate low,” Cohen said.
Put in perspective
The last road bond voters passed—which cost $131.4 million—was in 2016 when the county population was 204,581. The county’s population has increased by about 37% from 2016 to 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
It’s anticipated to increase again by almost 85% by 2060, according to population projections from the Texas Demographic Center.
Cohen said she believes the county needs to address rapid population growth, improve road safety and update current infrastructure.
“A lot of the roads that are in my precinct basically look the same as they did 40 years ago,” she said.
Some projects will impact more than just one city, Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith added.
Up for election
More information can be found at www.hayscountytx.com.
