Hays County is trying to make commuter traffic easier
The Hays County Commissioners Court has delegated up to $2.5 million for a project that could create an alternate route for commuters coming into Austin.
HAYS COUNTY, Texas – As Hays County grows, so does traffic. That’s why the Hays County Commissioners Court has earmarked up to $2.5 million for a project that could create an alternate route for commuters into Austin.
The commissioners hope to bridge State Highway 45 to Interstate 35, right in the area of FM 1626. The project passed 4-1.
“Hays County people wanted this before the 45 was built. They wanted it to be built at the same time as the 45,” said Hays County Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones.
Jones said it could help working-class people get to Austin for work with less wait time. The only person who voted against the project was District Judge Ruben Becerra, who said more research needed to be done before he could approve it.
“People don’t realize that if we do this pivot, all the traffic and related issues will be directed into our neighborhoods, and especially karst features in environmentally sensitive areas that haven’t been checked,” Becerra said.
Becerra’s concerns are upheld by the Travis County Commissioners Court. Last week it sent a letter to the Hays County Commissioners Court saying this project would increase traffic on the MoPac Expressway and make traffic worse for Austin residents.
The engineering office CP&Y was selected for the project. Financial reports show that Commissioner Jones received a campaign donation from $2,500 from the company in January this year. District documents show that CP&Y 2021 was selected for this job.
“We chose CP&Y because they were the most qualified,” Jones said, adding that the team has decades of experience in this space.
Jones has 12 years of experience in the transportation industry. He said he would even operate the traffic lights at some intersections himself.
Both Becerra and Jones say they’re looking for working-class families, they’re just on different paths to doing so.
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https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/hays-county-traffic-commuters/269-229cd483-dccb-4fe7-9064-594bc1226e93 Hays County is trying to make commuter traffic easier
