After adoption by the County of the 2025 Transportation Plan in 2000 and a successful bond election in 2001, the County began working with TxDOT to advance priority status of several State and County roadways, including US 290, RM 12, FM 1826, FM 1626, SH 21, San Marco Loop 110, Wimberley Loop, FM 150 and FM 967. The proposed partnership program was refined over the next two years. In 2003, the County appeared before the Texas Transportation Commission to seek Strategic Priority funding for US 290, RM 12 and FM 1626/FM 967.
Soon after the County’s delegation appearance, Governor Perry signed into law House Bill (HB) 3588, which refined existing project delivery tools such as Regional Mobility Authorities (RMA’s), tolls and bond financing, and authorized pass-through tolling as a new financing tool. The County formed a committee to address the current status of the County’s bond program and the County’s transportation priorities. The committee was charged with developing a plan of action for the Court in light of HB 3588 to include the possibility of the County forming its own Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), or joining the existing Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA).
In the following year, the County continued to negotiate with TxDOT and in May of 2005, the Court authorized submitting a pass-through financing application to TxDOT. The pass-through financing application included improvements to US 290, RM 12, FM 1626 and FM 967. After negotiation with TxDOT, a revised pass-through application was submitted in December 2005 and in May 2006, the final Partnership arrangement was agreed upon by the County and TxDOT. Hays County would advance fund the development and construction of improvements to FM 1626, RM 12 and FM 110 through the pass-through financing agreement with TxDOT; fund the safety improvements study on SH 21 from the County Line to SH 80; and cost-share in the SH 21 safety improvement program. TxDOT would fund the SH 21 long-term improvement study; cost-share in the SH 21 safety improvement study; and fund construction of the US 290 safety improvements. The agreement was executed in December 2006.
While the US 290 safety improvement program is not part of the County’s proposed 2007 bond package, it is a critical element of the Hays County-TxDOT Partnership Program that will enhance the safe operations of this significant regional roadway. In early 2006, Hays County completed a safety improvements study for the US 290 corridor between the Hays/Travis County Line and RM 12. TxDOT has initiated construction of improvements, which include adding a center turn lane in designated areas to provide a continuous center turn lane through the County, and improving shoulders to generally a minimum 6 feet width through the County.