Economics, survey under questioned at second Wirtz Dam Bridge meeting

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

While ecological concerns were at the forefront of comments in the first public meeting for the Wirtz Dam Bridge, economic questions and survey fairness seemed to be the primary concern at the second meeting.

The meeting was conducted by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and, as of Nov. 3, CAMOP hd received “almost 500 surveys and about 500 comments” from citizens about the bridge, said

CAMPO Public Information Officer Doice Miers.

According to the results, 35 percent of survey takers said the greatest transportation need is bridges and river crossings.

“Eighty-two percent said the Wirtz Dam Bridge would be beneficial,” she said.

Highland Lakes residents have only a few weeks left to submit opinions regarding the project; the final public meeting will be held on Nov. 21, and the online survey will close on Nov. 27.

“Typically this much community outreach isn't done this early in the process,” Miers said in response to a question about the cost of the bridge.

She said the cost wasn't calculable yet.

On commenter said that the survey was skewed, citing a specific question on the survey that asks, “What discourages you from traveling between the north and south sides of the Colorado River?”

“It's very biased,” said Mike Montgomery of Cottonwood Shores. “What discourages me? Nothing! I love the new bridge. I don't necessarily want one in my backyard.”

“I think it's a shame that there's not another alternative to the Marble Falls bridge,” said Joanne Scarborough, a Granite Shoals resident and proponent of the Wirtz Dam bridge. “For fire and police protection it would be great to have another route from north to south. Austin didn't plant for growth – if we would do this ahead of time, it would be very beneficial.”

Another argument in opposition to the project was whether or not it was justified. Dave Ellis said that a study done by Texas Department of Transportation in 2005 showed it was not.

“It's hanging out there as beneficial, but I can't see where it's justified,” Ellis said.

Miers reminded that officials were trying to determine “not only a justification for today, but in coming years… The gas money (TXDOT gasoline tax) will be collected. It's a matter of, is there an improvement to the community that it can go to, or will it go to another area?”

Some residents asked whether the county could do infrastructure improvements elsewhere, but County Judge James Oakley said the state funding couldn't be used that way.

“This is different because it's new infrastructure,” he said, adding that improvement projects to existing infrastructure, such as additional lanes on US 281 and Texas 71 were in the works.

“This is the only new connectivity project being considered,” he said of the bridge.

One Cottonwood Shores resident said they felt the bridge would encourage economic growth in the town.

“Hill Country Community Theatre – people on this side of the river would love to go there, but it takes so long,” Scarborough chimed in.

“We want to hear about what people have to say about existing river crossings, about traffic flow and travel times, and anything else they have to say,” Arin Gray, a CAMPO concept development and planning staff member, told area community leaders and first responders at the fact finders first public meeting Sept. 9.

“This will continue through November and we hope to come back with a final report in December.”

CAMPO has an informational website, http://www.campotexas.org/get-involved/wirtzdamroad/, and the is available through a link there for online or email response.

For those looking for a reminder of the details of new state highway funding approved by voters last year, through which funding might be directed to the Wirtz Dam project, TxDOT has prepared a simplified explanation. Search for Proposition 7 – Constitutional Amendment for Transportation Funding at www.txdot.gov.