2006

October 2006
Oct 30	25 miles of SH 130, Loop 1 and SH 45 to open by 2:00 PM on October 30.   Nearly a year ahead of schedule, the early opening of the Central Texas Turnpike Project (CTTP) includes the Loop 1 extension from Parmer Lane to SH 45 North, SH 45 North from Loop 1 to SH 130 and SH 130 from US 79 to US 290. For more information, see www.centraltexasturnpike.org
	Toll roads
September 2006
Link Link Link	Toll roads to open November 1 - a year ahead of schedule   TXDOT announced that on Nov. 1, approximately 25 miles of the region’s first toll roads will open nearly a year ahead of schedule.  The early opening of the Central Texas Turnpike Project (CTTP) includes the Loop 1 extension from Parmer Lane to SH 45 North, SH 45 North from Loop 1 to SH 130 and SH 130 from US 79 to US 290. For more information, see www.centraltexasturnpike.org
Link	SH 130 Segments 5 & 6 public hearings Sep 26 - 28 Public hearings on the last two remaining segments of SH 130 will be held September 26, 27, and 28th in Pflugerville, Seguin, and Lockhart. I If you cannot attend the public hearings, you may submit comments for the public record to: Central Texas Turnpike Project Office Turnpike Environmental Coordinator 1421 Wells Branch Parkway, Building 1, Suite 107 Pflugerville, TX 78660 For more information on the public hearings, see www.centraltexasturnpike.org.. Segment 5 & 6 public hearings: Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Time: 5:30 pm Open House (Sign-in), 6:30 pm presentation, followed by public comments Place: Hendrickson High School, Performing Art Center, 2905 F.M. 685, Pflugerville, Texas Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Time: 5:30 pm Open House (Sign-in), 6:30 pm presentation, followed by public comments Place: Seguin/Guadalupe County Coliseum 810 South Guadalupe Street, Seguin, Texas Date: Thursday. September 28, 2006 Time: 5:30 pm Open House (Sign-in), 6:30 pm presentation, followed by public comments Place: Lockhart Junior High School Cafetorium, 1015 City Line Road, Lockhart, Texas.
Link Link	City of Austin November 2006 bond special election includes $103.1M for transportation projects Proposition 1 includes funding for reconstructing streets; constructing and reconstructing sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure; and improving traffic signal systems.   Allocations for this proposition will fund transportation infrastructure repairs and maintenance costs that have ballooned due to historically underfunding of those items in the operating budget.  While CATC supports funding of road maintenance, capital funds ideally should be used to address infrastructure needs, not maintaining existing capacity.   CATC and other business groups are encouraging the Austin City Council to restore funds to the FY07 maintenance budget.
August 2006
Aug 31 Link	$5M in road repairs in 2006 could save the Austin $200M in the next decade At the City of Austin's budget hearing, Public Works Department Director Sondra Creighton proposed a budget of $35.5 million, 12 percent over 2006. She reported that the recent Citizens Survey found: Citizens ranked road conditions and new roads as the highest priority Citizens believe the Public Works Department was not doing as good a job as in previous years - particularly with regard to the city’s maintenance and repair of city streets, with a 42.5 percent satisfaction rating, down 8 percent. Creighton told the Council that the city has a long-term goal of maintaining 10 percent of its roadways each year, but it has only funded 8 percent for the past few years, an situation that has resulted that could cost the city more in the long term, as the longer repairs are put off, the more  costly they become.  Spending an additional $5 million on road repairs in 2006 could save the city almost $200 million in repair expenses by the year 2016, she said. CATC, along with other business community organizations, submitted a resolution supporting restoration of road maintenance funding.  A copy of that resolution is available here.
Aug 31 Link Link Link	National Geographic Television "Tools of the Trade: Road Building" features Wilbur Smith Associates project National Geographic Television is featuring "Tools of the Trade: Road Building" beginning Thursday, August 31, 10 p.m., EST.  While this documentary is about tools used during road construction, the National Geographic film crews focused on the construction activities currently going on with the Smart FIX40 project. CATC member Wilbur Smith Associates is responsible for the SmartFIX40 project's comprehensive highway and interchange design, public involvement, traffic engineering and design, and construction inspection. Not only is this one of the largest urban interstate projects designed and inspected by Wilbur Smith Associates, but the project method applies unique delivery characteristics that will likely elicit more interest in accelerated highway construction using the same successful method.  WSA project staff were also interviewed by National Geographic during the filming. "Tools of the Trade: Road Building" will be on the National Geographic Channel the following times: Thursday, August 31, 10 pm EST Friday, September 1, 1 a.m. EST Thursday, September 7, 6 p.m. EST WSA has purchased a 30 second ad which will appear during each showing of the "Tools of the Trade: Road Building" program.
May 2006
May 2 Link	CTTS Monthly Activity Report - April 2006 available In this month's issue:  Electronic Tolling, I-35 @ SH 45N, Toll Plaza Operations, SH 45N/Loop 1 Update , and SH 130 update
May 2 Link	Williamson County Judge Doerfler receives TXDOT "Road Hand" award. Judge Doerfler was recognized for his part in leading the county over the last 16 years, particularly through the successful 2000 road bond program that raised $350 million to improve safety and mobility on roads in Williamson County.  Since 2000, the county has added approximately 213 miles of new roads.  The program also leveraged $150 million to contribute to more than $2.5 billion to build state roads SH 130, SH 45, 183-A and Loop 1.  In addition, the bond program made it possible for the county to participate in the state’s new “Pass Through Financing” program that will reimburse the county $152 million for six state road projects in the county.
May Link	Williamson County appoints bond advisory committee The Commissioners Court appointed a nine-member committee to advise the court on a possible bond election for roads and parks to be decided by voters in November 2006.  The committee will be seeking input from the public as well as cities and others on the types of projects they would like to accomplish in this proposed bond election.  Public input meetings will be held in each county precinct during June and July. The committee will then take all of the input received and develop a recommendation to present to the Commissioners Court in August.  At that time, the Commissioners Court will make the decision whether or not to call an election in November requesting voter approval for the sale of bonds.  The court has indicated that there would be two separate votes – one for additional roads and road improvements and another to acquire parks/open space and/or build park improvements. The committee meets for the first time on May 8.
April 2006
Apr 13 Link	CapMetro outlines draft streetcar proposal Capital Metro has released a draft of a proposed streetcar line that would run from the Seaholm Power Plant, past the Capitol, through the University of Texas campus and ending at the Mueller development.  Under the proposed Future Connections project, streetcars would share lanes with cars.  A final recommended map , costs and ridership estimates should be available in June, though CapMetro declined to say whether the proposal would be on the November ballot or where it would get the money to finance the project.  According to the CapMetro's own financial projections, the agency's costs will exceed revenues in four years - and that's before any extensions are added to the 32-mile Austin-to-Leander commuter rail starter line.
Apr 13 Link	Williamson County to appoint road-bond committee Williamson County Commissioners plan to appoint a citizens' bond committee, made up of two members from each precinct, plus a chairperson, to decide whether a $100 million road bond proposal should be on the November 2006 ballot.
March 2006
Mar 16 Link	Hays and Williamson County among the top 100 fastest-growing counties in the country. According to new U.S. Census Bureau statistics covering July 2004 - July 2005, Williamson County ranks as the 46th fastest-growing county and Hays County is 65th.
Mar 9 Link Link	Study of Virginia transportation packages reveals investments in transportation infrastructure produces economic benefits  beyond better mobility Three proposals for funding transportation now under consideration by Virginia legislators would have a different impact on state revenue, job creation, and personal income. The Virginia STAMP (State Tax and Modeling Program) simulates the economic results from tax changes and spending on transportation.
Mar 6 Link	Cordless, wireless & plug-ins - gas tax killers Major developments in scaling up Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries has huge downside implications for "trust funds" based on petroleum fuel taxes.  Bottom line: a compelling argument for the necessity of a per-mile road charge.
Link	TXDOT report concludes that the Federal Highway Trust Fund is precipitously close to reaching insolvency. Texas transportation recently lost $159 million in Federal rescissions. Over the last four years these cuts have totaled nearly $300 million. Based on that, the Texas Department of Transportation has released a new report on the increasing unreliability of Federal funding and how it affects the agency's ability to deliver mobility projects. The report concludes that the Federal Highway Trust Fund is precipitously close to reaching insolvency, and that TxDOT needs to rely more on innovative solutions that will help the state expand the transportation system.
February 2006
Feb 17 Link	Hutto planning for growth With SH 130 set to be completed next year, Hutto is projected to experience a 600% population increase in the next 25 years.  The Hutto City Council is preparing for the influx by approving a plan to manage the City's rapid growth.
Feb 12 Link	Statesman Editorial Board opposes SOS Open Government amendment Editorial Board criticizes SOS for overreaching and cost-prohibitive amendment.  In lieu of the proposal, the Statesman recommends pushing "the city for a measured, affordable process to get the most important public documents online in a timely manner, but not in a way that will wreck the budget or impoverish the taxpayer."
January 2006
Link	Happy Birthday Interstate! This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Eisenhower Interstate System. Since its initiation on June 29, 1956, the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways has had a tremendous impact on our nation.
Jan 30	Pike Powers of Fulbright and Jaworski was honored as the Austinite of the Year at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce's 128th Annual Meeting on January 30, 2006.
Jan 10 Link	Federal Highway Administration Provides $1 Million To Help Texas Reduce Congestion The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today provided more than $1 million in federal grant funds to help Texas explore new ways to reduce congestion through projects like the study of tolling on the I-35 corridor in Waco.
November 2005
Nov 16 Link	Williamson County joins Austin San Antonio Commuter Rail DistrictWilliamson County Commissioners voted to join the Austin – San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District (ASA Rail) and appointed Pct. 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman to the District's Board of Directors.  Williamson County is the first eligible entity to join the district since 2002 and  paid $49,500 to join the organization using surplus road district funds. The Rail District Board has adopted a route known as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) comprised of 110 miles between Georgetown and south San Antonio with 15 initial stations, including three stations in Williamson County at Georgetown, Round Rock and McNeil.  The LPA route will use the abandoned MoKan right-of-way from Georgetown to Round Rock and the Union Pacific line from Round Rock to Kelly USA in south San Antonio.
October 2005
Oct 27 Link	TTC approves $153 million for Williamson County roads The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) approved $153 million in state funding for six Williamson County projects, including US 79 and FM 1660, in a meeting held Thursday in Corpus Christi. The state money will be steered to the county through a unique program known as pass-through tolling, in which the county will pay for the up-front costs and then be reimbursed by the state over a 14-year period based on how much traffic uses the roads.
Oct 13 Link	TxDOT will be closing IH-35 mainlanes in the vicinity of the SH 45N interchange Oct 15,  3:00 PM - Oct 17, 6:00 AM  The mainlaines of IH-35 will be closed this weekend at the SH 45N interchange as follows:       Southbound lanes: closed beginning Saturday, Oct 15 @ 3:00 PM     Northbound lanes: closed beginning Saturday, Oct 15 @ 8:00 PM     All lanes will re-open b 6:00 AM on Monday, Oct 17.   For more details, including detour routes, see http://www.dot.state.tx.us/aus/newsrel/016-2005.htm.
Oct 13 Link	Survey indicates education about toll roads can change negative perception A poll commissioned by the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority found that 49 percent said they're against toll plans while 44 percent said they're in favor, but after being told details and how toll roads would help, the approval rate went up to 58 percent while rejections dropped to 34 percent
Oct 13 Link	City of Austin to vote on funding toll study at Oct 20 Council meeting The research is joint effort between the City of Austin, City of Round Rock, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), and Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties, to study the assumptions of the Phase II toll road plan. A steering committee made up of representatives from each of the jurisdictions - two from Austin, two from CTRMA, one each from the other counties and cities involved, one from the Texas Department of Transportation and two state representatives - will present information to an independent consultant, who will write up a final report. The total cost of the study is $325,000, paid for with funding from the following: City of Austin - $140,000 Travis County - $25,000 City of Round Rock - $25,000 Williamson County - $25,000 Hays County - $10,000 CTRMA - $125,000
Link	Travis County Bond Referendum The November ballot includes three bond propositions: $65.225 million for roads and bridges to increase mobility & public safety, and to decrease congestion; $62.15 million for facilities and improvements to three existing metropolitan parks; acquisition of land for trails, water quality and natural area protection; and, buyout of properties in flood plains; and, $23.5 million for improving current facilities in accordance with Texas Commission on Jail Standards requirements. IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES Voter registration deadline is: Tuesday, October 11th Early Voting: Monday, October 24 through Friday, November 4th Election Day: Tuesday, November 8th

2004

DECEMBER
Dec 23 Link	Williamson County Commissioners reappoint representatives to the CTRMA Board The Williamson County Commissioners Court have reappointed the county's three members of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board.  As state law stipulates that in the future, members will serve staggered, six-year terms, the three members reappointed will have two-, four- and six-year terms as follows: Georgetown developer Jim Mills - 2 years Former Round Rock City Manager Robert Bennett - 4 years Leander developer David Singleton - 6 years
Dec 17 Link	Texas Transportation Commission approves TransTexas Corridor IH-35 alternative The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) has agreed to let plans proceed for a $6 billion turnpike from San Antonio to Dallas.  Spanish toll road operator Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte SA and San Antonio-based Zachry Construction Corp. were selected by TXDOT to develop the first phase of the corridor, a 300-mile stretch that will connect with both the north and south ends of State Highway 130.  The first phase of the TransTexas corridor parallels IH-35 from the Rio Grande Valley to the Oklahoma border and would feature toll and truck lanes, passenger and freight rail, and utility lines. Though the project is expected to cost about $6 billion, Cintra and Zachry plan to finance the road, also contributing about $1.2 billion to the state for other transportation projects.
Dec 15 Link Link	CTRMA Toll Collection Systems Implementation and Maintenance RFP Notice of Availiability The CTRMA is soliciting statements of qualifications and proposals from firms with toll collection systems expertise to provide design, procurement, installation and maintenance services to the CTRMA for use on CTRMA-operated projects on US 183-A.   Responses are due by Feb 15, 2005.
Dec 08 Link	Cap Metro board approves commuter rail as top choice Cap Metro's Board of Directors approved commuter rail as the preferred option for the Austin-Leander transit corridor, confirming Cap Metro's expected decision to implement passenger rail service with a starter rail line (the Downtown-Northwest Rail Line) as part of the All Systems Go long-range transit plan.   The board's action is a requirement for federal funding.
Dec 08 Link	CTRMA Adopts Toll Policies The toll policies include the following provisions: • A 10% discount for customers who use an electronic toll tag. • $10 in free tolls to customers who open an account. An individual’s toll tag would be activated by opening an account with a $20 minimum. • A 10% discount for public transit vehicles and school buses that use a toll tags. These vehicles would also be charged the passenger vehicle toll rate, which is approximately three times less than the commercial rate. • A six-month introductory period for 183-A that provides:   - One month of free use to everyone who drives on the toll road   - An additional month free for drivers who open a toll tag account   - And an additional 50% off the cost of tolls for toll tag users over the next four months. • A customer-friendly violations policy that gives customers a chance to pay their tolls prior to the assessment of a $25 administrative fee and fines. • Options for payment methods for tolls include cash, credit and debit cards and the availability of account set-up at convenient locations including grocery stores, online and convenience stores.
Dec 08 Link Link	Greater Austin Chamber names former CATC Chair Pete Winstead "Austinite of the Year" Pete Winstead, CATC's first chair and a founding partner of Winstead Sechrest & Minick, is being recognized for his vision, his legal skills, his philanthropy and his courage in tackling the difficult issues.  Pete will be honored at the Chamber's Annual Meeting on January 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Hilton Austin Hotel.  Click here for registration information.
Dec 07	CATC and ASACC Annual Member Meeting (4:30 - 6:00 PM) at the Stephen F. Austin InterContinental Hotel in Austin
Dec 03 Link	IH-35 Corridor Growth Summit (11:00 AM - 1:30 PM) at the Texas State University, San Marcos - LBJ Student & Visitors Center The Austin Business Journal and the San Antonio Business Journal invite you to the I-35 Corridor Growth Summit. The Summit will address the opportunities for growth and development in the Corridor. Dr. Steve Murdock is the state demographer and will address the changing demographics in the Corridor and how that translates into the economic environment. The panel discussion hosted by Pete Winstead will provide insight into why the Corridor is the place to grow business.

NOVEMBER
Nov 3 Link	Commuter Rail referendum passes Sixty-two percent of voters approved CapMetro's long-range transit plan, which included a $60 million commuter rail line that will run from Leander to Austin on existing tracks owned by CapMetro.  The starter line is expected to be ready for passengers in three to four years.
Oct 19 - Nov 18 Link	TXDOT has a series of Trans-Texas Corridor public meetings planned TXDOT has planned public meetings for the proposed Oklahoma-Mexico element (TTC-35) of the Trans-Texas Corridor to allow attendants to learn more about the TransTexas Corridor and the environmental study, provide input to project planners and TxDOT, review preliminary corridor alternatives, and register your comments.

OCTOBER
Oct 27 Link	Former CATC Chair Pike Powers receives business leadership award from Austin Technology Incubator Austin business leader Pike Powers received the Laura Kilcrease Community Business Leadership Award from the Austin Technology Incubator.  The award honors an outstanding Austin businessperson who has contributed to the well-being of the region.
Oct 27 Link Link	CTRMA releases proposed rules for tolling plan CTRMA is developing an electronic toll collection system for its roads. Drivers will be able to use a “toll tag” and drive through toll lanes without stopping to pay a toll. The toll tag would be set up with a prepaid account either by cash or tied to a credit card. With the release of the draft toll policies, the CTRMA is requesting and encouraging citizens in Central Texas to participate in the 30 day public comment and review period running from November 1st to December 1st.  The CTRMA will host an open house meeting before its regularly scheduled board meeting Nov. 10, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the Red Oak Ballroom in Northcross Mall, located at 2525 W. Anderson Lane.
Oct 19 - Nov 18 Link	TXDOT has a series of Trans-Texas Corridor public meetings planned TXDOT has planned public meetings for the proposed Oklahoma-Mexico element (TTC-35) of the Trans-Texas Corridor to allow attendants to learn more about the TransTexas Corridor and the environmental study, provide input to project planners and TxDOT, review preliminary corridor alternatives, and register your comments.
Oct 11 Link	CTRMA News E-Newsletter available online
Oct 06 Link	Survey finds the average Austin-area commuter is willing to pay $12 to save an hour of commute time According to Dr. Chandra Bhat, transportation engineering professor at The University of Texas, who tried to determine what would lure commuters out of their cars and into public transportation. He found that the increasing diversity in Austin households is increasing the amount of non-work stops commuters make to and from work, which means commuters are cramming all their errands into the time of day they’re already in their cars. “It’s next to impossible today to resolve Austin’s traffic congestion problems solely through a single transportation strategy, such as road building or tolls or commuter rail,” he says, “because of the high number of commuters who drive alone and the fast growth of Austin. In fact, it’s almost impossible to even maintain today’s congestion levels in the future by focusing on only one strategy. By combining several transportation and land-use policy actions, there is potential to make a tangible reduction in traffic congestion levels.” For more details, contact Becky Rische, College of Engineering, 512-471-7272.

SEPTEMBER
Sep 30 Link Link	CARTPO to present high-priority projects to Texas Transportation Commission The Capital Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CARTPO) appeared before the Texas Transportation Commission to present their top priority roadway projects.  A delegation of local elected officials from throughout the ten-county Capital Area Planning Council (CAPCO) region attended to show support for these projects.  Six local elected officials from the region will be presenting information to the Commission about CARTPO’s history, project selection process, and will be requesting funding for CARTPO’s selected top priority roadway projects, which are: (1)     Widen US 290 to a 4-lane divided highway from east of Elgin to west of Giddings; and (2)     Widen SH 71 to a 4-lane divided freeway with frontage roads through the City of Bastrop. CATC's Executive Committee approved a Resolution of Support for CARTPO Priority Projects.
Sep 16 Link	Business and Civic Organizations to Respond to Toll Plan Myths and Misinformation The mission of the Citizens for Responsible Leadership Political Action Committee (CRCL-PAC) is to oppose the petition drive to recall Austin Mayor Will Wynn and Councilmembers Danny Thomas and Brewster McCracken.
Sep 14 Link	CapMetro to host seven meetings on All Systems Go proposal by the end of September.  All the forums begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last two hours. • Sept. 16: Austin Community College Pinnacle Campus, 10th floor, 7748 U.S. 290 W. • Sept. 21: ACC Eastview Campus, Room 8111, Health Sciences Building, 3401 Webberville Road. • Sept. 22: Travis High School, 1211 Oltorf St. • Sept. 23: Anderson Mill Municipal Utility District, 11500 El Salido Parkway. • Sept. 27: Texas Department of Human Services, 701 W. 51st St. • Sept. 28: William P. Hobby Building, Room 100, 333 Guadalupe St. • Sept. 30: Leander City Hall, 200 W. Willis St.
Sep 9 Link	CTRMA Unified Transportation System map available online
Sep 8 Link Link	Hill Country Constructors, a consortium led by Granite Construction Co. and J.D. Abrams LLP has been selected by the CTRMA to build 183-A. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board of directors has selected Hill Country Constructors for the $390 million U.S. Highway 183-A project.  According to CTRMA, the agreement will allow Hill Country Constructors to simultaneously design and build that section of the road, expediting the project schedule. The estimated completion date for the entire project is early 2007, more than four years ahead of schedule.
Sep 7 Link Link	TTI Releases 2004 Urban Mobility Study In the study indices measured, Austin generally fell near the upper middle of all of the 85 areas studied.  With population values considered, the true magnitude of Austin's mobility problems is unveiled.  Austin ranked first among its peer cities in the categories of the Time Travel Index, congestion delays, excess fuel consumed, and costs of congestion.

AUGUST
Aug 30 Link	Capital Metro Board approved All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan to Include Starter Commuter Rail Line The plan includes expanded local and express bus service, new Rapid Bus Service, and a commuter rail starter line along Capital Metro's existing freight tracks, as well as hike and bike trails along portions of rights-of-way adjacent to those tracks.  The Board unanimously approved the staff’s recommendation, including requiring a vote on all additions/extensions, but all other suggestions were ignored or not addressed.   Performance measures are to be adopted, but there is no commitment of funds to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), MOKAN, or for the Union Pacific (UP) move, as CATC recommended.  The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (GACOC), Downtown Austin Association (DAA), Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA), Connect Austin, Clean Water Action, Mueller, City of Austin, City of Leander and rail activist Dave Dobbs were in support.
Aug 26 Link	CATC Executive Committee approves CATC Commuter Rail Policy Position

JULY
Jul 29 Link	TXDOT selects Zachry Construction for the design and construction of the SH 45 SE toll road
Jul 23 Link	Facts about the Toll Road Plan available on CTRMA website
Jul 12 Link	CAMPO includes toll road projects in 2030 Plan and TIP

JUNE

MAY
May 10 Link	CAMPO Public Hearing on CTRMA Toll Road proposal
Link	Citizens for Mobility launches campaign supporting CTRMA Plan
	CATC Mobility Crisis Brochure -  view online or in pdf format.
	CAMPO Draft 2030 Mobility Plan released.

APRIL
Apr 29 Link	Detail proposals requested for Trans-Texas Corridor The Texas Department of Transportation has issued a request for detail proposals to develop the 800-mile element, which generally parallels IH-35 and extends from the Red River to the Mexican border and the Gulf Coast.  The selection of a consortium is expected by the end of the year.
Apr 27 Link Link	Austin's Combined Transportation, Emergency & Communications Center (CTECC) wins top award The Austin CTECC $50 million center, which opened last October, won first place for Public Partnership at the national Intelligent Transportation System convention.
Apr 23 Link	The last section  of US 183N from IH-35 to RR 620 officially opens Apr 23, 2004  TXDOT will refer to the segment between Hunters Chase Dr. and RM 620 as the "William Garbade Freeway" in honor of the former Austin District Engineer.
Apr 12 Link	CTRMA proposes $2.2B transportation plan The year-old Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) and the Austin District of the Texas Department of Transportation today unveiled a proposal to begin building more than $2.2 billion of tolled road improvements in the Austin area in phases that would start later this year and continue starting over the next three years.

MARCH
Mar 16 Link	Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) experiment will speed progress of the Trans-Texas Corridor FHWA has agreed to streamline the environmental process of the Trans-Texas Corridor by allowing purchase of right-of-way for a road segment after an environmental study is approved for that section, without waiting for environmental studies to be completed on the entire length of the road.  It applies to a 600-mile portion of the project from Denison to the Texas-Mexico border termed the IH-35 High Priority Corridor. The waiver, only the second the FHWA has made, allows federal money to be spent on a project before the environmental analysis is complete.  Texas Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson predicted that allowing environmental, design and construction-related processes to proceed simultaneously could shorten the transportation project timeline for completion by three to five years.    The $180 billion Trans-Texas Corridor transportation network will be comprised of corridors up to up to 1,200-ft wide encompassing separate highway lanes for trucks and passenger vehicles, as well as commuter, freight and passenger rail lines.
Mar 8 Link	Hays County consider forming Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) At the behest of Commissioner Bill Burnett, Hays County has assembled a committee to study the feasibility of a Hays County RMA.  With its own RMA, the county could keep toll road revenues for projects within Hays County.   The Texas Transportation Commission recently passed rules outlining what local governments must do to form an RMA and allowing RMAs to develop multiple transportation projects to generate revenue for other local projects.
Mar 6 Link	TXDOT proposes restricted truck lanes The TXDOT Austin District held a public hearing regarding proposed rules that would restrict 18-wheelers  from using the left lane on a portion of IH-35 except when passing.   TXDOT claims the proposal would improve traffic flow and safety because it separates cars and big rigs and said that public reaction has been favorable, but truck drivers at the hearing spoke in opposition the restriction.  Comments can be submitted to TXDOT through March 14.

FEBRUARY
Feb 27 Link	Transportation Commission passes toll rules to help accelerate transportation projects TXDOT announced passage of rules guiding toll road and regional mobility authority operations applicable to counties, regional mobility authorities and the state.  The new rules make possible the formation of a regional mobility authority (RMA) by local governments and tax- to toll road-conversion by a RMA, county or TxDOT.
Feb 25 Link	The CTRMA has posted the short-list of US 183A contractors
Feb 25 Link	CATC Executive Committee approves Policy Statement regarding CAMPO 2025 Plan Amendments
Feb 23 Link	TXDOT announces SH 45 North construction contract awarded TXDOT awarded the construction contract for SH 45 North to the east of its intersection with IH 35 south of Round Rock to Zachry Construction.  Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2004 and has a target completion date of September 2007.  At $37.6 million, Zachry Construction Corporation was the low-bid for this portion of the project, 33.21% under the projected cost.
Feb 19 Link	American Highway Users Alliance (AHUA) releases study on America's worst traffic bottlenecks AHUA released an update to their 1999 study on highway bottlenecks entitled "Unclogging America’s Arteries: Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks (1999-2004)."  The report "quantifies how these traffic chokepoints burden the public with severe delays, degraded safety, worsened air quality and wasted fuel consumption," in a timely effort to convince Congress to provide funding for transportation via the TEA legislation renewal.   Austin has two bottlenecks listed in the study of 232 congested areas:  # 39 - IH-35 @ MLK and # 134 - MOPAC and Loop 360.   Both the original and updated reports were produced by transportation research firm Cambridge Systematics (the same organization that performed the CAMPO Peer Review).  For more info, see the AHUA website www.highways.org.
Feb 2 Link	TXDOT Announces Trans-Texas Corridor public hearings Austin District Schedule County Location Date - Time Contact Travis TxDOT District Hearing Room 7901 N. Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78753 Tuesday, February 03 6:00 PM Lowell Choate, P.E. 512-832-9599 Blanco PEC Auditorium 201 S. Ave. F Johnson City, TX 78636 Tuesday, February 10 6:30 PM Terry McCoy, P.E. 512-756-2316 Gillespie Fredericksburg Middle School Cafeteria 110 W. Travis St. Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Wednesday, February 11 6:30 PM Terry McCoy, P.E. 512-756-2316 Bastrop County Law Enforcement Center Courthouse 200 Jackson Bastrop, TX 78602 Thursday, February 12 6:30 PM Daniel Smith, P.E. 512-321-2195 Caldwell City Council Chambers 308 W. San Antonio St. Lockhart, TX 78644 Monday, February 16 6:30 PM Daniel Smith, P.E. 512-321-2195 Burnet Shady Grove Elementary School Cafeteria 1001 Shady Grove Rd. Burnet, TX 78611 Tuesday, February 17 6:30 PM Terry McCoy, P.E. 512-756-2316 Mason Community Center 1 mile south of Mason on US 87 Mason, TX 76856 Wednesday, February 18 6:30 PM Terry McCoy, P.E. 512-756-2316 Lee City Council Chambers 118 E. Richmond Giddings, TX 78942 Thursday, February 19 6:30 PM Daniel Smith, P.E. 512-321-2195 Travis TxDOT District Hearing Room 7901 N. Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78753 Tuesday, February 24 6:00 PM Lowell Choate, P.E. 512-832-9599 Llano American Legion 200 Legion Drive Llano, TX 78643 Wednesday, February 25 6:30 PM Terry McCoy, P.E. 512-756-2316 Williamson Round Rock High School 300 N. Lake Creek Drive Round Rock, TX 78681 Thursday, February 26 6:00 PM John Wagner, P.E. 512-930-5402 Hays Jack C. Hays High School 4800 Jack C. Hays Trail Buda, TX 78610 Thursday, February 26 6:30 PM Don Nyland, P.E. 512-428-1411

JANUARY