Make Sutton Drive a Priority: Accessible Roads and Safer Neighborhoods in Travis County

To: Travis County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3 Commissioner, and Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Department

Imagine living in a neighborhood where something as simple as taking a walk with your children, enjoying the outdoors, or reaching the next neighborhood is impossible because of the condition of your road.

For me, that is everyday life.

My name is Danielle Tyler. I’m a former public school teacher, a mother of two, and a quadriplegic wheelchair user living on Sutton Drive in unincorporated Travis County near Lakeway, Texas.

Our section of Sutton Drive is an unpaved dirt road filled with potholes. These conditions are inconvenient for drivers, but for someone who depends on a power wheelchair, they create a significant barrier to independence and community access.

I cannot safely travel down our road to reach the adjacent neighborhood, where I could otherwise spend time outdoors, exercise, and enjoy some of the freedom I’ve worked so hard to regain.

After surviving life-threatening medical complications, spending nearly nine months in inpatient rehabilitation, and continuing extensive physical and occupational therapy at home, every bit of independence I’ve regained represents tremendous effort.

I fought hard to regain my mobility. I shouldn’t have to fight potholes just to use it.

This is also a public safety concern.

Our section of Sutton Drive lacks access to a fire hydrant. As someone who cannot evacuate independently during an emergency, I am particularly concerned about fire protection and emergency preparedness.

Although road improvements and fire hydrant infrastructure are separate issues, I believe the combination of deteriorating road conditions, limited accessibility, and concerns about emergency response deserves careful consideration.

The funding opportunity already exists.

Travis County officials have informed me that our section of Sutton Drive is planned for the next round of road improvement funding.

I am grateful that our road has been identified for future improvements. However, I am petitioning Travis County to reconsider its prioritization and include our section of Sutton Drive in the first round of funding and road improvements.

I have already submitted my accessibility concerns to county officials and received confirmation that my correspondence was received.

I recognize that many communities need road improvements and that public funds must be allocated responsibly. My request is not to disregard those needs, but to ensure that accessibility, mobility limitations, and emergency preparedness receive meaningful consideration when deciding which projects move forward first.

What we’re asking Travis County to do

Move our section of Sutton Drive into the first round of road improvement funding, subject to available resources and project requirements.
Give documented disability accessibility barriers meaningful consideration in the road prioritization process.
Evaluate the condition of Sutton Drive and its implications for emergency vehicle access.
Coordinate with the appropriate fire protection and water authorities to assess fire hydrant availability and emergency water access.
Provide residents with a clear explanation of the project’s funding, prioritization criteria, and anticipated construction timeline.
Why your signature matters

This petition is about more than paving a dirt road.

It’s about ensuring that residents with disabilities are not isolated from their own neighborhoods because of preventable infrastructure barriers.

It’s about families having confidence that their community’s safety concerns are being heard.

And it’s about encouraging our local government to consider the people behind the roads when making decisions about public funding.

Accessibility should not be an afterthought. It should be part of the plan.

Please sign and share this petition to support prioritizing Sutton Drive in Travis County’s first round of road improvements.

Together, we can help make our community safer, more accessible, and more inclusive for everyone.

Danielle Tyler

Founder, Wheeling to Make a Difference ATX

Unincorporated Travis County, Texas