Williamson County announced changes to the Corridor I-2 Planning and Right-of-Way (ROW) Preservation Study. The study will still consider connections for travel between US 183 and SH 29, but with a narrower ROW footprint and updated alignments. The study is intended to enhance safety and mobility in northwest Williamson County, while preparing for the growth in the region.
This study is an important step taken by the County to proactively plan for the next two decades. The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced that Williamson County is the third fastest-growing county in Texas, out of 254. The City of Liberty Hill, alone, grew by 277 percent between 2010 and 2020 and is the third fastest-growing city in the state. There are more than 6,700 residential and commercial lots currently in development in the Liberty Hill area. This rapid growth requires proactive planning to keep pace with the influx of new residents and vehicles.
“When planning for new roadways, it's important to listen to the property owners and to take into account the regional needs of the area,” said Precinct Two Commissioner Cynthia Long. “After thorough conversations with the neighbors, discussions with Burnet County, and further technical analysis, we have adjusted the study to better address the current needs of northwest Williamson County as well as the current regional needs.”
The Corridor I-2 Planning and ROW Preservation Study is part of the Williamson County Long-Range Transportation Plan, a conceptual plan that identifies future connections to ensure the County can maintain a high level of safety and mobility as growth occurs. The plan is regularly updated based on current needs, population projections and anticipated future mobility and safety needs. As part of the Corridor I-2 Planning and ROW Preservation Study, the County began meeting with impacted property owners in October 2021 to listen and learn about their properties. Through these conversations, along with coordination with Burnet County officials, the County determined changes needed to be made. After further analysis and under Commissioner Long’s leadership, the study has been rightsized to address the region’s needs.
With rapid population growth also comes a greater need for emergency response services. Over the last ten years (2011-2021), Williamson County has seen a 167 percent increase in Calls for Service (CFS), which include 911 calls, administrative calls and Officer Initiated Activities, such as traffic stops, citizen assists and observed crimes.
“Growth is a regional concern that must be addressed holistically,” said Commissioner Long. “As an elected official, it is my responsibility to plan for the future, while listening to current concerns. The growth the county is seeing necessitates long-term and thorough planning, so we can avoid future gridlocked traffic and emergency services that have delayed response times.”
As part of the updated study, the County will revisit existing safety improvements to CR 200 and CR 236 and identify opportunities to improve and connect existing roadways in the northwest region. The County’s technical team will continue to examine a variety of constraints such as impacts to homes and businesses, water resources, archaeological and historic landmarks and more to plan for potential alignments. As those alignment options are identified, the County will meet with potentially impacted property owners to gather feedback before a final ROW footprint is set.
The Corridor I-2 Study is being funded through the voter-approved 2019 Road Bond. Funding for ROW acquisition and construction was not included in the bond and will need to be identified before future phases of the project can be implemented as growth dictates.
For the most up-to-date information on the Corridor 1-2 Study, please visit www.wilco.org/corridorI-2.