CATC Mobility Headlines

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

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

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

Statesman columnist Ben Wear pitted SH 130 against IH-35, and was surprised to find that IH-35 won the race… but what factors contributed to the unexpected results? Wear admits that spring break likely contributed to the lighter-than-normal IH-35 traffic and that afternoon traffic is generally more congested than the morning run tested. Not to mention that SH 130 has at the very least diverted some of the through traffic that used to clog up IH-35 by diverting it around the central city.   Wear plans a re-match to compare evening rush hour traffic.

The Great Race: Texas 130 loses to I-35 - Austin American-Statesman

Segment 4 of the SH 130 project was opened today following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the SH 130/SH 71 Interchange. Segment 4, from SH 71 to US 183 near Mustang Ridge, is the final segment in the Central Texas Turnpike System 2002 Project (CTTS). With the opening of this Segment, all portions of the CTTS–the Loop 1 Extension, SH 45 North, and SH 130–are now open to traffic.

Tolls will not be charged on this 8.7 mile section through June and drivers with electronic toll tags will receive a 50% discount in July and a 10% discount thereafter.

Segments 5 & 6 of SH 130, which is being constructed by a different team under the state’s first privately-funded concession agreement, is expected to begin construction in 2009.

SH 130 Segment 4 Opening - TXDOT Press Release

Texas 130 in Austin area opens final stretch today - Austin American-Statesman

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.

Save room on your calendar for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of SH 130 Segment 4 (SH 71 to US 183 / Mustang Ridge) on April 30. Details regarding location to be announced. For additional information or to RSVP, call the Pflugerville Project Office at 512-225-1473.

As with other segments of SH 130, tolls will initially be waived - all drivers may drive on Segment 4 free through June.

Segment 4 will eventually connect to Segments 5 and 6 (Mustang Ridge to I-10 in Seguin), which are being built via a public-private partnership between TXDOT and Cintra-Zachry. Construction on the last two segments is expected to begin in 2009 and be complete by 2012.

Southern half of SH 130 to open - Austin Business Journal

Last piece of tollway around Austin to open April 30 - Austin American-Statesman

New portion of highway nearly completed - News8 Austin

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 

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.

In a letter sent yesterday, Texas legislators urged TXDOT to borrow $1.5 billion by bonding gas tax revenues as a short-term solution to get road construction projects moving again. (The Legislature authorized TxDOT to borrow up to $6 billion against the gas tax and the agency has issued $2.9 billion to date). In return, legislators promise to cut back gas tax diversions on non-roadway expenditures. The letter was signed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Tom Craddick, Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden and House Appropriations Chairman Warren Chisum.

TxDOT’s response was to demur to the Governor, whose response was less than enthusiastic. A Perry spokesman said the Governor was looking for long-term, not stop-gap, solutions.

Legislators suggest TxDOT borrow money for projects

Borrow more for roads, legislators urge transportation department Austin American-Statesman

Dewhurst: Go forth and borrow Austin American-Statesman