STAFF REPORT
The Hays County Commissioners Court last gave its approval to send 15 road safety and mobility projects to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) in hopes of receiving a share of more than $74 million in federal funds. CAMPO will be passing on the money from the Federal Highway Administration to counties in Central Texas and is expected to decide on the projects by late summer, with funding available at the start of fiscal year 2012.
Included are 10 projects involving state highways for which funds will be applied in conjunction with TxDOT and five that will improve county roads. The deadline for application was June 30. The county hired Michael Aulick of Aulick and Associates, a former CAMPO executive director, to help it secure the funds.
The court also agreed to provide $40,000 from the county’s transportation department budget to help jump-start the environmental vetting process required for one of the projects, which includes adding ramps and a turnaround on Interstate 35 between Buda and Kyle in Precinct 2. The city of Buda is expected to commit $35,000 to the project and an additional $40,000 is expected from area landowners.
In addition to the Interstate 35 ramps and turnarounds, the projects applied for jointly with TxDOT include (Precinct 1) intersection improvements at SH 21 and FM 150, SH 21 at Cotton Gin Road and SH 80 at Old Bastrop Highway; purchasing right-of-way for a future parkway on RR 12 from RR 32 to Wonder World Drive/Old RR 12 and adding a hike-and-bike trail along the same stretch of RR 12; (Precinct 3) constructing a hike-and-bike trail on the east side of RR 12 between Winters Mill Parkway and Joe Wimberley Boulevard; and (Precinct 4) adding intersection improvements and a new bridge on RM 1826 at Crystal Hills Drive; intersection improvements to RM 1826 at Darden Hill Road and a sidewalk for the north side of US 290 from Mercer Street to Mighty Tiger Trail.
County road projects that could receive funding in Precinct 1 include widening lanes and adding shoulders on Dacy Lane from Bebee Road to Windy Hill Road; widening lanes and adding shoulders on Old Bastrop Highway from Centerpoint Road to Francis Harris Lane and adding sidewalks near schools on Bunton Creek Road, FM 150, Old Bastrop Highway and East McCarty Lane. A new bridge on Lakewood Drive at FM 1626 in Precinct 2 will also be in the running and Precinct 4 could see safety improvements and at least one bridge on Elder Hill Road between RR 12 and FM 150.
