Ranch to Market Road 2244

Ranch to Market Road 2244
Ranch to Market Road 2244
Bee Cave(s) Road
Route information
	Maintained by TxDOT
Length	11.257 mi (18.116 km)
Existed	1954–present
Major junctions
West end	SH 71 in Bee Cave, Texas
	Loop 360
East end	Loop 1 in Austin, Texas
Location
Country	United States
State	Texas
Highway system
	Highways in Texas; Interstate; US; State; Toll; Loops; Spurs; FM/RM; Park; Rec;

Ranch to Market Road 2244 (RM 2244) is an 11.3-mile (18.2 km) ranch-to-market road in Travis County, Texas, United States.^[1] It is known locally as Bee Cave Road or Bee Caves Road.

Route description

RM 2244 starts at an intersection with SH 71 in the south part of Bee Cave.^[2] It proceeds east for 7.6 miles (12.2 km) as a four-lane divided roadway to intersect Loop 360. After leaving Bee Cave, the road is relatively lightly developed, although it passes by the community of Lost Creek. After passing Loop 360, RM 2244 continues southeast for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) to its terminus at Loop 1 (Mopac Boulevard), just southwest of downtown Austin. In this segment, RM 2244 passes through the suburban cities of West Lake Hills and Rollingwood.^[3]

Whether the name of the road is the singular "Bee Cave" or the plural "Bee Caves" has long been a source of confusion and debate,^[4] as road signage varies.^[5] This confusion is not recent: the post office for the town of Bee Cave opened under the name "Bee Caves" in 1870.^[6]

RM 2244 is designated a scenic roadway by the City of Austin.^[7]

History

Travis County residents requested the addition of Bee Cave Road to the farm-to-market system in 1953, citing increased traffic and dangers due to the roadway's alignment.^[8] Despite previous opposition from county officials,^[9] RM 2244 was designated on September 29, 1954, from RM 93 (now SH 71) southeast to the west Austin city limits. On July 16, 1957, RM 2244 was extended southeast to US 290 (now Loop 343). On September 6, 1975, the section from Loop 1 to Loop 343 (now Barton Springs Road) was removed from the state highway system, while another section was transferred to Loop 1.

On June 27, 1995, the designation of RM 2244 was changed to Urban Road 2244 (UR 2244).^[10] The designation reverted to RM 2244 on November 15, 2018, with the elimination of the Urban Road system.^[11]

Junction list

The entire route is in Travis County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Bee Cave	0.0	0.0	SH 71	Western terminus
Austin–West Lake Hills line	7.6	12.2	Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway)
Austin	11.3	18.2	Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway)	Eastern terminus; road continues as Wallingwood Drive
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

^ ^a ^b Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Ranch to Market Road No. 2244". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2018). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2018 ed.). 1:72,224. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 1589. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2018). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2018 ed.). 1:72,224. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 1590. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
^ Evans, Anne-Marie. "Take Your Pick: Bee Cave or Bee Caves?–Two Views". Austin Statesman. ProQuest 1514922106. (subscription required)
^ Kelley, Mike. "Bumbling continues over Bee Cave(s) buzz". Austin American Statesman. ProQuest 255614947. (subscription required)
^ Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth: Bee Cave, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online (November 24, 2015). Retrieved October 28, 2022.
^ "Code of Ordinances § 25-10-7". City of Austin. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Municode.
^ "Residents Seek Rebuilding of Bee Cave Road". Austin Statesman. December 1, 1953. ProQuest 1559386672. (subscription required)
^ "Commissioners Reject Bee Cave for State Road Improvement Cash". Austin Statesman. ProQuest 1559296789. (subscription required)
^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Urban Road No. 2244". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
^ Bass, James (November 15, 2018). "Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order 115371" (PDF). TxDOT. Retrieved August 3, 2022.