As Leander and Liberty Hill experience rapid population growth, three local transportation projects are moving forward:

• RM 2243, Hero Way controlled-access highway: Crews are installing drainage pipes under CR 269 to reconstruct and widen the two-lane roadway into a controlled-access highway from 183A Toll to Southwest Bypass. The $132 million project is funded by a Williamson County 2019 road bond, with Phase 2A expected to begin in fall 2028.

• Seward Junction North Loop reconstruction: This project connects US 183 to Hwy. 29, and CR 260 to CR 213. Schematic designs are complete, and construction on the eastern portion is expected to begin this fall. The east segment costs $47.3 million, while the west segment costs $16.2 million.

• CR 201 reconstruction: Road improvements from CR 200 to Umbrella Sky will include shoulders and turn lane improvements. The preliminary design is complete for the $16 million project, which is funded by the Williamson County road and bridge program.

Registration is now open for a new youth sports league in Leander.

Austin Futsal League has a new facility near the Bryson neighborhood.

What they offer: The business has opened registration for its kick-off tournament, league and camp. These programs will begin at various times throughout December and are open to girls and boys.

All levels of experience are welcome to join the league's camp, which runs from Dec. 28-30.

The league’s camps tend to cater to younger players who are enrolled in elementary or middle school. Leagues are open to students in third grade and up.

The details: Futsal is a variant of soccer that is played on a hard surface indoors with five players per side instead of 11.

• 401 S. Chitalpa St., Unit 250, Leander

Read trending stories from the Austin area Oct. 19-23.

1. Hopdoddy Burger Bar announces opening date for Pflugerville location

2. Austin airport likely to see busy travel days surrounding Formula 1 Race

3. Monument Cafe opens beer garden and market in Georgetown

4. Major McCarty Lane developments gain opening timeline clarity

5. SH 71 update: Where 3 Bastrop County projects stand

6. New Chipotle location coming soon to Cedar Park

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.