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