CAPCOG, Llano County complete transportation & economic development plan

CAPCOG and Llano County completed the Llano County Transportation and Economic Plan Update in August highlighting findings that illustrate unique characteristics of the county that can influence the county’s growth and implications for its transportation infrastructure and economy. This updates the original 2015 plan with newer demographic data and economic factors.

“Plans like this are vital to local governments as they help direct and prioritize what infrastructure projects are needed to meet a community’s economic goals,” said Charles Simon, CAPCOG planning and economic development manager. “The two areas this plan covers, economic development and transportation, greatly affect each other. Improving traffic circulation can increase access to employment and shopping opportunities, while economic growth can increase the need for circulation improvements.”

The update also provides a review and status report of transportation projects identified in 2015 and recommendations based on current data and community input. In some cases, such as that of the historic Roy B. Inks Bridge in downtown Llano, the plan outlines several opportunities for local officials to consider for projects long-term viability.

Periodic plan updates allow for adjustments to always changing conditions. Using the 2015 plan as starting point, the process for drafting the update was as comprehensives as the original. CAPCOG and the county held several steering and stakeholder meetings to gather input and develop plan recommendations while also evaluating the county’s growth, shifting demographics and other relevant data, such as municipal zoning maps, traffic counts, and accident statistics. The plan update, funded through an agreement between CAPCOG and the Texas Department of Transportation, is at capcog.org/documents/.