Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Sept.
28, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is mailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.
PANTHER PRIDE: O.L. PRICE RECOGNIZED DURING HOMECOMING
Last week, for the first time in the city and school district’s history, they paid homage to O.L. Price High School and it’s 1962 state championship team.
“This is the first time we have tried to meet each other halfway,” said Leslie Hill, who attended O.L. Price High School. “And I think it’s wonderful.” At the Sept. 22 City Council meeting, Mayor Brandt Rydell read a proclamation recognizing O.L. Price High School. In addition to the school district and the city, the Taylor Youth Ducks football program has been honoring O.L. Price’s historic accomplishment all season with a special patch on their uniforms. On Saturday morning, the Youth Ducks recognized O.L. Price High School prior to their varsity game.
CITY LEADERS LOOK AT CARTS RIDERSHIP IN TAYLOR
At the regular meeting of the Taylor City Council Sept. 22, city leaders heard a presentation from Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) General Manager David Marsh.
“We have had steady ridership throughout our tenure here in Taylor,” Marsh said.
“Just because others are doing more doesn’t mean yours isn’t serving a need. (However), we are confused as to why Taylor, one of our largest towns, isn’t keeping up with some of our other towns.”
Despite the smaller populations of Bastrop, which has around almost 10,000 people, and Lockhart, which has around 14,000, they both have seen higher ridership for CARTS Now, which is a new on-demand service, than Taylor has, despite its higher population of 17,000, Marsh said.
According to the presentation, total ridership through CARTS for the month of August for Lockhart was 2,925, for Bastrop 1,915 and for Taylor 1,549.
In Taylor, CARTS offers a variety of ride options, including to locations throughout Williamson and Travis counties and beyond.
In addition, in 2021, it launched CARTS Now, which provides doorto- door transportation between any two points within Taylor for $2 per ride, and within 15 minutes of calling or using an app.
ROADS ON THE MENU AT CHAMBER LUNCHEON
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.
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 gridpattern map across the entire county of proposed “arterial facilities” that would allow people to have access to neighborhood amenities without getting on a freeway. 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.
