To build transportation corridors that meet the needs for future generations, you need to plan far enough out in advance.
Such was the message shared by Robert ‘Bob’ Daigh, senior director of infrastructure for Williamson County, at the monthly luncheon sponsored by the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce Sept. 19 at the Taylor Independent School District’s Event Center.
“We looked at how transportation planning was done around the world; we looked at cities in Texas. What we discovered was the local transportation model isn’t far out enough,” Daigh said. “What most people really want when they are asking for a transportation plan, when city council or the commissioners court is asking, they are not really asking for a transportation plan. What they are really asking for is what are the next roadways that we should go build; what roads should be in our (Capital Improvement Plan) program.”
Instead, Daigh, said, it makes more sense for local leaders to develop two plans simultaneously. “What I have pointed out to my consultant friends is you can make more money by doing the right thing, by telling the city they need two plans,” Daigh said.
“They need an ultimate build-out plan for their city or county, and then they need a separate plan for what they need to construct immediately or within the next 10 years because, let me tell you in transportation, 10 years is tomorrow for as long as it takes for a project to get through the environmental process, right-of-way to be acquired, utilities relocated, you are talking a long time, many years.”
Based on this, Daigh said his office has mapped out a series of projects in the works for the long haul, including for new freeways all across the county, for which right of way is already being acquired. In addition, the county has developed a grid-pattern map across the entire county of proposed “arterial facilities” that would allow people to have access to neighborhood amenities without getting on a freeway.
“You should not have to get on a freeway to get to church,” Daigh said.
“You should not have to get on a freeway to get to the grocery store. You should not have to get on a freeway to get across town to see your friend.
You need an arterial street system.”
At the meeting, Daigh emphasized that the map will not all be developed, but that it’s important to have a plan now anyway in case the acreage does get sold. “Now are we going to build all those arterials?
No,” Daigh said. “What this does is when a farmer sells their property to a developer, and the developer comes in to get platted, we want to try and be sure that at some point in the future when are at ultimate build-out, you can get across the county on a continuous roadway network.”
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Let me tell you, in transportation, 10 years is tomorrow.”
- Robert ‘Bob’ Daigh, senior director of infrastructure for Williamson County
