Travis County voters on Tuesday will weigh in on two bond propositions totaling more than half a billion dollars — the largest bond package in the county’s history — for a range of park and transportation improvement projects.
Proposition A would authorize the county to issue $233.06 million in bonds for road and infrastructure improvements. Proposition B seeks approval for $276.44 million in bonds for parks and land acquisition.
What is a bond?
Bonds can be sold by a governmental entity, including municipalities, counties and school boards, to borrow money for a specific purpose. Propositions A and B are general obligation bonds, which require voter approval.
If both propositions pass, the owner of a home with the median property value in Travis County, $379,200, would see an increase of $46 on the 2024 county tax bill, according to county documents.
Travis County officials expect to repay the bonds over the next 20 years from accrued property taxes, according to county documents.
What projects will get funding under Proposition A?
Funding under Proposition A would be split among 10 projects, with the majority going toward efforts to expand road capacity on certain thoroughfares:
- $16,951,250 to widen 1.3 miles of a two-lane undivided road to a four-lane divided road with a shoulder from Taylor Lane to Burleson-Manor Road in eastern Travis County.
- $25,187,500 to acquire right of way on FM 812, FM 973, RM 620, RM 1826, and RM 1431.
- $31,031,000 to turn a two-lane undivided road with no shoulders into a two-lane divided road with a two-way left turn lane, shoulders and a shared use path on one side from Texas 130 to Hodde Lane in northeastern Travis County.
- $38,788,750 to widen a two-lane road without shoulders to a four-lane divided road with a shared-use path from Pecan Street to Fuchs Grove Road in northeastern Travis County.
- $33,247,500 to finish design, right-of-way acquisitions and construction for a new four-lane divided road with bike lanes and sidewalks between a planned extension of Braker Lane and U.S. 290 in northeastern Travis County.
- $16,623,750 to turn a two-lane undivided road with no shoulders into a divided road with a two-way left turn lane, shoulders and a shared-use path on one side from Lakehurst Road to Highland Drive in western Travis County.
- $11,082,500 to install a shared-use path on the south side of Howard Lane (also known as McNeil Road) from McNeil Drive to McNeil-Merrilltown Road in northern Travis County.
- $29,922,750 to widen the two-lane undivided road between Bradshaw and Turnersville roads into a four-lane divided road with a median, bike lanes and sidewalks from Austin to Texas 45. This item would provide additional funding to complete the 2017 bond project currently under design.
- $15,112,500 for active transportation safety projects connected to Travis County roads, including projects for safe routes to school, sidewalks, shared-use paths, bike lanes and/or signals.
- $15,112,500 to upgrade substandard roads, including Pyramid Drive and O’Reilly Drive, to county standards and add a sidewalk.
The five-member Travis County Commissioners Court selected these projects in August after consultation with the county’s Citizens Bond Advisory Committee, which held four public outreach sessions to determine whether a bond referendum was needed and which projects should be prioritized.
What about previous bond referendums?
This year’s bond package is the largest ever put to the voters. The largest previous proposal — $287 million for a new Travis County Civil and Family Courthouse in 2015 — was voted down, with 51% in opposition.
The county’s most recent bond referendum was in 2017, when two propositions for roads and parks — valued at $93.4 million and $91.49 million, respectively — passed with support from 73% of voters.
From the Stateman’s Editorial Board: Vote “Yes” on Travis County propositions A and B
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