TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Travis County residents approved two bonds worth $509 million, helping to fund park and roadway projects across the region.

Travis County officials said the bond will support growth and improve safety in the region. This is the largest bond package to ever be approved by voters in the county’s history.

“I think the statement that the voters of Travis County have made is that they understand we need to invest in our future,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.

“That’s what they did today and over the last two weeks is make sure that Travis County is going to be a beautiful place for years and years to come – for my kids and future generations to enjoy the parks and the safe roads and all the great things that Travis County has to offer,” Brown continued.

Proposition A costs $233 million and funds ten roadway capacity projects across Travis County. With that funding, Travis County officials will build, maintain and improve existing roadways as well as add bike lanes, sidewalks and shared-use paths. 

Proposition B costs $276 million and will fund projects related to parkland acquisition and improving park amenities.

The majority of the money – just over $200 million – will fund parkland acquisition along existing greenway corridors, helping with conservation efforts. The rest of the money will go towards projects to improve things like hiking trails and park facilities.

With the bonds likely approved, property owners will see a modest increase to their annual property tax bill. A homeowner with a house priced at $400,000 – just over the median property value in Travis County – will likely see an increase of $48 to their annual tax bill. 

“[This is]a great example of local control where our local elected officials of the Travis County Commissioner’s court are such good stewards of the taxpayer dollar and what needs to get done for the constituents,” Texas Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) said at a bond election watch party Tuesday night.

“We have overwhelmingly passed the parks bond and the roads bond because Travis County residents trust these good people on the commissioner’s court to do what needs to get done effectively, efficiently, fairly and with minimal intrusion in their lives,” Eckhardt said.