Sweeping Burnet County transportation plan starts rolling

By Raymond V. Whelan • Daily Tribune Staff

BURNET - The first session to develop the Burnet County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, which included several elected officials and residents, produced several committee appointments, an update on more than $33 million in future road projects and a homework assignment.

County Judge Donna Klaeger chaired the session, which included 22 attendees Wednesday at the Burnet Meeting Room, 303 E. Jackson St.

“We are going to work together as a community on this plan,” Klaeger said.

The plan will take about two years to implement, officials have said.

The plan will include an extensive analysis of the entire county infrastructure, “all the way down to hike and bike trails,” Klaeger added.

In September, Texas Department of Transportation officials said the agency would fund $500,000 to support county officials, groups and individuals as they came together to develop a county comprehensive transportation plan to improve traffic safety, reduce vehicle congestion and implement several other transportation goals.

During the session Wednesday, Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter, Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Hibler, Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, Klaeger and several other officials convened to kick off Phase I of the plan, including the creation of the County Transportation Steering Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Bill Neve did not attend the meeting.

The steering committee will include Klaeger as chairwoman; the four commissioners; county flood plains director Herb Darling; and county subdivision director Larry Fox. Also serving on the steering committee will be representatives from several cities and communities, including Sylvia Breen of Cottonwood Shores; Crista Bromley of Burnet; John Gayle of Granite Shoals; Polly Krenek of Bertram; Carlton Pullen of Meadowlakes; Marble Falls City Councilman Brian Shirley; Horseshoe Bay General Manager Mike Thuss; and Riley Walker of Spicewood.

A representative to the steering committee from Highland Haven will be appointed later, officials said.

Also during the meeting, Shirley volunteered to serve as chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee, which will include Greg Haley, Thuss and Walker.

While nobody immediately accepted an appointment to chair the Citizens Awareness Committee, Marble Falls City Manager George Russell agreed to serve as a member.

Dockery said the committee will be “very important” during future weeks, because it will “communicate with the public to let them know what we are recommending.”

Also during the meeting, Capital Area Rural Transportation Planning Organization representative Sean Moran said TxDOT plans to hire a civil engineer in January to assist the committees.

Burnet County is already on the CARTPO list to receive TxDOT funding for at least four future projects, Moran added.
The projects include repairs to RR 1431 from Longhorn Railroad to Industrial Boulevard; U.S. 281 from RR 1855 to the Burnet city limits; RR 2147 at the U.S. 281 intersection; and RR 2147 from the Peninsula development to about one mile east of the Cottonwood Shores city limits.

Approximately $33.6 million

Altogether, the projects may cost TxDOT approximately $33.6 million, officials said.

Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long was scheduled to address the group, but her appearance was postponed.

“Texas 29 (in Williamson County) runs into our (Texas) 29,” Klaeger said. “They have several projects going on and a lot of (road) widening, and we want to make sure we know what they’re doing as we identify our future needs and develop our goals.”

Before the meeting ended, Klaeger assigned the committees to review the Bastrop County Memorandum of Understanding, a document that outlines the parties, purpose and intent, background and responsibilities regarding a transportation plan Bastrop has already started to develop.

Klaeger asked the committees to look for any concerns they may have with the memorandum, which will serve as a model for Burnet County transportation plan committee members.

County Attorney Eddie Arredondo will also review the Bastrop memorandum, the judge said.

The next transportation meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 28 at the Granite Shoals Community Room.

raymond@thepicaycune.com

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Sweeping Burnet County
transportation plan starts rolling