Jun 25
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
Apr 30
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has chosen JPMorganChase as its financial partner on the outstanding toll road projects. CTRMA expects to develop a combined public/private financing package for under 6%. As construction costs are projected to increase by 10-12%, moving forward expeditiously on these projects should be a net gain financially, as well as as for Central Texas mobility. Financing will be comprised of non-concession, non-privatized lending of public and private funds supported solely by revenue from tolls. Details regarding which roads roads get built and when must still be worked out , but it does portend well for getting things back on track and placing Central Texas on the cutting edge of self-sustaining local transportation funding.
Apr 03
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Sen. Kirk Watson has proposed improvements for a dangerous segment of SH 71 using a newly-created “safety fund.” Watson wants to establish a long-term safety fund which would initially set aside $30 million of the $65 million from TXDOT’s allocation for toll road projects on SH 71 and US 290, and get matching funds from local governments. Eventually the fund could be sustained by toll revenues via the CTRMA. The plan will require approval by the CAMPO Board.
TXDOT has already implemented short-term improvements, including adding water-absorbent pavement and roughening the pavement. In addition, the Texas Transportation Commission reduced speed in the area from 65 to 60 mph.
TXDOT hopes to get environmental approval for the $850,000 barrier project by Jul 1 and have them in place by the end of the year or early 2009. A public hearing for environmental approval is scheduled for Apr 24.
Plan pitches barriers for dangerous part of 71 - Austin American-Statesman
Mar 27
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) is considering five responses to its request for potential financial partners, including Citigroup, Balfour Beatty Capital, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sacs. The CTRMA expects to select one of the firms by April and then must determine exactly how to finance the proposed road projects.
Dec 11
With TXDOT budget cuts trickling down to the local levels, Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh predicts that the district could rely on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) to pick up the slack.
The Austin District’s right-of-way budget has been cut in half and the consultant budget was decreased by 57%. As of February, added capacity projects will be halted through the end of the fiscal year. Worse news: budget reductions could remain in place through 2009.
To help ease the burden, the Austin District is negotiating with the CTRMA to begin design work on projects that the District no longer has the budget for, including five toll projects approved in the CAMPO 2030 Plan and MoPac managed express lanes.
Nov 07
On December 1, US 183A toll rates for four-axle vehicles will drop about 33% in an effort to provide fairness to vehicles that are just slightly bigger or heavier than cars. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority anticipates that this change will encourage use of the toll road by boat owners, landscapers and general contractors whose vehicles do not cause as much damage as the heavy trucks which are charged higher rates to make up for the greater damage these vehicles inflict on the road.
In addition, the CTRMA is eliminating the toll collectors at Brushy Creek, which has the effect of eliminating the multi-axle toll rate altogether. All vehicles will pay the two-axle rate of 50 cents cash or 45 cents with the TxTag.
Aug 27
TXDOT Austin District Director of Transportation Planning and Development Wesley (Wes) Burford, P.E., will join the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) as the agency’s Director of Engineering on September 1, 2007.
Mobility Authority Hires Accomplished TxDOT Engineer - CTRMA Press Release
TxDOT director moves to mobility authority - Austin Business Journal
May 17
Traffic on 183A Exceeds Expectations
The US 183A project drew a whopping 100,000 transactions per day during the free period in April and dropped to 70,000 on May 1 when the RMA began charging cash customers - placing it well on target to exceed the projected 24,600 daily transactions for the full toll price measures that begin on July 1.
Until then, toll tag customers will not be charged in May, receive at 50% discount in June, and a 10% discount over cash thereafter.
US 183A Link to SH 45 Toll Road Opened
US 183A drivers can now access SH 45 - travel between between Cedar Park / Leander and Pflugerville / Round Rock just got a lot faster! SH 45 tolls will waived through the summer as construction is completed near the Parmer Lane area.
New CTRMA Board Member - Nikelle S. Meade
Local attorney Nikelle S. Meade has been appointed by Travis County to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) to replace founding member, Johanna Zmud. Meade is an attorney and partner with the Austin office of law firm Brown McCarroll, L.L.P.
For details, see the CTRMA press release.
Feb 20
The US 183A toll road is opening Saturday, March 3, with a community-wide celebration. The festivities will take place at the Park Street Toll Plaza and will include the Road to Hope 5K Fun Run, carnival rides, kid-friendly activities and live musical performances by the Dust Devils, Eight Ball Down and Ray Benson featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel. A complimentary BBQ lunch with cotton candy, popcorn and other concessions will also be provided. The event is free to the public with proceeds benefiting Hope Alliance, an organization providing support to Williamson County families during times of crisis.
Click here for parking directions, additonal information about the 183A Grand Opening and to register for The Road to Hope 5k Fun Run.
If you have a child between the ages of 3-6, and they have a PowerWheels or other battery-powered car, they could be among the first to drive on US 183A - click here for details.
Schedule of Events
8:30 AM - Road to Hope Fun Run (registration begins at 7 AM)
9:00 AM - Community Festival begins
11:00 AM - Opening Ceremony
12 Noon - Ray Benson, featuring members of Asleep at the Wheel
2:00 PM - Community Festival ends
Feb 16
Sen. Kirk Watson announces the filing of SB 688 - Tolls Transparency and Accountability Act, which you may have read about in today’s news (Austin American Statesman). A copy of the bill text in .pdf format is available at http://catransco.org/Documents/Legis/State/SB00668.pdf
Briefly, the bill would:
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