Many forks in the road ahead for Burnet County

Before long, the roads will not be able to handle the load. Alternatives must be found, and for some, this will be a bitter pill to swallow. But it’s also a quality-of-life issue.

The area’s beautiful hills, shimmering lakes and easygoing lifestyle are attracting more newcomers each year from the big cities. Many of them commute to Austin.

County planners such as George Russell say the rising number of vehicles each day on U.S. 281, Texas 71, Texas 29 and RR 1431 will someday mean sweeping design and routing changes for area roadways.

The major roads of the Highland Lakes are already saturated. Everything is shoved onto these highways, but there are no alternate routes, bypasses or loops.

That could all change.

For instance, heavy traffic on 281 has almost reached the maximum level, at least going through Marble Falls, and state officials are discussing other solutions to alleviate the congestion.

That could mean that someday a toll road will be built as an alternate route to 281.

The Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Transportation Institute and county and city officials are already discussing these alternative routes, with the possibilities being along CR 120, Wirtz Dam Road west of Marble Falls or somewhere across Lake Marble Falls east of the city. 

Right now it is just talk because of TxDOT’s recent financial woes.

Also, it’s not going to happen overnight. Significant funding barriers remain. Opening an alternate route to 281 on the east side of Marble Falls may cost up to $100 million, plus whatever the purchase price for right-of-way acquisition.

And recent history has already shown that many local merchants object to an alternate route to 281, fearing it may siphon off traffic from local businesses. 

These business leaders have to face facts. The heavy traffic on 281 going through town is diminishing the down-home, small-town ambience Marble Falls once enjoyed. In addition, the road just becomes too congested at certain times of the day.

An alternative route may be the best option. If merchants want to counterbalance this development, they need to increase their efforts now to get the word out about their business — not just to far-flung tourists but to locals who live and shop here daily.

Eventually, when transportation funds are available, TxDOT and other officials will support some alternative to 281. 

Burnet or Marble Falls will not have much choice but to accept the situation.

One area that will attract new growth and could be the possible terminus for a bypass is the planned regional medical center, shopping area and homes now in the planning stages for 281 at 71. 

As is the case with many other cities with changing demographics, the heart of Marble Falls’ commercial zone could experience a geographic shift over time, possibly relocating to the bypass branching off at 71 and 281. Visitors who still want to visit Marble Falls proper could take a kind of “Business 281”  into the city. The bypass 281, meanwhile, could converge with “Business 281” north of the city.

In the meantime, new restaurants and shops — which are still paying city taxes — will grow up around the terminus.

Naturally, there will be many county residents opposed to any change in traffic routing. If that is the case, it is crucial for them to get involved in decisions now.  

Citizen participation in future developments could include serving on county planning committees, as well as contacting the County Commissioners, TxDOT, the Lower Colorado River Authority and the Legislature, which signs the checks. 

There is a fork in the road ahead, or in this case, probably many forks. It’s only a matter of time before some choices must be made.