Author Archives: Lynette

Momemtum building for Four Points traffic fixes

Brian Thompto

Brian Thompto

Pam Waggoner

Pam Waggoner

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Never before has so much momentum been built for real improvements to address traffic congestion in Four Points, but local traffic advocates Brian Thompto and Pam Waggoner want to make sure residents know how to best back the most timely initiatives currently underway. They want to maximize the traction gained last week when a local reader brought up seemingly simple traffic fixes to the traffic issues in an opinion column.

The $720 million transportation bond is one timely initiative on the table that will be on the November ballot. In the next couple of weeks, Austin City Council members will be working on the language that can determine allocations for specific projects like the multi-prong, RM 620 and RM 2222 solution that could make significant changes to improve Four Points traffic flow.

Another initiative is adding a second road to Vandegrift High School, a proposal that is awaiting approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Last week, Four Points News ran Mike Beal’s point of view on the opinion page about another idea about how to fix the local traffic issues that would involve a 3,500 foot road to Vandegrift.

Thompto and Waggoner said they wanted a chance to address, amplify and clarify the points made by Beal and encourage the community to get involved at this critical juncture.

Thompto is the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association chairman and co-founder and the West Austin Chamber of Commerce (formerly Four Points Chamber of Commerce) director of community relations and mobility.

Waggoner is the Four Points Traffic Committee founder and Leander ISD Board of Trustees vice president.

The following is their response including background and updates on the two local initiatives underway to help alleviate traffic issues in Four Points.

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Destination Imagination teams go to Globals

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heptamojis Pin Trading

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Three local Destination Imagination teams were among 1, 464 teams from around the world at the Globals Tournament at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. May 25-28. Over 8,000 students — including those from Vandegrift, Canyon Ridge Middle School and Laura W. Bush Elementary — from over 20 countries were competing at DI Globals.

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LISD expands IB program to VHS

IB logo cmykBy KIM ESTES, Four Points News

The most rigorous academic curriculum offered by Leander ISD is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and it is coming to Vandegrift High School, said Debbie Quick, VHS IB coordinator.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive an IB Diploma, described as a “door opener” by Lisa Brittain, LISD director of college and career readiness.

“It transcends a lot of barriers,” she said.

IB is a branded program that is internationally known. A student’s IB/DP candidacy status is asked about on the common application for colleges.

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Reader’s Point of View – Four Points traffic solution: 3,500 foot road to VHS

VHS road proposal WEB

By MIKE BEAL, Steiner Ranch Resident

I guess I hit the point where I needed to vent, and in talking to friends and neighbors, it appears I’m not alone. It seems like every time I read a Four Points traffic article I get more and more discouraged. Here are some reasons why:

1) A year to get the “bird people” to approve any construction that would provide some relief. When did a bird that lives here for four months out of the year become more important than our kids safety… only in Austin. Maybe the bumper sticker should read ‘Keep Austin Weird and Stupid’.

2) Proposals that will increase our property taxes that may be on the ballot in November that may be in the works two-three years out and are currently ‘waitlisted’… glad we are fast tracking. Please note that this is not a dig on the folks working very hard trying to push this boulder up the bureaucratic mountain… once again our fine government at work… or maybe not at work.

3) A proposed new light on 620 and Steiner Ranch Blvd that is approximately 300 feet from the existing light on Comanche Trail. If this was really in the plan before the bank went in, then we are trying to accommodate the half of 1 percent of people wanting to take a left turn and are too lazy to exit Quinlan Park Road…so let’s penalize the 100 percent of folks on 620… really?

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