MoPac South expansion heads to public review From the cover
Breaking it down
How we got here
The 2C configuration features northbound and southbound express lanes from Cesar Chavez to the Barton Skyway via an elevated, wishbone-shaped ramp, which Mobility Authority officials say will eliminate vehicle weaving and allow for multiple downtown exit options. The configuration also includes two express lanes from Barton Skyway to Convict Hill Road, one express lane from Convict Hill Road to Slaughter Lane, and other improvements, such as a shared- use path connecting the Roberta Crenshaw Bridge over Lady Bird Lake to Slaughter Lane. According to Mobility Authority documents, the agency has incorporated community input collected over the years into 2C’s design, including: • Adding a direct connection at US 290, a col- lector-distributor road from Barton Skyway to Loop 360, and a south-to-north U-turn at Barton Skyway • Lengthening the turn lane leading to the U-turn at Loop 360 • Adding more bike and pedestrian crossings on each side of the corridor, and widening or relocat- ing shared-use paths Mobility Authority documents also state 2C considers emergency vehicle response times, noting current shoulder widths are too narrow for adequate response and could worsen as the region grows.
“While there is much work to be done on gathering and responding to public comments, we look forward to fulfilling the community request for the Mobility Authority to sponsor this environmental study,” Mobility Authority Executive Director James Bass said. The study utilizes the recommended build alternative 2C configuration that proposes building one to two express lanes in each direction between Cesar Chavez and Slaughter, despite some pushback from the community regarding its environmental and traffic impacts. Five other configurations and a no-build alternative were studied, but the Mobility Authority said 2C reflects public feedback and is expected to reduce travel delays by 2045.
For over a decade, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has spearheaded an $825 million project along 8.77 miles of MoPac South between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane. Mobility Authority officials said MoPac South is consistently ranked among the most congested roadways in Texas. In 2013, the agency and the Texas Department of Transportation initiated an environmental study of the corridor to identify options to improve mobility and safety. While the project has faced various delays in the years since, the Mobility Authority held six open houses before publishing the project’s draft environmental assessment Feb. 13.
MoPac South expansion
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1 MoPac at Loop 360 2 MoPac at Barton Skyway 3 MoPac at Bee Cave Road
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2
360
BARTON SKYWAY
LADY BIRD LAKE
1
71
290
2
290
ESCARPMENT BLVD.
Elevated express lane ramps
MOPAC
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Scan the QR code to see an animated video flythrough of what changes the recommended build alternative 2C would bring to MoPac South between Slaughter Lane and Cesar Chavez Street.
CONVICT HILL RD.
N MAP NOT TO SCALE
SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
RENDERING COURTESY CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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