By Dukes                                             H.C.R. No. 264
         77R13782 RVH-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Travis County collaborated for several years with
 1-2     the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to acquire the
 1-3     Missouri-Kansas Texas Railroad Company right-of-way (MKT
 1-4     right-of-way) for the proposed western alignment of State Highway
 1-5     130; however, now that an eastern alignment has been selected by
 1-6     TxDOT as the preferred route, the county is requesting that TxDOT
 1-7     release the portion of the railroad right-of-way that lies within
 1-8     Travis County to the county so that it may develop its own local
 1-9     transportation projects to meet the mobility needs of this rapidly
1-10     growing area; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Travis County continues to grow in population at a
1-12     significant rate; between 1990 and 2000, the population of Travis
1-13     County increased from 576,000 to 813,000, experiencing a 10-year
1-14     growth rate of 41 percent, and, according to projections by the
1-15     Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Travis County
1-16     population is expected to increase to 1,146,000 by the year 2020
1-17     and to 1,272,000 by the year 2025; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Travis County is best able to identify and plan for
1-19     local mobility projects that serve the needs of its residents; and
1-20           WHEREAS, In 1984, Travis County contributed $345,250 in bond
1-21     funds toward the appraisal and acquisition of the MKT right-of-way,
1-22     a portion of which extends from the Travis-Williamson county line
1-23     to Ed Bluestein Boulevard just north of the Colorado River; and the
1-24     MKT right-of-way will not be used for the alignment of State
 2-1     Highway 130; now, therefore, be it
 2-2           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-3     hereby direct the Texas Department of Transportation to release
 2-4     Parcel 2, parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, land originally obtained as the
 2-5     right-of-way for the western alignment of State Highway 130, to
 2-6     Travis County to use for other transportation infrastructure
 2-7     projects; and, be it further
 2-8           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
 2-9     copy of this resolution to the chair of the Texas Transportation
2-10     Commission and to the executive director of the Texas Department of
2-11     Transportation.