Hays County commissioners unanimously approved a partnership Feb. 12 with the Texas Department of Transportation that will allow the county to pair its own money with state dollars to fund nine major road projects.

The county's transportation consultant, Mike Weaver, presented the commissioners with a road construction package that will cost about $123 million. Hays County's share will be about $33 million.

"There has been a huge effort to try to fix the existing congestion problems in Buda and Kyle and to work on getting economic development like FM 110 on the east side [of San Marcos]," Weaver said.

Officials said Hays County's contribution will come from savings accrued when previous transportation projects were completed for less than their budgeted amounts.

Under the proposal, more than half of TxDOT's $90 million share will go toward completion of the FM 110 loop around San Marcos, connecting Hwy. 123 and Yarrington Road. Weaver said because FM 110 could be a catalyst for economic development on San Marcos' east side, the county could reimburse TxDOT for the road using increased values of property within half a mile on either side of the road through the creation of a transportation reinvestment zone, or TRZ.

Weaver called the TRZ option a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to finish a project that has been talked about for almost 40 years. The county could also use a TRZ or pass-through funding option to pay for the realignment and widening of FM 2001 from Buda to the Caldwell County line.

The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to decide whether to approve the partnership later this spring.

"We've had several meetings with [TxDOT staff members], gotten their buy-in, and they think these projects are well worth their investment," Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones said.