by VERONICA GORDON

Buda City Council members are among the latest to put their support behind the construction of SH 45 SW.

The council recently adopted a resolution in support of the proposed 3.5-mile SH 45 Southwest Regional Connector roadway project, between Loop 1 (MoPac) in Travis County and FM 1626 in Hays County.

In June, the Austin City Council deleted the project from its Comprehensive Plan. The council also directed city staff to request deletion of the proposed roadway from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 2035 Regional Transportation Plan.

The resolution, passed by Buda City Council, says the project has been identified by the city’s Master Transportation Plan as a critical solution to relieve traffic congestion, reduce pollution, increase safety for those traveling and living along FM 1626 and Brodie Lane, and improve future connectivity.

The resolution also acknowledges that “while development of any major roadway will alter the natural landscape, there are many effective methods to mitigate environmental impacts consistent with a goal of non-degradation, as clearly demonstrated by the Loop 1 (S)–US 290 (W) interchange project and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Green Mobility Challenge.”

Last week, CAMPO held a public meeting at Elm Grove Elementary in Buda to seek input from residents about the plan.

Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones was impressed with the turnout and the overwhelming support from those who attended the meeting.

“CAMPO said that was the biggest community meeting they’ve ever had that was not for a toll road, so the people really showed up,” Jones said. “So far, the comments they’ve received are 80 percent for keeping it in the plan.”

Kyle City Council is also set to pass a similar resolution in support of building the road, Jones said.

“Hopefully the city of Austin will reconsider and keep the road in its plan,” he added. “We feel really strongly that its going to be kept in.”