Two projects are being considered for Travis County’s possible bond referendum in November to address traffic and safety concerns: widening and straightening Flint Rock Road, near Lake Travis High School, and extending Bee Creek Road and Highlands Boulevard in the Rough Hollow development.

“We’ve had complaints and concerns from the people who live along Flint Rock Road for years, and the city’s been trying to figure out a plan on how to make that a safer road,” said Lakeway City Manager Steve Jones.

Jones said making improvements is complicated, since most of the roadway is in Travis County and not within Lakeway’s jurisdiction.

Leigh Naftolin, a representative of Precinct 3 for the Travis County Citizens Bond Advisory Committee, said the committee, along with residents who spoke at public hearings, have overwhelmingly supported both projects, based on new schools and a new hospital being built in the area.

The committee members were appointed by Travis County commissioners in February, with each precinct having three community resident representatives to determine the need for a bond referendum in November and, if needed, which projects should be included.

Commissioner Karen Huber’s other appointees for Lake Travis and Westlake residents are Mark Taylor Evert and Carolyn Vogel.

Naftolin said the committee was asked to narrow the bond cost from a $635 million wish list to $150 million. As of June 30, the committee has narrowed it down to just more than $200 million.

“Every one of the projects were considered worthwhile or they wouldn’t have been considered,” Naftolin said. “Some we decided were too expensive or, to us, didn’t look like a necessary project to do at this time.”


Bee Creek/Highland project

On Nov. 8, Lake Travis ISD residents will vote on a $158.5 million bond package, including $53.72 million for a new Lake Travis Middle School to be built on land owned by the school district on Bee Creek Road, near Hwy. 71. The new school, along with the growth of the area, is expected to bring additional traffic to the roadway. The current Lake Travis Middle School facilities on RR 620 would be utilized as additional space for Lake Travis High School.

“When you hear schools [are] going in, you know you need good transportation, a good entrance, a good exit and safety, so that in and of itself certainly was approved by the citizens,” Naftolin said.

However, the committee cut the cost of the project. Rough Hollow developer Haythem Dawlett said he would help by widening Highlands Boulevard from a two-lane to a four-lane road.

The improvements to Bee Creek Road would cost the county $7.37 million.

Highlands Boulevard, a four-lane, divided road through Rough Hollow, converges into two lanes near Bee Creek Road.

Jones said the city would like Bee Creek Road expanded to four lanes to Hwy. 71.

“The road’s not real safe the way it is today,” Jones said. “It’s narrow, winding and has sight-visibility problems at intersections. It’s in need of attention right now.”


Flint Rock Road project

Jones said the key concerns of Flint Rock Road are that the roadway is twisting and narrow, there are no shoulders and it is used extensively by Travis High School students—many of whom are new drivers.

Traffic is also expected to increase with the opening of the Lakeway Regional Medical Center on RR 620—which also has an entrance on Flint Rock Trace—in early 2012. In emergencies, ambulances will likely be using Flint Rock Road to get to Flint Rock Trace from Hwy. 71, since it is a more direct route from the southwest area than taking RR 620.

About six to seven wrecks are recorded each year on Flint Rock Road, but Jones believes there are a number of one-car accidents that go unreported.

“Much like Bee Creek, it’s windy, it’s narrow and there are some elevation changes that don’t meet the design criteria of today,” Jones said. “Our concern is increased traffic with the new hospital going in and the opening of Serene Hills [Drive]. The school uses it for bus traffic, and we’re concerned about the safety.”

The plans would widen the road, add shoulders, flatten some hills and straighten some curves.

The total cost of the project would be $6.2 million, with the city’s share at $2.4 million and the county’s share at $3.8 million. The Lakeway Regional Medical Center is also expected to handle some of the cost along its northern border, where Flint Rock Trace and RR 620 meet. Naftolin said this project has support from a variety of places, including the police and fire departments and the school district.


Bond referendum process

Six meetings were held throughout the four Travis County precincts between June 20–30 to hear public feedback on the proposed projects.

On July 19, at a regular scheduled meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, the commissioners will hold public hearings, decide on a final projects list and decide whether to call a bond referendum election for November.

In addition to the county’s November bond referendum, the City of Lakeway would also need to hold a bond election to raise its portion of the funding for Flint Rock Road, which would not happen until the following year. If the bond were approved by Lakeway residents, the earliest construction would begin is the first quarter of 2013.