Buda Tourism Director Alisha Burrow, Buda Assistant City Manager Brian LaBorde and Buda Council Member Ron Fletcher were among those in attendance at the Lockhart Economic Development Corporation annual summit. The summit featured information about SH 130 and the Formula 1 racetrack. (Photo by Veronica Gordon)
by VERONICA GORDON
Roads, racetracks and retail opportunities were the focus of the Lockhart Economic Development Corporation’s annual summit held Friday.
Kyle and Buda city officials attended the luncheon in hopes of learning about opportunities for the cities from the opening of State Highway 130 toll road extension and the Circuit of the Americas F1 race track, both slated for November.
The SH 130 extension will provide commuters and travelers an alternative route to Interstate 35.
The luncheon featured speakers from Circuit of the Americas and SH 130 concessions, who spoke about the impact on tourism, growth and development for the region.
“I think it’s a great thing,” said Buda Assistant City Manager Brian LaBorde. “It was a very informative presentation. And there’s lots of excitement about the racetrack.”
LaBorde said the city is seeking ways to benefit from race fans. The organizers expect 120,000 attendees and many local hotels are already booked for the week of the event.
“We are trying to provide events and marketing for them,” he said. “There is a lot of economic development potential.
“I don’t have any statistical data on that, but I think it’ll be fine,” he added. “Knowing how congested IH-35 is now, I don’t think it will take that much traffic off the interstate. It will take some, but not enough to have a negative impact.”
SH 130 Concessions Chief Executive Officer Javier Gutierrez said the road is important to south and central Texas.
“This road will make Lockhart closer to the big city,” Gutierrez said. “And the frontage roads will offer the possibility of big development.”
Lockhart Mayor Lew White said his community is prepared for the events.
“We are all very excited, but excited is an understatement,” White said. “We’ve been preparing for this growth for years.”
White said the city anticipated the development with the annexation of property near the highway and planned infrastructure improvements.
“We are in great shape,” White said. “And we’re ready for developers.”
Track officials said the area will see all types of race fans from many countries and from all around the U.S.
“When they come here, they will not distinguish between having visited San Marcos, Kyle, Buda or Lockhart; they will consider the entire region as a whole,” said Todd Fleming, vice president of sales for the Circuit of the Americas.
After the presentations, attendees were taken on a bus tour of the toll-road. A planned trip to the racetrack was limited because the track was being paved ahead of schedule.
“We got to see the outside of the facility on the outskirts,” LaBorde said. “It’s really big, humongous and overwhelming.”
