According to the Austin American Statesman, the Travis County Commissioners Court received a presentation from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority last week in which they requested tentative approval of an unspecified amount of taxpayer dollars for a project to expand Elroy Road in southeastern Travis County. Elroy Road is the main street that leads to Circuit of the Americas' Formula 1 race track. Near the track Elroy Road is a two lane strip and traffic congestion caused by race events and periodic evening concerts has lead to the call to expand the road.
In 2011, the Austin City Council approved a measure that doled out $250,000,000.00 in taxpayer funds over a 10 year period to Circuit of the Americas and since then several car racing events have been held at the venue. The Elroy Neighborhood Association President Cathy Olive gave testimony, and imparted that "to say that this is for the neighborhood is a joke." Olive suggested that Circuit of the Americas and the City of Austin foot the bill for such a project as they are the groups reaping the benefits from the events. Travis County Commissioners were also skeptical of the need for county committment when a formal proposal with a specified amount will not be ready for another week. But in all likelihood something is in the works. Both the City of Austin and Travis County Commissioners Court have a long history of catering to the public funding the needs of special interests.
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/citing-need-for-firm-cost-estimate-travis-commissi/nZTkk/?icmp=statesman_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesmanpremium
http://austin.ynn.com/content/news/294896/commissioners-unlikely-to-foot-bill-for-road-improvements-near-f1
http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/county-considers-costs-road-cota-11545.shtml
http://www.kvue.com/news/Road-Expansion-near-COTA-considered-by-Travis-County-Commissioners-220420471.html
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