Hays County, city of Buda explore feasibility of closing SH 45 gap

BUDA — In the 1986 Austin Metropolitan Transportation Plan, SH 45 was envisioned to become a loop encircling the city of Austin, known as the Austin Outer Parkway. Over the last 37 years, sections of the highway have largely been completed, leaving only the “gap” between I-35 South and RM 1626 to complete the circle. Now, Hays County and the city of Buda are working together to explore the feasibility of closing the gap and to gather input on what local residents and business owners desire.

In the fall of 2022, Hays County approved funding for this study and began to collect and evaluate potential constraints and traffic data while meeting with property owners. On June 15, 2023, the partners hosted an open house at Sunfield Station Event Center, where community members and stakeholders were invited to learn more about the project and provide feedback on the preferred outcome.

According to study information, the goals are as follows:

• Conduct the study in a proactive and transparent manner.

• Engage and gather input from a broad range of stakeholders, property owners and local and regional leaders.

• Identify conceptual route option(s) for additional and more detailed studies.

• Minimize impacts to existing and planned development.

• Identify strategies for environmental protection and associated best practices.

In addition to the proximity to the Hays/Travis county line, the study will factor in the juxtaposition to the Edwards Aquifer Transition Zone. The regulatory requirements and the mitigation of potential environmental impacts is a prominent focus of the study.

The study is the first step of long-term project development and is expected to take one to two years to complete. Following the feasibility study, the process would require an environmental study and schematic design (two to three years); final design, right-of-way acquisition and utility coordination (approximately three years); and construction (three or more years).

Phase advancement will rely on funding. While the funding for the study has already been approved, funding for necessary National Environmental Policy Act studies, right-of-way acquisition and construction have not been secured.

For those unable to attend in the in-person open house, a virtual open house and comment portal, as well as all meeting materials, are available at www.sh45gap.com. The virtual open house will be open through June 30.

An additional open house is tentatively planned for late summer 2023.

Community members who would like to receive email updates can also sign up online.