Williamson County commissioners voted to move forward with a 2019 roads and parks bond, reducing the total price of projects by nearly $200 million. The court voted July 23 to move forward with a roads bond for $412 million, down from the recommended $573.3 million, and a parks bond for $35 million, down from the recommended $67 million. During the meeting, commissioners listed priority projects for their precincts as well as reducing the scope of other projects, in turn reducing the cost. The court also voted to include $1 million for Atlas-14 flood mapping, a rainfall study that looks into impacts of increased rain. “The reason why Williamson County is the best place to work in the nation is because we work together to get things done,” County Judge Bill Gravell said. The court will vote on specific ballot language during its Aug. 6 meeting. If called, the bond will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. The approved list of preliminary priority road projects are as follows. There are additional projects that could be placed in the bond package that were not labeled as top priority projects by the commissioners. Totals have been rounded up for simplicity.

Precinct 1

Top priority projects
  • Forest North drainage improvements in remaining zones
  • Sam Bass Road (Corridor H) from Wyoming Springs to RM 1431
  • Wyoming Springs Extension from Brightwater Boulevard/Creek Bend to Sam Bass Road
  • Wyoming Springs intersection improvements at Smyers Lane
Local match $23.38 million Bond committee recommendation $77.02 million Reduction from recommended $23.38 million Total $53.63 million

Precinct 2

Top priority projects
  • Hero Way from Toll 183A to RM 2243/Leander city limits
  • Whitestone Boulevard Widening from Bagdad Road to Anderson Mill Road
  • Parmer Lane at SH 45 Interchange
Local match $23 million Bond committee recommendation $103.38 million Reduction from recommended $849,850 Total $102.53 million

Precinct 3

Top priority projects
  • SE Inner Loop Extension (Corridor C) from Sam Houston Ave. to Hwy. 29
  • Southwest Bypass Extension from Hwy. 29 to Wolf Ranch Parkway
  • Sun City Safety Projects: CR 245 from north of RM 2338 to Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Ronald Reagan at Silver Spur Boulevard, Ronald Reagan at Sun City Boulevard and Hwy. 195 at Ronald Reagan
Local match $12 million Bond committee recommendation $105.2 million Reduction from recommended $6.79 million Total $98.41 million

Precinct 4

Top priority projects
  • SH 130 northbound frontage road from Limmer Loop to US 79
  • CR 112 widening from FM 1460/A.W. Grimes to CR 117
  • CR 112 widening from CR 117 to CR 110
Local match $73 million Bond committee recommendation $206.48 million Reduction from recommended $82.57 million Total $123.91 million

Parks

  • Hike and bike trails $27.53 million
  • Improvements on existing parklands $7.47
Correction: An earlier version of the story had an additional priority project for precinct 2 that should not have been included on the list. The commissioners voted to move forward with the bond and if approved, will call it Aug. 6.