Public Meeting for Inner Loop Study Raises Community Voices
BRYAN, Texas (FOX 44) — Hundreds of Brazos Valley residents attended a public meeting Tuesday to voice concerns over the proposed Inner Loop East roadway project, with many expressing strong opposition to potential changes in their community.
The meeting, hosted by the Inner Loop East Study Team at Legends Event Center in Bryan, was the second in a series of public engagements meant to inform the community and gather input. Attendees were invited to review updated maps, traffic modeling, and refined alignment concepts — but for many, the meeting only deepened their concerns.
Many residents arrived wearing buttons that read 'No Loop East,' signaling opposition to a project they say could displace homes, alter rural landscapes, and negatively impact their way of life.
'They're going to want to build more roads 20 years from now and before, you know, 50 years from now, you know, the Aggie land is basically like the Woodlands or Round Rock,' said Brazos County resident Michael Daniel. 'What makes Aggie land, Aggie land, which is farms and ranches and dairies and oil fields and. Yeah, and I just don't think that the average person living in Aggie land really wants that.'
Officials say the study is being conducted in response to anticipated population growth and development in Brazos County. The goal, they say, is to identify and preserve a potential corridor for a future roadway that would relieve congestion and improve travel times across the region.
'Without proper transportation, our congestion will just continue to increase,' said Jacqie Wilson, a communications consultant with the project. 'We will have less reliable travel times, and it'll just be a lot more difficult for us to get from places that we work, play, and live.'
Wilson said the meeting aimed to offer a deeper understanding of the study and allow residents to share their concerns directly with the study team. A third meeting is planned for the future, though a date has not yet been announced. Members of the Inner Loop East team assisted attendees during the meetings by answering questions and showing them how the project could impact where they reside.
According to the Office of the Brazos County Judge, more than 600 people attended the first public meeting in November 2024, which generated over 1,300 comments. Based on that feedback and additional environmental studies, the study area has been revised to reduce potential impacts to existing homes and property.
The study team emphasized that no construction is currently scheduled, and the process remains in its planning and evaluation phase. Residents can continue to provide feedback through the Brazos County website, where updated materials from Tuesday's meeting will also be made available.
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