$532 million toll road project under consideration in Williamson County
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — At the request of Williamson County, Cedar Park and Leander considered backing a study that could add toll lanes to Ronald Reagan Boulevard, a major arterial roadway on the county’s west side.
Williamson County is seeking a partnership with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to continue its plans for the boulevard from Cedar Park to Jarrell. The improvements to the 31-mile stretch are to be made in five segments, named A-E.
The study focuses on Segment A of Ronald Reagan Boulevard from RM 2243 to SH 29. The county’s current proposal says the boulevard would grow from four to eight lanes, with just Segment A estimated to cost $532 million.
If toll lanes are added, county schematics show there would be one toll lane in either direction at RM 1431 that widen into two raised toll lanes with frontage roads on both sides.
Precinct 2 Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long appeared at the Leander City Council’s April 3 meeting to advocate for the study.
She said the county sought out the option of adding pay-to-use lanes because it needs help paying for the corridor’s expansion.
“If we had $500 million to do this without tolling it, that would be awesome. The reality is we don’t,” Long said.
Leander City Council took no action on the study and plans to revisit the subject another time.
Cedar Park’s city council approved the study in a 6-1 vote at its March 27 meeting.
Where did the money go? Locals question past road bond spending
A representative from Williamson County said Ronald Reagan Boulevard has been included in at least five road bond elections passed by voters since 2000.
The latest of those came in 2023, the changes to Ronald Reagan alone adding up to $120 million.
Nancy Ann Ling lives near Segment A and says she might have voted differently on past road bonds if she new toll lanes would eventually be added to Ronald Reagan.
“We’ve already given them tax money. We feel like we don’t have a voice into the discussion,” Ling said.
Williamson County says that bond money has been used to build the current roadway, which will stay non-tolled even if the partnership with CTRMA continues.
The partnership with CTRMA would be for new, managed lanes and not the current lanes.
As cities and the county await the results of Cedar Park’s approved study, Ling said she hopes leaders will offer opportunities for public input as things
“I think a community outreach would be extremely important for us to understand why they’re seeking this user pay fee when we have given them millions of dollars in taxes to help pay for this,” Ling said.
