From the very beginning, partnerships have been the foundation for the transportation bond program. The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) started by lending Parker County $200,000 to prepare the plan for voters to consider. In addition, the RTC committed $10 million to leverage bond proceeds.

The Commissioners Court wanted to form a partnership with the citizens who would be affected by the program, so instead of the Court selecting the bond committee members, they asked each taxing entity to submit names. That formed another partnership: a group of citizens from across the County who committed their time to help develop a project list.

Each city was given an opportunity to be a partner and submit requests for improvements. The program team worked closely with each city to make sure all planning was coordinated.

The County also worked closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on project planning that involved state roads. That strong partnership has been critical: Without their assistance, guidance and commitment, the program would not have met its aggressive timeline.

The most important partnership came November 4, 2008, when the voters of Parker County overwhelmingly passed an $80 million bond. Without the partnership and trust of the taxpayers, the positive transportation improvements would never have been possible.