By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
Residents of the Montview area are not satisfied with Travis County Commissioners decision in July to move forward with route B as the new evacuation-only, gated route between their community and Steiner Ranch.
A dozen or so Montview residents came to the Aug. 13 Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association meeting to share their concerns about the county’s quick vote on July 9 for route B as opposed to route F (which had been the county’s preferred route since last fall).
“We feel like there has been misuse of government authoritative power. They led this crappy process, kept everyone on their heels and divided,” said Jeff Witte, resident of Montview Drive.
In general, Montview residents who spoke at the SRNA meeting fear that route B will not stay an emergency-only, gated route. They are concerned about disruptions that this road would make in their quiet community. Some do not agree with how the county handled going through a person’s property to achieve route B, and some think the new evacuation road will negatively impact their property values.
Montview has some 200 families and is located near Mansfield Dam, Lake Austin, RM 620 and Steiner.
Some Montview area residents also shared frustrations about how they perceived that SRNA represented their area in the matter.They challenged that SRNA appeared to be favoring a route that would be less disruptive to Steiner residents.
But Brian Thompto, SRNA chairman, shared that “we do our best to convey the concerns of the entire area.” SRNA has a board member from Montview, and purposefully stayed neutral on weighing in on endorsing an evacuation route.
“After the county voted on the option of route B, ultimately because of cost, I asked if they would take more time in their decision because (route B) had not been studied in the same depth and seriousness as F was,” Thompto said.
Route B is estimated to cost $980,000 while route F was estimated at $7.2 million.
The county’s estimated volume of evacuation traffic on route B is 750 vehicles per hour. It was noted that the cattle guard along the route slows traffic down to around 2 miles per hour and that the estimated VPH does not seem possible.
Some residents of Montview also stated that a letter by SRNA shared to the county commissioners, not long after their vote for route B on July 9, was not in their best interest.
They felt like the letter was drawing attention to and/or asking for additional improvements of some of the existing roads in Montview including the low water crossing and a cattle guard, which slows cars down.
Thompto read the letter at the SRNA meeting. He said with the letter that SRNA, again, was trying to be neutral, and point out to the county ways to “make this an effective evacuation route… as its intended purpose.”
The letter referenced some of the challenges that route B poses as it is now without additional road enhancements.
“The biggest bottleneck is at the low water crossing as it is now. When the original funding came through, we needed to do improvements in Montview,” Thompto said.
In early 2017, county commissioners voted to spend $2.7 million on an evacuation route with certificates of obligation. It was noted then that funds for the project included improving the existing low water crossing by raising and widening the bridge so that it does not overtop as frequently, said David Greear, Travis County engineer, in an early Four Points News report.
Fast forward to July 9 and county commissioners only voted on route B (estimated to cost $980,000) and no other road work was discussed or voted on.
Thompto reminded those attending the SRNA meeting that Brigid Shea, County Commissioner Precinct 2, mentioned at the July 9 commissioner’s meeting that it would be up to the Montview community to work with the county on any changes in their roads.
