CATC Mobility Headlines

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

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

The Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) 2002 Project “Monthly Activity Report” has been released. This month includes updates on SH 130 Segments 3 and 4 and SH 45 / Loop 1.

January 2008 CTTS Monthly Activity Report

Despite conjecture that residential growth would precede retail in the SH 130 corridor, the Austin Business Journal reports on the development of over three million square feet of mixed-use development at the intersection of SH 130, Parmer Lane and U.S. Highway 290.

SH 130 Retail Boom - Austin Business Journal

The Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) 2002 Project “Monthly Activity Report” has been released. This month includes updates on SH 130, including the opening of Segment 3, and SH 45 / Loop 1.

Central Texas Turnpike System

The May 2007 Central Texas Turnpike System report is now available.

May 2007 CTTS Monthly Activity Report

Gov. Rick Perry signed SB 792, the only legislation significantly affecting toll road policy passed in the 80th Legislative Session. The bill places a two-year moratorium on comprehensive development agreements (CDAs) with private companies.

The bill’s direct effect on Central Texas is that it prevents TXDOT from being able to sell the Central Texas Turnpike Project tollroads (SH 130, SH 45, and Loop 1N) to a private entity. For additional details on the bill, see the Governor’s press release.