Category Archives: River Place

TxDOT updates $36.2 million, 2222/620 projects at SRNA meeting Expecting fall 2020 finish on widening & bypass

Residents looked over Texas Department of Transportation maps of the RM 2222 widening and RM 620 bypass projects at the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association meeting on June 25. LYNETTE HAALAND

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Texas Department of Transportation officials gave updates this week on the RM 2222 widening project and the bypass project that will connect RM 620 with RM 2222. The two projects — totalling $36.2 million — are expected to be complete by fall 2020.  

“It is progressing well with an anticipated October 2020 completion,” said Victor Vargas, area engineer with TxDOT. He addressed some 20 attendees of the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association meeting held at Towne Square Community Center on June 25.  

Area residents asked questions and looked over maps on the two TxDOT projects that will help alleviate traffic congestion in Four Points.

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Route F may be out due to high cost

Confirmed at July 2 Travis County Commissioner Court meeting

By LYNETTE HAALAND 

Four Points News

This near one-mile, $7.2 million road would connect Steiner Ranch’s Flat Top Ranch Road with RM 620. It is called route F and it was the preferred choice of Travis County engineers but according to
Brigid Shea, Travis County Commissioner Precinct Two, at the July 2 meeting, an alternate road will be recommended due to the high cost of this route. Source: Travis County

Brigid Shea, Travis County Commissioner Precinct Two, indicated in an email on Wednesday that route F — which was to be a $7.2 million, permanent road out of Steiner Ranch connecting Flat Top Ranch Road to RM 620 — is now not going to be the recommended evacuation route for the community.

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Six Viper INCubator startups pitch ideas, receive funding

In May, 21 Vandegrift INCubator teams pitched in front of five judges from the community – Kristin Spindler, Shane Stevens, Kristen Huguley, Gene Arant and Kai Lamb. In the end, six teams received funding.

By MIGUEL BLANCO, MEGAN MESSER

Vandegrift Voice

Twenty one Vandegrift INCubator teams pitched in front of five judges from the community – Kristin Spindler, Gene Arant, Shane Stevens, Kristen Huguley and Kai Lamb – on May 10. The judges chose four final teams to present at “Final Pitch Night” on May 14 in the Performing Arts Center at VHS. 

“In addition to those teams presenting, all of the other 17 teams showcased their business ideas in an expo prior to the actual pitch performances,” said Erin Lucas, VHS INCubator teacher. “All of the attendees were allowed to vote on their favorite of the 17 teams showcasing. The winner of the “People’s Choice” got to pitch on stage with the four others.” 

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Man arrested for DWI after hit-and-run and colliding with another vehicle driven by a teen at 620 & Steiner

Travis County booking photo of Margarito Sifuentes.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

A local couple recounts their harrowing experience of being part of a DWI hit-and-run accident on RM 620 near Mansfield Dam that minutes later resulted in another crash with a vehicle driven by a young driver at the intersection of RM 620 and Steiner Ranch Boulevard.    

On the evening of Thursday, June 20, Margarito Sifuentes was driving a pickup at a reported high rate of speed on RM 620 with a passenger. After he hit a minivan, Sifuentes crashed into a second vehicle and then the silver Ford he was driving came to a stop. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office was at the scene within minutes and Sifuentes was arrested and transported to an area hospital to be treated. Sifuentes was charged with driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance. 

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Local child drowning stats on the rise

ARC shares four rules of the water

By DEBORAH COUNTIE 

Pediatrician

A community pool, a local hotel pool, a home pool, and even in an unexpected place like a bath tub – these are the locations of the four drowning deaths recorded in Austin so far this year. That represents three more deaths in 2019 than in all of last year and we’re only one month into summer vacation. All of the victims were under 10 years old. 

I wish I could say that something preventable such as drowning is a rare occurrence. It’s not. In the U.S., drowning takes an average of 3,500 to 4,000 lives per year. That’s about 10 fatal drownings per day.

These tragedies occur more often during summer months, when bathing suits become uniforms. While pool time equals fun time in every young child’s mind, it is also when parents need to be extra vigilant.

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