By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
After five years in the making, the $18 million RM 620 and RM 2222 bypass road project is officially funded: $10.5 million from Texas Department of Transportation and $7.5 million from the city of Austin, according to TxDOT.
“We’ve been pushing for a solution since 2012. The good news is that the funding is officially approved at the state level for this project,” said Brian Thompto, Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association chairman and resident advocate for the bypass project since day one.
The RM 2222 and RM 620/Bullick Hollow Road intersection experiences significant congestion. TxDOT has done the research and concludes that adding travel capacity in the form of a new bypass road along with road improvements will improve mobility. Projections show that travel times could be reduced by about 60 percent, and help maintain safe access to and from Vandegrift High School and Four Points Middle School.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, TxDOT is conducting a public hearing at Vandegrift to present the project information and gather public input on proposed improvements to RM 2222 and RM 620.
This is the community impact meeting for the entire bypass project. It is critical for a strong showing from the community, said Thompto. The comments shared about the scope of this project will go into the official record, and “we want to hear from people who live here, students, school administration, people who work here, do business here, commute through the area,” he added.
“TxDOT is looking to hear about the positive impacts of this project on the community. This includes all of the impacts of the surrounding area, community, nature, businesses, people,” Thompto said.
The meeting will give the community a chance to share all of the positives that can result from this project, “why this is a good thing and why we need it,” Thompto said.
This meeting is part of the environmental work that is being done for this project.
“The new (bypass) road requires environmental approval. They have to finish an environmental impact study because it is a new road,” Thompto said. “The (environmental approval) is the thing that stands in our way from getting this road to reality.”
The environmental piece is currently being worked on by TxDOT. The environmental review, consultation and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out starting in December 2014.
At the meeting, there are expected to be those in favor of the project and those who are not in favor of it.
“There are always groups and entities of those concerned about the negative impacts for their particular circumstances. In some cases, concerns raised can be mitigated,” Thompto said.
Details for project
The proposed bypass project improvements include adding an outside northbound merge lane along RM 620 from Steiner Ranch Road, to a new bypass road to be constructed about a mile north of Steiner Ranch Road to RM 2222. Center-turn lanes and medians would also be built on RM 2222 between the new bypass road and RM 620.
Project 1
On RM 2222 from Bonaventure Boulevard to Ribelin Ranch Drive, the project consists of adding a through-travel lane eastbound from Bonaventure to Sitio Del Rio Boulevard and westbound from Ribelin Ranch Drive to Sitio Del Rio Boulevard. Turn lanes and raised medians would be built within the project limits.
This is estimated to cost $11 million and is anticipated to start next fall and be finished by summer 2020.
Project 2
On RM 620 from Steiner Ranch Boulevard to RM 2222, the project consists of adding an outside northbound merge lane along RM 620 from Steiner Ranch Boulevard to a new bypass road to be constructed about a mile north of Steiner Ranch Boulevard to RM 2222. Center-turn lanes and medians would also be built on RM 2222 between the new bypass road and RM 620.
This is estimated to cost $7 million and is anticipated to start fall of 2019 and be finished by summer 2020.
Public meeting
Next week at the public meeting on Oct. 26 at Vandegrift at 9500 McNeil Dr., there will be an open house at 5:30 p.m. where the public will be able to review available project information and exhibits, discuss the project with project staff, and ask questions at the hearing. Then the formal presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a public comment period.
Verbal and written comments regarding the project may be presented at the hearing or sent by mail to: TxDOT Austin District Office RM 2222/RM 620 PH Comment P.O. Box 15426 Austin, Texas 78761. Comments must be received on or before Nov. 10 to be part of the official hearing record.