City of Georgetown gets $4 million in federal funds to widen major road

Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read

The city of Georgetown will receive $4 million in federal community project funds to help pay for the widening of one of its main roads, officials said on Friday.

The money will help pay for the expansion of FM 971, according to a news release from Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock. The road runs from Austin Avenue to Texas 130 in Georgetown, said Keith Hutchinson, a city spokesman. It connects with the new Northwest Boulevard bridge, which means drivers can access Interstate 35 from FM 971 via Northwest, he said.

"Our county has grown exponentially and with that growth, comes traffic," Carter said in the release. "When Georgetown came to me to request this funding, it was obvious that this is not only a justified use of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars, it will also greatly improve the lives of my constituents."

FM 971 has narrower than standard lanes, no underground drainage, no curb, no shoulders and no pedestrian facilities despite the fact that it ends at Cooper Elementary School and Forbes Middle School near Texas 130 on one side and at San Gabriel Park at FM 971's intersection with Austin Avenue at the other side, officials said.

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The $4 million in federal funds will come from the fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill under the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the release said. The entire project is expected to cost between $25 million to $30 million.

"The city is thrilled and extremely thankful for the support of this project from Congressman Carter and his colleagues," Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said in the release. "The $4 million in support will be important seed money for this project.”

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The city does not have a construction timeline yet for the FM 971 project, said Hutchinson. The $4 million in federal funds will help with the design, environmental approval and right-of-way acquisition for the project, he said. The city also plans to seek federal funding from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for construction, Hutchinson said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: City of Georgetown gets $4 million in federal funds to widen major road