oakhillgazette.com
March 20, 2014 Volume 19, No. 6 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
TxDOT to talk about funding options for Oak Hill Parkway by Bobbie Jean Sawyer OAK HILL - The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and TxDOT will host a workshop on funding options for the Oak Hill Parkway project on Saturday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Oak Hill United Methodist Church. Melissa Hurst, community outreach manager for the Mobility Authority, said the meeting will focus on the multiple ways transportation projects are funded, including federal and state gas tax, motor vehicle registration fees, property taxes, local options, tolling and public-private partnerships. David Ellis and Ben Ettelman of the Texas A&M Transportation In-
stitute, along with multiple members of the Oak Hill Parkway project team will speak about funding options for the project. “These workshops are important for those interested in shaping the Oak Hill Parkway project,” Hurst said. “At each workshop, we focus on one area of the project, solicit public input and then take that input back to the project team and create change. We want to create a project that represents the values of Oak Hill.” The question of how to fund infrastructure improvements is a statewide dilemma. According to the Texas 2030 Committee, the projectSee TXDOT on page 17
Only 4 days to save tree $1,500 of $20,000 goal left to raise by Bobbie Jean Sawyer
Donald Boyles: donaldjboyles.smugmug.com
Bowie junior left-hander Kyle Gray pitches as the Bulldogs rallied from six runs down to defeat the Austin High Maroons 10-9 in a game played Wednesday over Spring Break. More sports on p. 14.
OAK HILL - The deadline for transplanting the historic heritage tree oak at the intersection of William Cannon and U.S. 290 has been extended until March 24th. The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation is $1,500 short of reaching its $20,000 goal, said executive director Michael Fossum. See ONLY on page 17
The ‘Taco Bell’ heritage oak tree at William Cannon and Hwy. 290.