CATC Mobility Headlines

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

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s report on the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) was less than favorable. Citing problems the department’s credibility which has resulted in public mistrust, the Sunset Commission recommended the creation of a legislative oversight committee and that the agency be reviewed again in four years rather, a departure from the usual twelve-year cycle.

Other recommendations:

• Replacing the 5-member Texas Transportation Commission and the Executive Director with a single Commissioner of Transportation, whose appointment by the Governor would have to be confirmed by the Legislature and re-confirmed every two years.
• Providing better access to independent transportation information and research;
  Increasing transparency of TxDOT’s transportation planning and project development process;
• Improving TxDOT’s public involvement efforts;
• Making the department’s contracting functions more accountable, particularly its development of comprehensive development agreements.

The next step will be July 15, when a public hearing will be held in Austin regarding the future of TXDOT, followed by a vote by the Sunset Commission in September, and legislative action in the 2009 session.

TXDOT Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report

TXDOT Sunset Advisory Commission Self Evaluation

Commission releases scathing report on TXDOT - Austin Business Journal

TXDOT credibility in political pothole - Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board

The Austin Police Department’s Highway Enforcement Command has launched an online traffic survey and ask Austin drivers to help identify the most pressing driving safety issues in the community.

The survey asks drivers to provide input regarding overall traffic safety and driving behavior on Austin streets and roadways. APD is encouraging every citizen to participate as the department continues to prioritize its traffic safety efforts and moves forward with making the Austin a safer place.

Take the survey online by July 15 - APD Traffic Survey

A Brookings Institution study on the carbon footprints of 100 American metropolitan areas showed a slight decrease in highway emissions in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The study found that the amount of carbon dioxide from highway transportation in the Austin area decreased 1% from 2000-2005. While the study ranked Austin a less-than-favorable 54th in carbon emissions from cars and trucks, the decrease is notable considering that according to the Texas Transportation Institute Urban Mobility Study, Austin’s highway daily vehicle miles traveled (DVMT) increased by 6.7% in that same same time period.

In that same time period, residential energy usage increased 33% per capita, placing Austin 55th among the 100 metro areas analyzed. Austin Energy officials noted that it relies more heavily on renewable energy sources than other Texas energy providers, and that total residential electric use increased 6% from 2000-2005 versus an increase of 12% in the number of residential customers.

Austin ranks low in emissions study - Austin American-Statesman

Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America - Brookings Institution

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

Austin street maintenance may suffer from budget shortfalls. According to budget forecasts presented to the City Council, the $43.2 million collected from transportation fees on utility bills won’t cover the planned maintenance of $50.9 million for fiscal year 2009.

The issue is particularly important as streets that do not receive timely maintenance deteriorate faster and require more costly rebuilding. The city’s goal is to take care of maintenance on 10 percent of its roads each year. In 2002, the City reduced that amount to 8% and recently began increasing the amount in an effort to regain the 10% goal. The $50.9 million budget was estimated at 9.5% of roads in 2009.

Austin scraping for street maintenance money - Austin American-Statesman

WHAT: Briefing on the Downtown Austin Plan: Urban Rail Connector/Circulator Proposal
WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Check-in at 7:40 a.m., Meeting at 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 304 East 7th Street in Sumner’s Hall, 3rd Floor

City of Austin staff and members of the ROMA Design team will present details of the proposal for inclusion of a rail-based circulator/connector in the Downtown Austin Plan.
As proposed, the circulator would connect Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Downtown, the Capitol complex, and the Mueller redevelopment site. The line could be extended to other areas in future phases.

Parking will be available at the Southwest Tower parking garage located 211 East 7th Street. RSVP via email to rsvp@downtownaustin.com or call 512-469-1766 x211 by Monday, May 12 by 5:00 p.m.

The Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board weighs in on Gov. Perry’s appointment of his former Chief of Staff, Deirdre Delisi, as Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission. The jury’s still out:

“Though it is fortunate that Central Texas now has a presence on the transportation commission, Delisi still must show that she is more than a Perry pawn. Can she lead the commission? Can she push back? Can she be independent when she needs to be?”

Can Delisi steer Transportation through all the potholes?

Meanwhile, San Antonio businesswoman Hope Andrade remains unruffled by not being re-appointed to the Commission. Perry’s decision is seen as an effort to achieve geographic balance while retaining a strong advocate for Perry’s transportation agenda, but there is already grumbling that Delisi can hardly be considered a representative for South Texas.

South Texan seen as casualty in revamped highway panel - San Antonio Express News

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.