GUEST COLUMN
One of the most important issues facing the future of Kyle is our transportation network.
Not only is Kyle one of the fastest growing communities in the United States, but we are also situated at the nexus of major transportation arteries for Hays County and the Central Texas region. That makes the passage of Hays County’s Proposition A especially important for Kyle’s future.
Proposition A would fund $440 million in transportation improvements throughout Hays County. Because of Kyle’s unique location as the crossroads of the county, Proposition A would bring a whopping $218 million dollars to meet transportation needs in our immediate area.
The road projects funded by Proposition A would play a vital role in developing new roads, bypasses and intersection improvements to improve traffic flow, congestion and safety and to reroute regional traffic away from our school zones and neighborhoods.
In addition to improving the lived experience of commuters, families with school children and residents moving around town, these projects would provide opportunity for our downtown area. They promote a healthier and more vibrant downtown by creating passes, which are roads that move traffic away from local areas like neighborhoods, school zones and commercial nodes, such as downtown. This frees these areas from congestion by rerouting regional through traffic.
Building on thousands of hours of public engagement and professional expertise, Proposition A would take a major step toward enacting the county’s transportation master plan. While each of these projects would involve countless more hours of environmental, engineering and public review, the projects have already received a ringing endorsement from the community and experts alike.
Many jurisdictions work together on transportation issues, from the federal government to the state, region, county and local cities. Hays County and the city of Kyle have a longstanding partnership that has produced critical improvements in recent history. Our partnerships have brought millions of federal and state dollars to keep our roads system moving forward and protect our quality of life. In addition to the bold work the Kyle community has taken on transportation improvements in our own right, Proposition A puts even more money in our local quiver, which we can use to leverage many times over for federal and state transportation dollars.
While we know there’s no such thing as a “free lunch,” Proposition A promises action on some of the most pressing transportation issues facing the Kyle area and it does so in at a very reasonable expense.
Under a worst-case scenario, the tax rate for these bonds would be 2 cents on the rate or less and senior citizens would pay no increase because the county has enacted a full tax freeze for anyone age 65 and older. The county has a strong track record on bond programs and a reputation for fiscal responsibility, earning a very high AA+ bond rating.
As the Nov. 5 election approaches, I hope you will carefully consider Proposition A and the positive impact it can have on our transportation network and quality of life well into the future.
Travis Mitchell is the mayor of the city of Kyle.
