filling the GAP
The SH 45 project is designed to connect I-35 to South MoPac and will aim to alleviate tra c to and from Hays and Travis counties. If found feasible, it will be built over the transition zone of Edwards Aquifer, a vulnerable area with wells and springs.
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to I-35 in Buda, and straddles the Hays County and Travis County line, which has raised concerns from tra c experts and environmental advocates as construction to complete the road would take place directly over the Edwards Aquifer transition zone. The commissioners quarrel The contention this gap has brought about predates the sitting commis- sioners as support for the existing SH 45 SW uctuated since the early 2010s. Despite SH 45 SW reaching completion in 2019, the SH 45 road project is in its infancy with no clear path ahead yet. One of the issues fac- ing the project is a lack of agreement between the counties on how the project should move forward. With the gap split between two counties, both jurisdictions must approve of and collaborate on the project. On Aug. 30, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a $2.5 million contract with CP&Y, Inc. for engineering services to complete the project in a 4-1 vote with Judge Ruben Becerra dissenting, citing “con- icting messages.” Prior to the vote, Hays County com- missioners Mark Jones and Walt Smith said they had previously discussed the project with Travis County commis- sioners Je rey Travillion, Ann Howard and Margaret Gomez. Smith’s precinct covers the area where the SH 45 gap is, and Jones used to cover that precinct prior to the redistricting in November 2021. Initially, Jones said Hays County should look to Travis County for their feedback on the project. “I don’t want to speak for them,” Jones said. Both he and Smith went on to say the conversations were “very posi- tive.” However, Travis County com- missioners voted Sept. 13 to send a letter to Hays County to “make clear our opposition to this action.” “We are writing this letter to make clear that that is not an accurate portrayal of [Travillion, Gomez and Howard’s] views and furthermore, to explicitly communicate to Hays County our opposition to their action,” Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said at the Sept. 13 meeting. She added that both Travis County and the city of Austin have opposed the construction of this road project, on the record, as it would be built directly over the Edwards Aquifer. The letter itself also stated that
AUSTIN
Key
290
Edwards Aquifer Transition Zone SH 45 road project area
71
MOPAC
1826
45
35
45
967
1626
BUDA
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
neither the Travis County Trans- portation plan nor the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization regional transportation plan include the SH 45 road project. However, the SH 45 gap is in the city of Buda’s Transportation Mobil- ity Master Plan and the Hays County’s Transportation Plan, and is identi ed for study in the CAMPO Long Range Transportation Plan, according to Arin Gray, CD&P President and mem- ber of the SH 45 gap plan study that is underway. Following the letter from Tra- vis County, Jones told Community Impact his use of the term “very positive” regarded how he felt the conversations regarding SH 45 went with the Travis County commission- ers. He added the conversations were purely informational, and he was not seeking approval of any kind for the project. Regardless of sentiment, Shea said she believes what Smith and Jones have said in court are “not accurate.” “[Hays County] has refused to acknowledge our request to put their
access,” Shea said. However, some community mem- bers believe there are some glaring aws in the existing infrastructure, planning and transportation in place, according to Farm&City founder Jay Crossley. Farm&City is a Texas-based non- pro t that works with communities and government agencies to develop sustainable and equitable growth strategies, and improve public transit. The nonpro t promotes healthy cities that do not negatively a ect the envi- ronment or rural communities. Regional growth forecasting points
work on hold and, at least, confer with us on what they are doing,” Shea said. A case against cars One major argument from the city of Buda and Hays County is that the com- pletion of the gap project would help relieve tra c congestion in the area. As tra c on existing roadways continues to increase, both Hays and Travis county commissioners have worked over the past several years to ensure the counties are planning to meet the needs of future growth. “There is a lot of pressure from developers who want more road
“THE REASON WE’RE DOING THE SH 45 ROAD PROJECT STUDY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING BETWEEN I 35 AND FM 1626. IF THERE IS EVER GOING TO BE A ROAD THAT CONNECTS SH 45 TO I 35, WE NEED ITTHE EARLIER WE START, THE EASIER IT IS GOING TO BE.”
MARK JONES, HAYS COUNTY PRECINCT 2 COMMISSIONER
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