KILLEEN, Texas — A popular road in Killeen is set for improvements in the next couple of years. The Rancier Avenue Improvements Project is costing more than $60 million and goes from Fort Hood Street to 38th Street.
The City of Killeen says the proposed improvements include construction of medians, turn lanes, reduced through lanes, bike lanes, on-street parking, and continuous sidewalks along the length of Rancier Avenue.
The proposal includes landscaping along Rancier Avenue within planned medians and utilities being relocated under sidewalks and roadways. The proposed improvements are planned to be completed from Fort Hood Street to 38th Street for an approximate length of 2.5 miles, with no businesses or residents being displaced.
It's all to bring in growth to the area.
"These types of projects have shown that's what they do," City Engineer Andrew Zagars said.
Zagars says there's lots of planning still happening, but they hope construction will begin in 2026.
"It's not a matter of if," Zagars said. "It's going to be a matter of when because of the complexity of this type of project."
Some businesses aren't feeling excitement about the project. They say the current proposed project comes with many issues.
"They want sidewalks, bike lanes, and all that stuff," Rhodenia Mullen, owner of Sargent's Trophy Company in Killeen, said. "This is a business area. This is not a residential area."
One of the main issues being cited is that trees will block signage.
"If they can't see us because there's canopy trees, blocking signage, they're never going to be able to come down here and see us unless they Google us on purpose," Mullen told 6 News. "It's going to kill us."
Parallel parking is another concern.
"That in itself is ridiculous," Mullen said. "People in this town number one can't drive. This, to me, is going to make more accidents."
Construction and traffic is a big worry too.
"If you only got one lane of travel, one lane that's going to backup traffic, which then again is going to harm the city," Mullen added.
This could make it more difficult for delivery drivers and emergency vehicles responding to a call, business owners say.
Multiple owners along Rancier Avenue say the money could be used in other areas.
"There are a lot of issues in this area with not only crime, we've got homeless people, we've got these this younger generation with all these break-ins," Erica Torres-Smith, Manager of Fog Hog Vapors, said. "We could have more of a task force, more officers on site."
Mullen agrees.
"If they really want to clean up here because they say they want more businesses to come in, get rid of a lot of the tagging that's going on," Mullen said. "Poor Starbucks opened up, within the first month of them being open, they had their screen on the back where you order from shot twice. McDonald's constantly has their screens replaced. If I was a potential business wanting to come into the area, and I saw that everything was tagged. I wouldn't want to bring my business here."
It's an all too frustrating feeling for several business owners.
"They moved everything out of here," Torres-Smith said. "They relocated the homeless down this way. They abandoned us. There is definitely a food crisis in this area and now they're realizing that they can't lose it. They're trying to revitalize it. There are so many other places that we really, really can use this money. And this is what they're deciding to do. It's absolutely absurd."
The project cost currently sits at $63 million.
Zagars says it's funded primarily through the city's tax increment reinvestment zone. TxDOT is helping with some of the cost as well. The city is applying for federal grants too.
"These projects really add to the character," Zagars said. "They increase the value of the property. They encourage people to come downtown, so for businesses that are going to be along the corridor, it's going to promote growth to them."
TxDOT and the City of Killeen's Engineering Division hosted an open house on Thursday, March 21 to discuss the project more. It started at 6 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. at Killeen Elementary School.
Mullen is one business owner who will be attending. She hopes she will get some answers and clarity.
"My biggest concern is them killing a lot of small businesses," Mullen said. "Take into consideration what others have said and come up with another draft because this first draft that they came up with is absolutely crazy. It will not work."
6 News will follow this story as it further develops.
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