TXDOT is hosting an open house and present plans for safety improvements on SH 71 in western Travis County tonight from 5:00 - 8:00 PM tonight.
TXDOT representatives will be available to answer questions regarding current safety and highway plans. All citizens are invited to attend and share their comments regarding the proposed projects on Hwy 71.
Location:Bee Cave Elementary @ 14300 Hamilton Pool Road in Austin
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) Board of Directors has voted to eliminate the cash toll booths on US 183A before the end of the year - perhaps as early as November 2008. As 80% of US 183A users are toll tag users, the agency was spending a disproportionate share of operating expenses to collect cash tolls. The CTRMA expects to save $1 million a year in operating costs.
Drivers without a TxTag, Tolltag or EZ-Tag will be able to use the new “Pay-By-Mail” program, which will use a snapshot of the vehicle license to send a bill to the registered owner. Customers choosing to use the “Pay-By-Mail” program can
expect their vehicle’s license plate to be photographed.
The strategy is not unprecedented - US 183A will be the fourth cashless toll road in Texas. Houston’s Westpark Tollway was the first in 2004 (access is limited to vehicles with toll tags) followed by Loop 49 in Tyler and SH 121 in Dallas (which have their own pay by mail programs). CTRMA’s future toll roads are also expected to be cashless.
US 183A toll tags customers save 25% off the “Pay-By-Mail” rate so it’s the best deal for regular users. Get a TxTag at all mainline toll plazas in Central Texas, online at www.TxTag.org or via phone at 1-888-Go-TxTag.
US 183A to go cashless - CTRMA press release
Toll booths will be eliminated on US 183A - Austin Business Journal
Central Texas 183A to go cashless - KEYE
Texas 183A tollroad in Austin going cashless before year’s end - Toll Road News
Austin American-Statesman transportation columnist Ben Wear considers the impact of losing Rep. Mike Krusee and Sen. Steve Ogden, who chaired the transportation committees in the their respective chambers. During their tenures, Krusee and Ogden carried the omnibus transportation bill, HB 3588, that enabled expedited Texas road construction via innovative toll revenue financing and TXDOT allocated billions for construction and maintenance of various Austin toll roads.
However, Krusee leaves the Legislature at the end of year and Ogden moved up to the Senate Finance Committee chairmanship in 2005. As none of the plausible House Transportation chair contenders represent the region, the Capital Area’s hopes rest on Sen. Kirk Watson, vice-chair of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, to bring transportation dollars to Central Texas.
Krusee, Ogden brought Central Texas transportation money - Austin American-Statesman
The SH 130 flyover near the Austin Bergrstrom International Airport (ABIA) opened this morning, giving drivers headed to the airport a faster route. The ramp now connects Ben White Boulevard just east of ABIA to the Austin segment of SH 130.
Construction on this piece was delayed while electric lines were buried just west of the tollway. The completion of the bridge marks the end of almost five years of construction on the 49-mile Austin section of SH 130.
The last 40 miles of SH 130 from Mustang Ridge to Seguin will be built by a consortium led by Cintra, a Spanish tollroad operator.
More information in the news articles linked below:
Final piece of Texas 130 tollway opens Austin American-Statesman
SH 130 flyover opens near ABIA - KVUE
TXDOT opens SH 130 flyover - Austin Business Journal
According to Inrix, a traffic information company that analyzes congestion in the nation’s largest metro areas, two IH-35 exits in Austin are the worst-congested spots in the state and also made the top 100 traffic bottlenecks in the country.
Inrix ranked the nation’s 100 most congested cities and 100 worst traffic bottlenecks. Austin ranks 35th in population and 26th in congestion. Austin’s trouble spots were the only two Texas bottlenecks in the top 100:
IH-35 Exit 235 to Martin Luther King Boulevard and 19th Street is the #1 worst in Texas and ranks 62nd nationwide
Just a few miles away, Exit 233 to Riverside Drive, was the state’s second-worst and 75th worst in the nation
Overall, the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area was the country’s 26th worst, just behind San Antonio at 25th. Dallas came in 5th and Houston 7th.
The best time to drive in Austin is on a Monday from 9 - 10 AM, but avoid Thursdays from 5 - 6 PM.
Austin offramps two of the worst bottlenecks in the country - Austin Business Journal
Austin-American Statesman transportation columnist Ben Wear follows up on the initial test-drive of SH 130 versus IH-35 during morning rush hour traffic. With toll-road supporters noting several factors weighing against SH 130 in the initial trial, Wear and Statesman columnist Andrea Ball performed a second test under different conditions. In an admittedly unscientific experiment, Wear concludes that despite being a slightly longer route, SH 130 can save substantial time for afternoon rush-hour commuters.
In Texas 130/I-35 rematch, the winner is . . . Austin American-Statesman
After considering the record number of public comments regarding the I-69/TransTexas Corridor in east Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) announced plans to reduce the project’s footprint by using using existing highway facilities wherever possible.
TXDOT expects to submit the final draft environmental impact statement late this year or in early 2009.
TxDOT Recommends Narrowing Study Area for Texas Portion of I-69 - TXDOT press release
TXDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz’s letter to FHWA
Texas Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton’s editorial
TXDOT to consider existing roads for I-69 project - Austin American-Statesman
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has completed the first phase of a Freight Movement Study of the Austin area, which finds freight firms believe inadequate roadway capacity, poor light synchronization, accident delay, and congestion are the greatest obstacles to freight movement through Austin corridors. The report delineates a number of roads that should be included in the CAMPO 2035 Plan which would reduce fright mileage and hours drive while increasing freight speed.
The next phase of the report will consider economic impact of freight improvements, hazardous material movement, and peer analysis as well as scope and cost of the proposed road projects. CAMPO Chair Senator Kirk Watson has suggested the freight study results be integrated into the decision tree matrix.
Statesman transportation columnist Ben Wear re-visits the status of Loop 360. Formerly part of the 2004 toll plan, the project was removed after public outcry. Demand on the road has continued to grow in the interim due to increased office and retail space added to the corridor and western Travis County population growth.
So what’s next for 360? Considering TXDOT’s financial plight and the rejection of tolling, TXDOT Austin District Engineer considers project planning to be a blank slate. Overpasses, smaller lanes, and managed lanes are considerations on the drawing board to rid 360 of the congestion-inducing traffic signals, but obstacles that defy easy solutions include cliffs, the Courtyard Drive, and of course, the four-lane Pennybacker Bridge.
Obviously, every strategy requires funding - of which there is none set aside for 360 improvements. As a result, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) will likely become involved. Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein is planning meetings with area stakeholders in early 2009.
360 blues: Officials ponder growing snarls on scenic drive - Austin American-Statesman
Loop 360 problems map - Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s report on the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) was less than favorable. Citing problems the department’s credibility which has resulted in public mistrust, the Sunset Commission recommended the creation of a legislative oversight committee and that the agency be reviewed again in four years rather, a departure from the usual twelve-year cycle.
Other recommendations:
The next step will be July 15, when a public hearing will be held in Austin regarding the future of TXDOT, followed by a vote by the Sunset Commission in September, and legislative action in the 2009 session.
TXDOT Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report
TXDOT Sunset Advisory Commission Self Evaluation
Commission releases scathing report on TXDOT - Austin Business Journal
TXDOT credibility in political pothole - Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board