Source Documents

FM 150 West Character Plan: Final Report and Master Plan

K Friese & Associates. Accepted by Hays County Commissioners Court, October 10, 2017. 72 pages. Specifies two-lane configurations throughout the corridor. Contains community input, cross-section designs, and the Citizens Advisory Panel recommendations.

Character Plan: Vol. 2 Technical Appendices

Technical data supporting the Final Report, including traffic analysis and engineering details.

Character Plan: Vol. 3 Public Involvement Reports

Full documentation of public meetings and community input across the three-year planning process.

Corridor Features and Themes Report

Phase I report documenting corridor character, environmental features, and community values.

Background and Roadway Configurations

Cross-section diagrams and design options presented to the community. All configurations are two-lane.

Potential Environmental Constraints Map

Shows Edwards Aquifer zones, Golden-Cheeked Warbler habitat, floodplains, karst features, and other environmental constraints along the corridor.

Public Meeting — July 11, 2017

71 attendees. Nature & Character Master Plan phase. Includes mapped comments on the Darden Hill area and community feedback on proposed cross-sections.

Public Meeting — December 13, 2016

76 attendees. Contains the Darden Hill Road alignment discussion and the key community quote: "Keep Darden Hill Rd. 2 lane residential. Do not want to encourage commercial truck traffic."

Public Meeting — October 22, 2015

228 attendees — the largest turnout. Includes the 322-signature petition that forced removal of the Elder Hill bypass. The county stated: "Neither the County nor the project team believe or propose that FM 150 should be expanded to four lanes now."

Public Workshop — March 25, 2015

Features & Themes phase. Community input on corridor character and preservation priorities.

Informational Meeting — October 16, 2014

Initial public meeting launching the Character Plan process.

Hays County Darden Hill Road Project Page

County's Improve 150 project page for the Darden Hill expansion. Contains stated project goals and design overview.

Character Plan Archive

Index of all Character Plan documents, meeting reports, and supporting materials.

TxDOT RM 1826 Feasibility Study Project Page

TxDOT's overview of the RM 1826 feasibility study. Environmental/Schematic phase began early 2025. Contact: AUS_RM1826CountyLine@txdot.gov

TxDOT RM 1826 (US 290 to RM 150) Project Page

TxDOT's overview of RM 1826 intersection improvements and long-range widening plans.

Feasibility Study Report

September 2024. 48 pages. Recommends four-lane widening. Contains traffic projections (15,100 AADT west of Darden Hill by 2050), crash data, and capacity analysis. Shows Darden Hill intersection at LOS F by 2050.

Public Meeting Exhibit Boards — June 25, 2024

Display boards from the public meeting showing proposed cross-sections, typical sections, and the recommended alternative.

Public Meeting Documentation — June 25, 2024

171 attendees. Full documentation of the public meeting including community comments. Stakeholders noted desire to preserve Hill Country aesthetic.

Traffic Noise Analysis

Noise impact analysis for the RM 1826 corridor. Relevant to Darden Hill residents who will experience similar or greater noise impacts from a four-lane expansion.

Environmental Constraints Maps

Maps showing floodplains, endangered species habitat, water wells, wetlands, and other environmental constraints along the RM 1826 corridor approaching Darden Hill Road.

Schematic Plans

Detailed engineering schematics showing proposed road alignment, lane configurations, and intersection designs including the Darden Hill Road junction.

Summary Report & Fact Sheets

Project overview documents and fact sheets from various study phases.

Stakeholder Working Group Meeting Records

Documentation from the three stakeholder working group meetings held during the feasibility study.

Study Area Maps

Maps showing the RM 1826 study corridor from RM 150 to the Travis/Hays county line.

2024 Hays County Road Bond Voided

KUT reporting on Judge Catherine Mauzy's ruling voiding the $440M bond for violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. June 24, 2025.

Texas Local Government Code §271.049

The statute allowing 5% of registered voters to petition to force a public election before Certificates of Obligation can be issued.

Save Our Springs Alliance

Environmental advocacy organization involved in challenging the county's approach to funding and development over the Edwards Aquifer.

Impact Speed and a Pedestrian's Risk of Severe Injury or Death

Tefft, B.C. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2011. Source for pedestrian fatality risk statistics cited on this site (46% at 40 mph, 7% at 20 mph).

Child Pedestrian Injuries Near Schools

Rothman et al., Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2015. Identifies four-lane roads near schools as a significant predictor of child pedestrian injuries.

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2023. Source for arterial road pedestrian fatality data.