Adopted January 14, 2014 by the Blanco County Commissioners Court WITH SUPPORT FROM: Contents Chapter 1—Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Report Organization ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Study Background and Purpose ................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Study Area ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Study Participants ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Purpose and Benefits of a County Transportation and Economic Development Plan .............. 5 1.6 Relationship between Transportation, Land Use, and Economic Development ....................... 6 1.7 Public Involvement ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.8 Study Process ............................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2—Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Review of Existing Plans ............................................................................................................ 9 City of Blanco Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Demographic Trends................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Existing Socioeconomic Conditions ......................................................................................... 15 2.4 Land Use Inventory .................................................................................................................. 16 2.5 Flooding ................................................................................................................................... 22 2.6 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 22 2.7 Safety ....................................................................................................................................... 22 2.8 Existing Transportation Conditions .......................................................................................... 25 2.9 Existing Transportation Financing ............................................................................................ 32 Chapter 3—Economic Development ........................................................................................................... 39 3.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 39 3.2 The Approach to Economic Development Planning ................................................................ 39 3.3 Existing Conditions................................................................................................................... 39 3.4 Current Conditions Point to Key Issues ................................................................................... 47 3.5 Economic Development to Date .............................................................................................. 48 3.6 Challenges ............................................................................................................................... 49 3.7 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 49 3.8 Organization and Funding ........................................................................................................ 54 Chapter 4—Future Conditions .................................................................................................................... 57 4.1 Future Population and Employment ......................................................................................... 57 4.2 Future Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 60 4.3 Planned and Programmed Transportation Improvements ....................................................... 61 Chapter 5—Travel Demand Modeling ........................................................................................................ 63 5.1 Model Development ................................................................................................................. 63 Blanco County ● Transportation and Economic Development Plan i 5.2 Evaluation of Future Needs ..................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 6—Transportation and Economic Development Plan ................................................................... 71 6.1 The Public Involvement Process .............................................................................................. 71 6.2 Infrastructure Needs Assessment ............................................................................................ 73 6.3 Recommended Transportation and Economic Development Improvements .......................... 74 6.4 Visualization of the Blanco County Plan .................................................................................. 85 Proposed Thoroughfare Improvements Map ................................................................................. 86 Proposed Transportation Safety Improvements Map .................................................................... 87 Proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle, Tourism and Transit Improvements Map ....................................... 88 Chapter 7—Recommendations and Plan Implementation Strategies ........................................................ 89 7.1 Findings and Recommendations ............................................................................................. 89 7.2 Project Prioritization ................................................................................................................. 89 7.3 Possible Funding Sources ....................................................................................................... 93 7.4 Implementation of the Plan ...................................................................................................... 97 Appendix A – Blanco County Transportation & Economic Development Plan Questionnaire Results ...... 98 Appendix B – Streetscape Concept Plan, Blanco, Texas ........................................................................... 99 Appendix C – Capital Area Rural Transit System ..................................................................................... 100 Blanco County ● Transportation and Economic Development Plan ii Chapter 1—Introduction 1.1 Report Organization The Blanco County Transportation and Economic Development Plan is the result of a collaborative effort between Blanco County and the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) with support from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) to develop a vision for economic growth and transportation improvements to guide Blanco County through the year 2040. The report is organized into the following chapters: • Introduction—description of the study area, background, and purpose; study participants; county transportation plan purpose and benefits; transportation and economic development relationship; public involvement; and study process. • Existing Conditions—discussion of the existing land use; natural environment and air quality; safety conditions; transportation conditions; and revenue for the City of Blanco and Johnson City. • Economic Development—discussion of the existing demographic and socioeconomic trends and conditions, including age and population, employment, schools, and health facilities; state of the county economy; tourism; development along U.S. highway corridors; broadband Internet; and future economic development recommendations for the county. • Future Conditions—discussion of future population and employment, future land use, and planned and programmed roadway improvements. • Travel Demand Modeling—discussion of the process utilized to develop the model, including traffic zone analyses and projected traffic volumes; deficiencies and needs; and an evaluation of the alternative roadway network, including a consideration of county goals. • Transportation and Economic Development Plan—visualization of how recommended transportation and economic development improvements create a comprehensive strategic plan for the future growth and development of Blanco County. • Recommendations and Plan Implementation Strategies—findings and recommendations from the study, possible funding sources for the projects, and steps to implement the plan. 1.2 Study Background and Purpose The Blanco County Transportation and Economic Development Plan was undertaken because Blanco County, CAPCOG, and TxDOT recognized the need for a coordinated regional transportation plan. This plan will provide guidance for system connectivity and continuity, both within and between counties, as well as integrate economic