By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Steiner Ranch Master Association board of directors voted to accept Travis County’s offer of $14,000 for less than half an acre of land to build the Route B emergency-only evacuation road.

At the SRMA special board meeting on Sept. 30, the agenda item was discussed entitled “Emergency Route B HOA land conveyance”.

SRMA board member Christina Morales brought up that Travis County was against an emergency-only road in the beginning because those areas can become “dump areas”, she said.

She wanted the SRMA to address this in the contract of the sale.

“I wanted to make sure the maintenance and the landscaping was addressed in the contract,” Morales said.

After a brief discussion, the board voted to take the county’s offer for the .4 acre of land. SRMA board members agreed to also make sure that the homeowners association is involved with oversight of the gate design and landscaping to make sure it compliments the community.

The project is estimated to cost $650,000. Construction will likely begin at the end of this year, said Kathy Hardin, an engineer with Travis County Transportation & Natural Resources Capital Improvement Projects.

At the Prairie Clover Path intersection, Route B will connect Flat Top Ranch Road to Montview Drive. 

This route includes a 20’ wide paved road with 2’ shoulders. Two gates are anticipated with the potential for a third gate. The two planned gates are located at Flat Top Ranch Road and the rear lot line of the Montview Lot. The third gate will be determined by the Montview Lot property owner.

After extensive study and review and consideration of feedback, on July 19, 2019, Travis County Commissioners Court approved moving forward with Emergency Route B. Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources staff has been working with the design engineer, M&S Engineering.