Leander and Williamson County outline multi-project roadwork; Hero Way design, interlocal agreements still being finalized

City and county staff on May 15 updated Leander City Council on a set of planned road projects — including Hero Way Phase 1A, East Crystal Falls Parkway, Crystal Falls Parkway extension and County Road 175 — and said several interlocal agreements and design decisions still must be finalized before construction begins.

The presentation, led by a city staff transportation presenter, outlined the scope and schedule for multiple projects and identified outstanding agreements and cost-share commitments the city and county are negotiating. "The project cost share, the interlocal agreement... allowed for the city of Leander to contribute to the right of way up to 13,900,000," the presenter said, referring to an interlocal agreement executed in November 2021.

Council members and staff emphasized coordination with Williamson County and TxDOT, the need for a traffic study to account for new developments and schools, and the importance of finalizing design before a construction contract is executed. "We'd be more comfortable having things tied down and agreed upon before it starts," the presenter said.

Why it matters: the group of projects affects multiple city corridors and is tied to large developer activity and a new school that speakers said will add traffic to already-congested segments. Several projects have six-figure to multi-million-dollar price tags and depend on interlocal agreements, right-of-way acquisitions, and utility relocations.

Key details - Hero Way Phase 1A: The county-led Phase 1A will convert portions of Hero Way from two lanes to a three-lane cross section (one lane each way plus a continuous center left-turn lane) and add a shared-use path. The November 2021 interlocal agreement allows the city to contribute up to $13.9 million toward right-of-way; the presenter described a two-step reimbursement schedule (25% at agreement, 25% at contract award, 50% at 50% construction), and said the construction contract had not been awarded. A second interlocal agreement, pending, would commit $5 million from the city for utility relocation. - Alignment and maintenance swap: The design under discussion includes a realignment (shown as a magenta segment) that would shift the constructed roadway and trigger a maintenance swap with TxDOT; the city would assume maintenance on an alternate roadway in exchange for TxDOT maintaining the new frontage segment. - Capacity and alternatives: Staff said they are exploring design alternatives including one-way pair operations, increased lane capacity, and the costs and schedule impacts those alternatives would cause, noting the possibility that whatever is built may be in place for 10–15 years before further expansion. - East Crystal Falls Parkway: The city-led 1.1-mile new roadway is estimated to cost more than $43 million for initial construction; the county would contribute up to $7.5 million toward right-of-way and design. Staff said the design consultant selection could begin in June and construction could start as early as April 2028 if schedules hold. - Crystal Falls Parkway extension and County Road 175: Additional segments were described that would convert existing rural two-lane roads to three- or four-lane urban cross sections. One segment's total estimated construction cost is about $30 million with a county contribution capped at $14 million; the city would fund the remainder.

Discussion and concerns Council members pressed about near-term congestion at Hero Way considering the planned opening of Harmony School in August and the proposed Titan development. Council member Michael Herrera asked about Titan's construction schedule; Randall Malik, Economic Development Director, estimated a winter–spring ground-breaking the following year subject to market conditions. Speakers stressed the need for an updated traffic study to reflect growth since the 2022 transportation plan and to model ten-year projections under proposed improvements.

Decisions and next steps - Staff said utility relocations are underway and that construction on some segments could start as early as fall 2025, contingent on executed agreements and finalized designs. - Council voted to hold a one-day transportation workshop on Wednesday, June 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. to discuss design options, funding implications and interlocal agreement terms. The motion passed unanimously.

What’s next: staff will continue coordination with Williamson County and TxDOT, complete the pending interlocal agreements, update traffic modeling to reflect recent development, and present findings at the June workshop so council can provide direction on design alternatives and funding.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are city staff (presenter, name not specified), Randall Malik, Economic Development Director; and Council member Michael Herrera.