Bastrop - Cedar Creek Edition | February 2025

Transportation

Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

City rejects voter-approved marijuana decriminalization amendment

Rates increase for 6 Austin toll roads

What else?

Some context

The Mobility Agency continues funding $259 million in new toll roads, extending the pay-for-play express lanes from Hero Way in Leander to a little past Hwy. 29 in Liberty Hill. According to the Mobility Authority, 183A Toll has also seen an increase in drivers. It predicts weekday trac increases of more than 50% by 2040. Plans brought before the public over the summer included adding a fourth lane in both directions from RM 620 and SH 45 to Hero Way. In addition to their work in the north, the agency is also eyeing an extension of the MoPac Express Lanes in South Austin. A public comment period is underway for proposed new toll lanes on an 8-mile stretch of south MoPac from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane.

In January 2024, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched lawsuits against cities that passed similar measures, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . Since then, judges have dismissed several of the lawsuits; however, Paxton is currently appealing the decisions. Per Texas Local Government Code, municipalities cannot create rules that are against state laws. Called the Bastrop Freedom Act, the proposed amendment to the Bastrop Home Rule Charter directed police to deprioritize arrests and citations for misdemeanor marijuana possession oenses, except in cases involving violent crime and major drug investigations.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the agency responsible for managing and collecting toll fares on many of the express lanes in the Austin area, increased toll rates Jan. 1. Originally approved during an October Mobility Authority board meeting, the majority of toll collection points will see between a 2%-3% increase. The toll rate increases follow Mobility Authority policy that adjusts rates each year based on in ation to prevent larger hikes every ve years. Most tolling location points will see between a $0.01 to $0.05 increase for toll users compared to previous rates in 2024, while three tolling points along the 183A Toll will see a $0.09 increase. The MopPac Express Lane will also see an $0.08 rate increase.

183A TOLL

130 TOLL

Bastrop City Council denied a charter amendment calling for police to eliminate criminal sanctions for misdemeanor marijuana possessions. Known as Proposition M, the amendment passed last November with 70% of the vote. Council members were split during a Jan. 28 meeting, which led to Mayor Pro Tem John Kirkland breaking the tie. During the meeting, Attorney Stanley Springerley told council members that if they accepted the amendment, the state would likely sue the city as state law supersedes local law—adding that it could cost taxpayers around $400,000.

“Hundreds of thousands of dollars is a lot of taxpayer money to spend [on a lawsuit] ...” JOHN KIRKLAND, MAYOR PRO TEM Voted against decriminalization

183A Toll

45 TOLL

183

620

290 Toll

Austin

MoPac Express Lane

290

183 Toll

Voted for decriminalization

290

“... I’m going to have to stick with the voters on this one.” CHERYL LEE, COUNCIL MEMBER

MOPAC

183

SH 45 Toll

Hwy 71 Toll Lane

BASTROP 739 State Hwy 71 (512) 308-0250

ELGIN 1100 US-290 (512) 285-2741

GIDDINGS 1920 E Austin St (979) 212-4031