By Karen Huber
Travis County Pct. 3 Commissioner
I cannot support the construction of SH 45 SW at this time. I was elected as Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 3 on a platform to proactively pursue more integrated and comprehensive regional land-use planning and transportation infrastructure.
The short version of this is “how to grow, now, and preserve our quality of life at the same time.” Since taking office, I have worked for better coordination among various jurisdictions in planning infrastructure, mobility, and development. Assessing and prioritizing transportation needs in this greater context is critical for good long-term results. Additionally, with transportation funds declining it is pertinent to examine the benefits and costs of planned construction. With these principles in mind, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot support the immediate construction of SH 45 SW.
It is the typical thinking of transportation agencies in Texas to build first and ask questions later. Without asking questions that help prioritize, we get nowhere — literally. For example, if SH 45 SW opens with no capacity improvements to Mopac, we are foolhardily shifting the traffic burden from one area of neighborhoods to a much larger area of neighborhoods. SH 45 SW will feed into the already congested southern end of Mopac, and there are no current plans to address the main chokepoints on Mopac — the bridge over Barton Creek south of SH 360 and the bridge over Lady Bird Lake. Therefore, SH 45 SW is likely to exacerbate problems on the primary traffic artery for western Travis County. Similarly, the Y at Oak Hill is already a major regional transportation intersection and the improvements there are a must-do priority.
Considering these regional priorities in addition to the limited transportation funds available, the benefit of immediate construction of SH 45 SW fails to outweigh its costs. The reality is the $80-100 million toll road will not solve all the congestion problems on Brodie Lane. Since 1995 approximately 3,530 new homes have been built off Brodie which equates to an additional 9,107 cars on the road. Accordingly, based on recent traffic counts over half of the traffic on Brodie Lane is internally generated. The tranquil country road that Brodie Lane once was is no longer the case.
I sympathize with the residents that live off Brodie Lane, they experience unbearable traffic. Yet, even if SH 45 SW were funded today, it would likely take 6-8 years for total completion of the road. With no short term answers for SH 45 SW, it is imperative to develop more immediate solutions that will mitigate traffic on Brodie regardless of the status of SH 45 SW. I have been working with TxDOT to create cost estimates for the expansion of FM 1626 to Manchaca and the completion of Manchaca as a continuous five lane road. These improvements would coincide with new traffic signals on Brodie Lane which will increase gaps for residents on unsignalized side streets and impede incoming external traffic.
I am aware that many residents in the Brodie area disagree with my stance, but my position is not based on politics or popularity. As the representative of a precinct that comprises over 500 square miles and a population over 285,000, I must examine and address the issues from a regional context and their associated priorities. I “never say never,” because the conditions that are currently unfavorable for the immediate construction of SH 45 SW might change in the future. But until conditions change significantly and the regional considerations I have outlined are taken into account, I will not support the immediate construction of SH 45 SW. However, I do understand the urgent need to address congestion and safety issues on Brodie Lane, and I look forward to continue working with the area’s residents for timely solutions that are in concert with good regional growth planning and priorities.