The CAPCOG Regional Planning and Services Division completed two community outreach meetings in April to receive public input from residents and area stakeholders for the Lee County Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Plan; the plan is anticipated to be finished in the late fall of 2024.
The plan seeks to identify actionable goals to ensure future business development aligns with transportation infrastructure, but also to plan infrastructure improvements to support economic development. Issues identified in the first outreach meeting on March 28th in Giddings included finding funding for the business park infrastructure and expanding the airport, identifying broadband funding options, and expanding tourism downtown. The likely location of a bypass was also discussed related to anticipated industrial and residential growth in the north end of the county.
The community outreach meetings provide valuable insight about transportation and economic development challenges, according to Charles Simon, CAPCOG’s Regional Planning & Services director. The project, which represents a partnership between CAPCOG and the Austin TxDOT District Office, started with the appointment of steering committee by the Lee County Commissioners Court. After the outreach meetings, CAPCOG will review all input and recommendations, analyze data related to population, traffic, workforce, and other community growth trends, and work with the steering committee to finalize recommendations for final action by the Lee County Commissioners Court. CAPCOG anticipates the plan being completed late in the fall of 2024.
