CATC Mobility Headlines

In Monday’s Ben Wear “Getting There” column, Wear recounted the third installment of the rush-hour road race series pitting SH 130 against IH-35. The first and second races were split, though there was controversy over the initial race in which IH-35 came out ahead, because the competition occurred between college semesters (thus devoid of the usual student traffic on IH-35), and in the morning, rather than the more congested evening, rush-hour traffic. In the third race, which took place on the afternoon of May 7, the longer SH 130 route beat the IH-35 route by 22 minutes, despite the race taking place between semesters of most local universities.

Wear notes that SH 130 revenues are 12% below TXDOT projections, likely due to less-than-expected numbers of large trucks, which pay more than cars, which is not altogether surprising in a recessionary economy; however, overall traffic is almost 18 percent above projections so more car drivers are finding the quicker trip worth the cost.

We’re not surprised - CATC has always been a big fan of SH 130. CATC coordinated support for public hearings and critical votes for all phases of the Central Texas Turnpike Project roads, including SH 130. CATC spearheaded the effort to raise public awareness and education regarding the project by creating and maintaining the sh130.org website (archived here) and the SH 130 information hotline, and promoted bond initiatives to pay for local participation. As a result of these efforts, SH 130 and the other CTTP projects garnered unprecedented funding from local, state, and federal resources for construction and right-of-way. With the aid of innovative financing, SH 130 was on the ground and in use decades before it would have using traditional pay-as-you-go methods. CATC lobbied for the road to be named in honor of J.J. “Jake” Pickle, and HB 2296, designating of a portion of SH 130 as the “Pickle Parkway was signed in by Governor Perry in May 2007. We’re proud to be a part of the success of SH 130 and happy to see it operating just as we knew it would - saving time (and money) for those who use it.

The 40-mile extension of SH 130 from Mustang Ridge to IH-10 in Seguin could be complete by November 2012 if all goes according to schedule.  TXDOT Engineer Ben Engelhardt told the Seguin City Council on Mar 3 that TXDOT hopes to being construction within the next 60 days.  Groundbreaking on the interchanges could begin in August.

The project, developed as a public-private partnership between TxDOT and the S.H. 130 Concession Co, will charge a toll of 12.5 cents per mile.

SH 130 construction to begin soon

http://mysh130.com/

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