Farm to Market Road 734

Infobox TX State Highway
type=Farm
route=734
length_mi=19.284
length_ref=cite web | author=Texas Department of Transportation | title=Highway Designation File - Farm to Market Road 734 | url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/fm0500/fm0734.htm | accessdate=2007-07-23 ]
length_km=31.03
formed=orig. 1947 curr. 1978
dir1=South
dir2=North
from=
junction=
to=
previous_type=Farm
previous_route=733
next_type=Farm
next_route=735

Farm to Market Road 734 (FM 734) is a 19.3-mile divided roadway located in Travis and Williamson counties of Texas. For most of its length, FM 734 is located just within the northern city limits of Austin, with portions located in Cedar Park and in unincorporated areas. The roadway is named Parmer Lane for the entire length of FM 734, but Ronald W. Reagan Boulevard along the extension to the north.

History

Beginning in 1947, FM 734 referred to a highway near Brady; the designation was eventually extended to near Llano. The designation was removed in 1966 when that highway was added to SH 71.

Parmer Lane between Loop 275 (Lamar Boulevard) and Loop 1 (Mopac Boulevard) was first designated as FM 734 in 1978. The current termini of FM 734 were set in 1985, when the northern terminus was moved from RM 620 to RM 1431, and 1988, when the southern terminus was moved from Loop 275 to US 290.

In 1997, FM 734 was improved east of I-35 to accommodate a new Samsung Electronics chip fabrication facilityFact|date=August 2007. Other recent development along FM 734 include a Freescale Semiconductor fabrication facility south of RM 620 in 1999, the Round Rock ISD Athletic Complexcite web|url=http://209.184.141.5/athletics/Stadium/newstad2.htm|pubdate=2003|publisher=Round Rock Independent School District|title=Round Rock ISD's New Football and Soccer Stadium|accessdate=2007-08-01] between RM 620 and RM 1431 in 2003 and the Tech Ridge shopping centercite web|url=http://www.ddr.com/site.php?center_id=258&state_path=texas|title=The Shops at Tech Ridge|publisher=Developers Diversified Realty Corporation|accessdate=2007-08-01] at I-35 in 2003.

Route Description

The southern terminus of FM 734 is at US 290, just west of Manor in Travis county. From there, it travels northwest to intersect with Interstate 35, continues to Loop 1, passes through an eastern portion of Cedar Park at RM 620, and then proceeds north to its northern terminus at RM 1431 in Williamson county. The roadway continues north of RM 1431 as the Ronald W. Reagan Boulevard to RM 2243 in Leander.

For most of its length, FM 734 is a six-lane divided roadway. West of Loop 1, the road has wide shoulders and is relatively lightly developed, making it attractive as a bicycling route. However, FM 734 does carry a high traffic load during rush hours, especially at Loop 1 and I-35.Fact|date=August 2007 FM 734 is primarily a four-lane road between US 290 and Yager Lane, east of I-35.

As of 1995, FM 734 is officially designated an Urban Road (UR 734). However, as with most other Urban Roads in Texas, no signage changes have been made.

Future

The intersection at Loop 1 is currently undergoing reconfiguration to accommodate additional traffic, the extension of Loop 1 north of FM 734, and the new Capital MetroRail commuter rail line that will pass through the area. Construction is expected to last through August 2008cite journal|lastname=Youens|firstname=Rachel|date=2007-07-27|title=Growning pains ahead for Parmer|journal=Community Impact Newspaper Northwest Austin|url=http://www.impactnews.com/pdfs/nwa/NorthwestAustin-2007-07.pdf|format=PDF|volume=1|issue=6|pages=1|accessdate=2008-08-15] .

The northern extension of FM 734 will eventually connect to Interstate 35 near the city of Jarrell as Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The segments from FM-2243 to SH 29, SH 29 to FM-3405, and FM-3405 to FM-2338 will open in late 2007 and early 2008.

Junction List

References