The Texas Department of Transportation held its first round of open houses for an ongoing feasibility study the agency is conducting along the Hwy. 290 corridor between Oak Hill and Dripping Springs. After considering results from the yearlong feasibility study, which began July 31, 2019 and will conclude on approximately July 31, 2020, TxDOT will begin environmental vetting and schematic design for a mobility and safety improvement project along the corridor.

According to TxDOT, the future project will connect to the upcoming Oak Hill Parkway project, which is slated to begin construction in 2020.

The first of the two initial open houses was held Oct. 8 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. According to Alex Navarro, public information office representative for TxDOT, 60 community members attended that event.

At the second open house, which was held Oct. 10 at Oak Hill Methodist Church, Navarro said community feedback was a very important part of the process.

"We're in the very early stages of this, so that means that, really, all the options are out on the table. We want to invite people to come out and give us their input—people who live and work in the area and who maybe even have seen the growth that's happened," Navarro said. "Tell us what you need."

Interested individuals who were not able to attend one of the open houses are invited to provide feedback via an online survey, which will expire Oct. 21. As of Oct. 10, over 400 individuals had submitted a survey response, Navarro said.