Commissioner’s Corner

By Russ Molenaar

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the Hays County bond roads; these are roads that will be upgraded using money from bonds passed in June.  As you may recall in my last article just before the bond election, I told you that the County would sell the bonds in phases so the County would not acquire too much debt at one time, and therefore we could keep taxes in check.

 In the first phase, we sold $15.7 million worth of bonds; we have sent Request for Qualifications on engineering services for the design and construction of the roads. We have had two meetings with TX Dot (Texas Department of Transportation), City of Dripping Springs, EMS, Fire, DPS (Department of Public Safety), Rep. Rick Green’s Office and Senator Ken Armbrister’s Office. In these meetings, we discussed strategies that could speed up the process of upgrading Hwy 290, RR12, and FM1826.

The County wants to upgrade Hwy 290 to five lanes with possible right turn lanes from RR12 east to the county line. TX Dot advised us that we would need to do an environmental impact study and design on Hwy 290. This project would take approximately a year before it could be bid out for construction.

The City of Dripping Springs and the County want to upgrade RR12 to four lanes from HWY 290 south to the City of Wimberley. TX Dot told us that we had to acquire the right of way for the roadway.  The City of Dripping Springs is now working on the right of way within the city. The County will began our portion after engineering services are hired.

 The County wants to upgrade FM1826 to a three-lane roadway with improved shoulders. We also have to acquire right of way for this project.

We have been working with TX Dot for a turn lane on Hwy 290 west from RR12 to Dripping Springs Middle School, with a four way protected left turn lane at the intersection of Hwy 290 and RR12.  TX Dot advised that they would let this project out for bid some time after the first of the year. The County is still working with TX Dot to extend the turn lane from the Middle School to Bellsprings Rd.

 I have been working closely with the City of Dripping Springs, Dripping Springs ISD, EMS, Fire, Dripping Springs Library and Dripping Springs Youth Sports Association on upgrading Sports Plex Drive from Hwy 290 to the Middle School.  The goal is to make a three-lane roadway with shoulders, with the middle lane being dedicated to emergency vehicles only.  This will solve the problem of Fire and EMS being able to respond to emergency calls during peak traffic hours. The County is doing a cost study with the above entities and is now surveying the area to see how much right of way will be needed. 

 We all need to remember that the bonds the citizens of Hays County approved in June will be used for the upgrading and rebuilding of roads in all four Precincts in Hays County.  Several things will determine the amount of money available for each project.  Every area of the County and Pct 4 will have to put projects on the list based on priorities.  Those projects in unincorporated areas will be the first in order of priorities since there will be no “city” to help fund those projects.  If the road improvements and/or right of way acquisition lies within one of the cities, the County will most likely ask that specific city to take responsibility for at least part of the cost of the project.  

The City of Dripping Springs has recently passed a resolution that essentially asks the Hays County Commissioners Court to set aside bond money specified for the project, I mentioned previously on RR 12 between Hwy 290 and RR 150. I have been working with the City of Dripping Springs and TX Dot for some months, to determine what will be needed from each entity to get this project put on TX Dot’s “radar screen.”  Until June, when Hays County citizens approved the Road Bonds, there wasn’t a lot to hope for…but now; we have a chance to get this project moved up in priority by TX Dot. However, the County has a responsibility to make sure the bond money is used as efficiently as possible. Therefore, the City of Dripping Springs will likely be asked to “anti up,” since this particular project lies totally within the city limits.  I’ll update you on this and the other projects as we progress.    

 If you have any questions, please give me a call at 858-7268 or email me at russ@co.hays.tx.us. 

Pol. Adv.paid for by Russ Molenaar for Hays County Commissioner, Pct. 4, Wally Kinney, Treasurer

1034 Hidden Hills Dr., Dripping Springs, TX 78620