ATX-PFH: Impact 9/4/2025

The city of Pflugerville recently completed construction on an extension to Colorado Sand Drive, which is now open for public use.

The gist: The extension of Colorado Sand Drive—between Copper Mine Drive and Lone Star Ranch Boulevard—included the addition of a roundabout and sidewalks, which are meant to provide a safer connection for parents and students traveling to and from Hendrickson High School.

Diving deeper: Construction was completed roughly two months early and a couple of million dollars under budget. Cost savings from the extension may be used to fund further city improvements.

Catch up with happenings in Hutto ISD, with the 2025-26 school year now underway. 

Remember this? Hutto ISD marked the opening of Lee Martinez Elementary for the first time and passed its tax rate for the 2025-26 financial year.

Did you know? The district also updated its device policy to comply with new legislation.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new 10-year state transportation plan in August that includes nearly $4 billion in funding for Austin-area roads.

The details: The plan, known as the 2026 Unified Transportation Program, was approved Aug. 21 by the Texas Transportation Commission. Statewide, it outlines $101.6 billion in projects focused on safety, congestion relief and keeping pace with Texas’ fast-growing population and economy. This marks the third consecutive year the program has topped $100 billion.

In the Austin region, funding is slated for major corridors on the Texas 100 Most Congested Roadways list, including I-35, SH 130, SH 71 near the airport, Loop 360, RM 620 and RM 1826. The plan also dedicates millions toward traffic-management technology along I-35 and SH 71.

Abbott said the investments are designed to “build the future of Texas for generations to come.”

Austin airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi spoke at a Round Rock Chamber luncheon Aug. 28, outlining the multibillion-dollar expansion currently underway and the hefty economic benefit for the region.

The big picture: Badawi characterized the airport as the “economic engine for Central Texas,” noting that a 2018 Texas Department of Transportation study estimated Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s economic impact at $7.6 billion—a figure now projected at approximately $10 billion, Badawi said.

What’s happening?: Presently, under the expansion initiative—Journey with AUS—there are six projects under construction and five in design.

Looking ahead: City of Austin officials gave the green light to new lease agreement with airlines during an Aug. 28 council meeting. This means airlines will commit to the expansion program and lease the over 20 new gates airport officials expect to open in the early 2030s, according to an ABIA news release.