The location of a proposed Hutto ISD bus barn on Highway 685 drew extended public comment and council discussion on Nov. 6. A community speaker argued for a dual‑depot strategy to reduce deadhead miles and improve safety and efficiency; the speaker cited fuel‑use and operational benefits.

Public commenter Gary Caso said, "While a single large facility might seem efficient on paper, the practical realities of the huddle's rapid growth and existing infrastructure constraints favor a dual depot strategy." He urged the city and ISD to collaborate on a secondary site near Chris Kelley Boulevard to shorten bus travel distances.

Council discussed alternatives and legal constraints. Council member Thompson made a motion to approve Resolution R‑2025‑330 related to the ISD bus‑barn location and it received a second. In subsequent discussion several council members said they were not ready to adopt the ISD’s selected site without further exploration of alternatives; council member Thompson then withdrew the motion. Later in the meeting, after executive session, discussion resumed and a motion to approve the resolution appeared but was withdrawn as council continued pursuing alternate sites and coordination with the ISD.

Why it matters: Bus‑barn siting affects routing, deadhead mileage, fuel and maintenance costs and can influence traffic patterns. It can also raise community concerns about road capacity, safety and equity of district decisions inside city limits.

What comes next: Council and city staff said they will continue exploring alternate sites south of the tracks and work with the ISD to find a location acceptable to both the district and the city. No final vote was recorded on the bus‑barn location at this meeting.

Speakers and statements in this article are taken from the public comment record and council discussion as recorded in the meeting transcript.