The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted Wednesday to ask the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to study whether constructing tolled main lanes along the Ronald Reagan Boulevard (FM 734/Palmer Lane) corridor is financially feasible. Commissioner Valerie Long moved adoption of the resolution; Commissioner Tim Cook seconded it. The motion passed, 4-0.

The resolution requests that the CTRMA begin a traffic-and-revenue study for the corridor between State Highway 1431 and U.S. 35 to evaluate phasing and whether tolled main lanes could be added in the future. Bob Day, senior director of infrastructure for Williamson County, told the court the county is not proposing converting existing frontage roads to toll lanes and that the study would be financed by the CTRMA, not by Williamson County property taxpayers.

The move is intended to inform long-term planning for congestion relief. "There will be zero cost to the taxpayers of Williamson County," Day said, adding that CTRMA would fund the study and — if it moves forward with a project — would assume maintenance costs for new main lanes and the frontage roads in the corridor.

Why it matters: the corridor serves rapid-growth areas including Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill. County staff said southern segments of Palmer Lane already face heavy congestion and that main lanes could be needed decades from now. County officials emphasized that a CTRMA study is an exploratory financing and engineering step, not a construction authorization.

Residents who live near Ronald Reagan pressed the court for more public engagement. Marsha Strickler Watson of Citizens Defending Freedom urged commissioners to reconsider tolls and warned of political opposition; Amy Davis, president of the Rancho Sienna homeowners association, and Nancy Ann Ling, a Rancho Sienna resident, asked for town-hall style meetings so residents in unincorporated areas could hear specifics about design, access and impacts. "We are your constituents... we are residents who will be most affected by a toll road running by our homes and businesses," Davis said.

County staff and commissioners repeatedly described the study as the next informational step, not a commitment to build. Day said the CTRMA would study the corridor from 1431 to 305 (U.S. 35) and produce phasing and financing options. He said the level-1 and level-2 study work would cost about $600,000 and that those costs would be borne by CTRMA, not the county. Several residents had circulated incorrect figures by email, including one item that said the study would cost $500 million; Day called that assertion "absurd."

Commissioner Long said transportation projects in Central Texas are multidecade efforts and require phased funding and regional coordination. Supporters of study also pointed to 183A as an example where toll lanes eventually changed traffic patterns and enabled some travel-time improvements, while opponents said tolls are unpopular and urged the court to ensure broad local input before any project proceeds.

What happens next: with the court's resolution, the CTRMA can begin its study. County staff and commissioners said they expect many further public discussions involving Williamson County and neighboring cities (Cedar Park, Leander and Georgetown) before any decision about construction or tolling would be brought to the court for a vote.

Votes and motion: The resolution was moved by Commissioner Valerie Long and seconded by Commissioner Tim Cook. The court voted unanimously: Cook — yes; Bowles — yes; Covey — yes; Long — yes. Outcome: adopted.