Hays Co. Commissioners Seek Ways to Ignore Voters

Earlier this month, Hays County voters rejected a $172 million bond proposal for road expansion. Voters probably aren't concerned about the cost - TXDOT had promised to reimburse the county for $133 million of the $172 million. Instead, Hays County voters appear to be rightfully concerned about induced traffic and a bunch of giant roads mucking up their countryside (both directly and through the strip malls, tract-home suburbs and office parks that are attracted to wide roads). However, instead of implementing the voters' mandate, Hays County Commissioners have created a transportation committee to search for other ways to finance the road construction projects. Why are roads are more important to the commissioners than voters?

A similar proposal will go to Cedar Park voters in November. What is the obsession with wider roads? If anything, we'd rather see more, narrower roads. Grids work better than lone highways. And why would the new City Hall go on thirteen acres? Can't they fit that thing on one acre? Is it one acre of building and twelve acres of parking lot? Redonkeykong.

Image from sheeshoo on flickr.

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By Shawn Shillington in News on May 31, 2007 1:24 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

haysresident

There was a large contingent who wanted to expand and widen the roads... the 482 vote difference were primarily those who live in Wimberley who don't want a RR12 to be expanded through the middle of the town. The $$ in the bond package would have really helped alleviate the back-ups to and from main thoroughfares for those who live in the newer subdivisions built off of the 2 lane roads. It was an attempt to add infrastructure to all of the approved development in Hays Co.

Hays County.

I am pretty sure they voted it down because they didn't want to pay for it in their taxes (Hays taxes are pretty close to Travis these days) - and that they will not be upset with the commissioners looking for other funding. It will be a benefit to all Hays communities.

Prop. 1: $172 million for road work

Yes.............. 4,854 ........... 48%

No ............... 5,336 ........... 52%

Luke Quinton

This is insane- why are local Texas politicians in the I-35 corridor so comitted to simply expanding against the will of their constituents, and at the expense of any thought and reflection?

RR12... good luck. I'm sure it'll look like Highway 71/Lakeway/Lake Conroe in no time.

skemptastic

if you want to start another wal-mart argument, just wait for today's news bits post. :D

Shawn Shillington

Eh. Do you really want to get back in to Wal-Mart@Northcross? I'm bored with it (and I watch Channel 6 and post on bond proposals in rural counties). When something happens, I will post about it, but revised traffic studies? It just doesn't do it for me.

heyzeus

$.

btw, I'm counting on an Austinist post about Walmart's revised traffic study. It's been awhile since we've had a good ol' commenting shitstorm.