About Bell County, TX

The Texas Transportation Commission unanimously voted on November 19, 2009 to spend approximately $2 billion in 74 new highway projects, including $418.1 million to expand Interstate Highway 35 through Bell County. The money comes from Proposition 12 bond proceeds, which Texas Voters approved in 2007 and the Legislature authorized earlier this year.

This I-35 widening is planned to be from FM 2843 to FM 2484 in Salado; and, from the north Loop 363 in Temple through Troy, through Falls County, and into McLennan County to Woodlawn Road.

This funding does not address widening of I-35 through Temple/Belton and Waco, as, like many other important projects across the state, some I-35 expansion projects will not meet the bonds' expenditure timeframe.

According to TxDOT website, other projects on the considered list for Bell County, but did NOT make the approved list, were new lanes on US 190 from SP 172 (Fort Hood Main Gate) to W.S. Young; US 190 "turnaround" at FM 2410; Construct frontage roads on Loop 363 in Temple from I-35 North to Hwy 53; Construct new lanes on Hwy 317 from FM 2305 to FM 439; an overpass at Hwy 195 and Stagecoach Road/SH201; Widen roadway on FM 437 from FM 940 to Hwy 53 in Zabcikville; Widen roadway on FM 1237 from Hwy 317 to I-35; and, Widen roadway on FM 935 from I-35 to Falls County line.

From 2006 through 2008, Bell and McLennan counties, both, had more than 200 vehicle crashes occur on Interstate 35, with more than 300 individual injuries suffered annually.

As one of the top corridor projects in the state, these planned improvements for I-35 will enhance safety for motorists and provide for more efficient movement of goods as traffic continues to grow into the years to come.

As most of you know, Interstate Highway 35 widening has been on hold because of various financial and political reasons for years. The Texas Department of Transportation is still in the process of expanding and reconstructing IH 35 through Temple Texas as part of a federal project. The first federally required meeting was July 26, 2000, the second meeting was August 30, 2001, a third meeting on June 13, 2002. Then not much of anything has happened since 2002 until a required public meeting on November 12, 2009 was held, with the newest changes finally being made available to the public, of the original proposed schematic for Temple. This is part of 17 projects covering 3 counties for a total length of over 90 miles between the Bell/Williamson county line and the East/West split in Hillsboro. As part of the 17 projects, IH 35 is proposed to be widened through the City of Temple from approximately South Loop 363 to North Loop 363. The proposed project will consist of a six-lane controlled access facility with one-way continuous frontage roads. The latest total estimated cost of construction for this project is approximately $260 million. Additional right of way would be required for the project as well. No funds are currently available to complete this project.

The project sequence is to include a public hearing in mid 2010, with the beginning of right-of-way acquisition in 2011. However, TxDOT still does not currently have any acquisition or construction funds available for this project.

Historically the planning maps have not been readily available via the internet, or they were outdated, requiring driving to Waco, Texas to talk one on one with a TxDOT employee to view maps, for each different project, or try to get them to help with description over the phone. Although the cities are aware of TxDOT plans, they were not sharing the data with the public as it was not theirs to make available to the public. Fortunately, TxDOT now has this are broken into four pdf files availabe for public view and download. These may take a few minutes to download. Links as of November 14, 2009 are:

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/wac/i35_363_west.pdf

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/wac/i35_west_nugent.pdf

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/wac/i35_nugent_290.pdf

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/wac/i35_290_363.pdf

Feel free to call or email me with your valuation, relocation or condemnation questions!

On October 8-9, 2009, I took the course "Creative Land Planning for Profits" sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the Realtors Land Institute. It was taught by David R Jensen of David Jensen Associates of Denver, Colorado, and is a nationally recognized land planner. We studied old style subdivisions, as compared to newer style communities, discovered how to turn obstacles into opportunities and profits, learned how to determine the optimum use for sites and to develop a model plan, and work effectively with governmental zoning and planning boards as well as neighborhood groups to build consensus. These communities are places for people to live, planned around lifestyle components such as parks, open spaces, walking, and biking trails. Some development types are lake, golf, ski, marina/boating, health spa, equestrian, sports and other resort communities. Development trends are active adult communities, built green communities, and cluster developments. The four main elements that make up green development are environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, community and cultural sensitivity and integrating ecology with real estate. Builders, developers and home buyers can all benefit from communities designed around green development principles. Some benefits include reduced capitol costs, reduced operating costs, good public relations, product differentiation, new business opportunities, reduced resource consumption and energy efficiency, leading to lower energy bills. As our cities, counties, states, and our country continues to grow in population, housing the most people on the least amount of land will need to be considered to accommodate the required communities needed, with the most use, and least impact on the land as possible.

WOO HOO!!! We've done it again. Killeen, TX is once again listed as one of the least expensive housing markets in the United States.

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=36083

Although the type of house they use for comparison (2200 sqft single family residence with 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath) is not the norm in our market, we continue to show very well everytime they do this survey. So there you have it, Buyers...Prices are Low, Interest Rates are Low and, (for a short while longer) Uncle Sam has $8000 with your name on it. Come home to Killeen...The City Without Limits.

319 S 25th Street, Temple, Texas 76504

$14,000

	David Jirasek, ALC, CCIM, GAA JIRASEK REALTY (254) 770-0996 djirasek@ccim.net http://www.jirasekrealty.com
Listed by: David Jirasek, ALC, CCIM, GAA

Call David Jirasek, ALC, CCIM, GAA at (888) 662-3390 for more details.

This information has been secured from sources we believe to be reliable, but we make no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the information. All references to age, square footage, lot sizes, school district, zoning, income/expenses, etc. are approximate. Buyers should conduct their own independent investigations and rely only on those results. All information subject to change. It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.