Staff Report
BUDA — The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) awarded the city of Buda $10.48 million in federal transportation funding for the future reconstruction of East Main Street between IH-35 and Firecracker Drive.
Combined with a $2.62 million local match, the project carries a total budget of $13.1 million, with funding anticipated to become available in 2029. CAMPO is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown region, responsible for coordinating transportation planning and distributing federal transportation dollars across a six-county area through a competitive project selection process. The East Main Street expansion was selected in CAMPO's 2028-2031 Call for Projects.
East Main Street — Buda's primary commercial corridor east of the interstate — currently carries two-way traffic on a single lane in each direction with a center turn lane, a configuration that has generated persistent congestion as the city has grown.
The project will reconstruct and expand East Main Street as a four-lane corridor, with a raised center median and dedicated left-turn lanes from IH-35 to Firecracker Drive, according to a city news release. A 10-foot shared-use path on both sides of the road will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists along the length of the corridor.
“Securing this competitive funding from CAMPO is a significant achievement for Buda,” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky. “This award reflects years of planning and helps us move a critical east-side mobility project closer to construction.”
East Main Street also serves as the primary access route for the Sunfield master-planned community, which has more than 5,800 planned residential lots east of Firecracker Drive. The expanded road will also improve access to IH-35 and SH 45 for commuters, area businesses and school buses, the release continued. Additionally, the Sunfield developer will expand East Main Street from Firecracker Drive to the east.
The project also includes upgraded stormwater infrastructure and on-site water quality treatment. All improvements will be built within the existing right-of-way.
The city took a phased approach while pursuing full funding. In November 2024, the city awarded a contract for an interim solution — adding a dedicated right-turn lane from westbound Main Street onto the northbound IH-35 frontage road — which was completed in April 2025. The full reconstruction will complete the build-out the city has planned since 2023.
More information about East Main Street and other 2021 bond projects is available at www.budabonds.com.
