Council backs federal grant applications for RM 1431 widening and Bell Boulevard corridor study

Council unanimously approved staff requests to apply for federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding for two projects: the widening of RM 1431 from Bagdad Road to the Williamson/Travis County line (construction estimated at $27 million) and a corridor study for Bell Boulevard (estimated $1 million) focused on safety improvements, medians, lighting, pavement work and multimodal connections.

Randy Skinner, assistant director for engineering capital projects, told council that STBG funds are administered by the Federal Highway Administration and selected by the Metropolitan Planning Organization; projects require local implementation, TxDOT concurrence and a local 20% match unless transportation development credits are used. “We’re currently in the process of design and environmental clearance and right-of-way acquisition,” Skinner said about RM 1431, adding that the city and Williamson County have an interlocal agreement to share the local match.

For Bell Boulevard, staff described a corridor-wide study that would examine safety enhancements and the potential for the city to manage the roadway if a future transfer from state control occurs. Councilors asked about timelines and overlap with other design efforts; staff said STBG-funded construction would not likely be available until 2028 and that the study would help plan for a future transfer of the corridor to local control.

Council moved and approved the resolution by unanimous vote; staff will prepare and submit the STBG applications through the MPO process.