By Jennifer Stanko
Hays County residents got their chance to provide input on proposed changes that could be coming to FM 150 west.
Residents gathered at Thurman’s Mansion in Driftwood on Oct. 22 for a presentation of the county’s FM 150 Character Plan, which involves FM 150 between Arroyo Ranch Road and Ranch Road 12.
According to Hays County Precinct No. 3 Commissioner Will Conley, the county’s project team has received a “tremendous amount” of response from residents with a “lot of different feedback.”
Planning was based on the projected growth in population and business predicted by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).
According to CAMPO, the expected population of Hays County will quadruple over the next 25 years.
In 2013, Hays County created the Hays County Transportation Plan, which featured short term and long term transportation plans. Those included making improvements to FM 150 west.
Some of those proposed changes include widening shoulders, lane extensions, curve smoothing, and updating/upgrading existing roadways.
Proposed ideas include widening parts of FM 150 to four lanes, along with a bypass route connecting Elder Hill Road at Ranch Road 12 to FM 150 at the RM 1826 intersection.
But the county argued that they are trying to avoid turning FM 150 in another U.S. 290.
County officials said they are researching concepts for what is needed for this area, and to not “force fit” a certain highway design.
The project is currently in the first of three phases. Phase I involves the developmental and pre-planning stage, where corridor features and themes are considered. The county’s team is gathering driving patterns, characteristics of the area, and environmental aspects.
Arin Gray, public information consultant for the FM 150 plan, said that the Character Plan would continue to be in the Phase I pre-planning stage at their next public input meeting, which has not been set at this time.