Travis County is evaluating five sites that could provide additional capacity for the local civil and family courts system and could choose the site by 2017.

After reviewing more than 20 properties over the past eight months, the citizens advisory group examining the need for additional courts space told the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday it has narrowed down the list of properties it was considering, some of which were up to 10 miles from the existing Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse on Guadalupe St. in Austin.

The Travis County commissioners court has been discussing ways to provide more civil and family courts capacity since the failed bond election in 2015 that would have allocated funds toward construction of a new civil and family courthouse. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said during the meeting the properties include 308 Guadalupe St., which was the property identified in the original bond package, as well as 700 Lavaca St., where the court meets. The other properties, which the county does not own, are being identified by number only, she said.

The commissioners court on Tuesday also unanimously approved a motion granting permission to ask the state legislature to establish two new district courts for the county.