Buda Council receives SH 45 update

BUDA — Stacy Benningfield, project manager for the State Highway 45 Gap Study, presented a status update to Buda City Council at its Jan. 16 meeting.

The gap study and project are included in the Hays County 2021 Transportation Plan, the city of Buda 2020 Buda Moves! Transportation Mobility Master Plan and the CAMPO 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. The study began in the fall of 2022 when Buda entered into an agreement with Hays County to study possible alignments for extending SH 45.

If constructed, the road would extend from SH 45 Southeast to SH 45 Southwest or from IH-35 to FM 1626 — an approximate 3.6 miles.

Since the study started, there has been dialogue between property owners, local partners, regional stakeholders and the surrounding community to plan for the transportation needs.

“This collaboration is important to the overall success of the project as it’s important that the project, if ultimately constructed, actually represent the values and the views and the interest of all of those [that are involved],” said Benningfield.

The following is what the study is attempting to achieve:

• 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 options for additional and more detailed studies

• Minimize impacts to existing and planned development

• Identify strategies for environmental protection and associated best practices

Benningfield also stated that it is important to engage with all of those involved, so they’ve reached out to the city of Austin and met with Travis County staff twice, had 14 meetings with property owners and have had two public meetings for community members in June 2023 and December 2023.

The first open house discussed route options and residents had the opportunity to draw where they believed the best route for the road would be. Benningfield stated that almost every resident drew the same line within a few inches of each other, except one, which was significantly further north. The team then created concept photos of them; though, the two drawn by residents, Benningfield said, would cause displacements of homes. To solve this issue, another concept was created that was further south. This road would have no displacements and have shorter floodplain crossings, but is not the confirmed location.

Staff has also discussed potential roadway configurations, such as whether there should be frontage roads. If they choose to add them, they may be included along all or part of the route and the roadway would be 400 feet wide. Without them, it would be narrowed to 250 feet, but Benningfield noted that there will have to be some frontage roads due to existing properties that would need access.

At the open house in December 2023, this information was presented to residents for feedback. The team received 88 comments, which are currently being analyzed, and will have a response posted online when all of the questions are answered.

Benningfield stated that next is a complete traffic study, origin/destination study, operational analysis and a preliminary historic resource survey.

There will be a third and final open house for this portion of the project, where they will present results of the traffic study, route concept and potential access points. It is tentatively planned for summer 2024. The preliminary schematic will be completed after and the hope is to finish it by the end of 2024.

As the project progresses, there will be more open houses to continue gauging community response.

Benningfield stated that the timeline is as follows:

• 1-2 years for feasibility study, which is where they are currently;

• 2-3 years minimum to complete an environmental study and schematic design;

• 3+ years for the final design, right of way acquisition and utility coordination; then

• 3+ years to complete construction

To listen to the presentation, visit bit.ly/3U5nxlZ.