The Leander City Council unanimously approved nearly $2.4 million to be awarded to Bennett Paving Inc. to repair 13 miles of city roads along Bagdad Road, Travisso Parkway and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, and additional sites.

The details: The improvements will include new layers of asphalt, full repairs along some stretches, and repainting, among other maintenance along the following roads:

• 2.8 lane miles of southbound Bagdad Road between Municipal Drive and Crystal Falls Parkway
• 2.5 lane miles of Travisso Parkway between CR 1431 and Benetto Way
• 2.2 lane miles of northbound Ronald Reagan Boulevard between FM 2243 to 365 feet from Vista Heights Drive

• 2.2 lane miles of northbound Ronald Reagan Boulevard between FM 2243 and Vista Heights Drive
• 1 lane mile of West Broade Street between Hero Way West and West Metro Drive
• 2.3 lane miles of the four-lane South Bagdad Road Terminus between Crystal Falls and Kettering Drive

The Lower Colorado River Authority is set to invest billions in infrastructure across its service area to address the needs of Central Texas' growing population. 

What you need to know: The authority announced its investment and business plan for fiscal year 2026-27 on May 21. The plan projects water demand will grow "significantly" through 2031, alongside electrical demand. 

The details: Plans show power, water and broadband infrastructure development account for $1.8 billion for just FY 2026-27. The funds will come from the authority's on revenues and debt, with no state appropriations included, a news release states.

Peter Sandford, owner of Smarter Homes, brings decades of experience in Austin to the home technology industry. The West Lake Hills business was established in 2006, offering expertise on home automation systems to locals. 

In a nutshell: Sandford specializes in designing systems for lighting, motorized shades, security and more, with a focus on reliability, longevity and easy-usage, he said.

Zooming in: One of his areas of interest is smart irrigation systems, which use connected controllers, sensors and live data to automate watering schedules. The system takes into account environmental factors, including weather, soil moisture and temperature to adjust watering needs. 

“When integrated into a smart home, irrigation becomes dynamic, improving efficiency and reducing water waste,” Sandford said.

Sandford connected with Community Impact to talk about the home automation process and further details for implementing smart irrigation systems. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects
MoPac South expansion
Project: The project features a number of express lanes along the 8.7-mile stretch from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane in Austin, alongside shared-use paths and pedestrian crossings, according to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
Update: Public comment on the proposed project closed May 3. West Lake Hills and Rollingwood officials issued a conditional letter of support for the project in April.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $825 million
• Funding source: TBD

• Timeline: 2025-27
• Cost: $7 million
• Funding source: city of Leander certificates of obligation bonds