oakhillgazette.com
April 3, 2014 Volume 19, No. 7 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
Opening Day in Oak Hill—play ball!
SH45-SW update by Bobbie Jean Sawyer
The Oak Hill Royals, above, and the Purple Panthers, below, were two of the teams celebrating Opening Day for the Oak Hill Youth Sports Association girls softball program. More photos on page 16.
OAK HILL - While the SH-45 Southwest project is not quite a done deal, the Travis County Commissioners Court has determined a funding strategy for the controversial proposed 3.6-mile roadway that would connect MoPac with FM 1626, thus clearing a significant hurdle to finally getting the road built. At a March 18 Commissioners Court meeting, the court voted 4-1 to fund SH-45-SW through a partnership with Hays County and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. Travis County will fund $15 million for the project, while Hays County will put forth $5 million. The Mobility Authority will
borrow $48 million from the state infrastructure bank. The remaining money will come from a $32 million grant from TxDOT and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). The future of SH-45-SW hangs in the state-conducted Environmental Impact Statement, which will evaluate potential environmental, cultural and social impacts of building the road. For SH-45-SW to be built, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) of the build alternative must be recommended. Over the project’s two-decade history, SH-45 supporters and See SH45-SW on page 22
Tree saved by Bobbie Jean Sawyer
OAK HILL - After months of rallying, the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation has met the $20,000 fundraising goal to transplant the heritage oak at the intersection of William Cannon and U.S. 290, but additional funds are still needed to save the tree. Michael Fossum, executive director of the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation, said an additional $5,000 is needed for traffic control during the transplant. Fossum said any funds collected See HISTORIC on back page
The ‘Taco Bell’ heritage oak tree at William Cannon and Hwy. 290.