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Leander staff pursues federal earmark requests: Hero Way, fire station and San Gabriel phase 3 among priorities
Summary
Staff reported on a trip to the National League of Cities conference and said the city submitted three funding requests to Congressman Michael Burgess' (transcript named Congressman Carter) appropriations channel for Hero Way expansion ($30M), Fire Station No. 6 acquisition/construction ($13M) and San Gabriel Parkway phase 3 ($9M).
City staff gave a federal legislative update on April 3, 2025, summarizing meetings at the National League of Cities conference and the rapid submission of congressional funding requests through a member‑directed appropriations process.
Federal affairs staff said the delegation met with congressional offices and identified three priority projects submitted for possible earmark funding on short notice after a meeting with the congressman who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
The projects submitted were:
- $30,000,000 to expand Hero Way (listed in staff materials as a 4‑lane divided roadway from 183A through Ronald Reagan to Southwest Bypass, including shared use paths and frontage roads); - $13,000,000 for acquisition, design and construction of Fire Station No. 6 in the northeast portion of Leander; and - $9,000,000 to construct San Gabriel Parkway Phase 3 as a four‑lane divided arterial.
“We put our heads together, and, you know, the top project that we identify from our CIP... is the expansion of Hero Way,” federal affairs staff said during the presentation, noting Williamson County support for the regional project and that staff assembled the requests quickly to meet the appropriations deadline.
Staff briefed council on national priorities discussed at the conference — streamlining federal programs, bolstering affordable housing, infrastructure investment, broadband, workforce development and public safety — and said those themes helped guide the city’s project selection for federal requests. The city manager and council members thanked staff for the rapid coordination that enabled timely submission.
Council received the update and asked staff to continue coordinating with congressional and state staff. City staff noted they would track appropriations committee activity and report back when the projects advance through the federal process.
