Transportation
BY HALEY MCLEOD
Rates increase along 6 toll lanes across metro The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the agency responsible for managing and collect- ing toll fares on many of the express lanes in the Austin area, increased toll rates Jan. 1. What you need to know The majority of toll collection points will see between a 2%-3% increase. The rate increases follow Mobility Authority pol- icy 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—the Crystal Falls ramp, Crystal Falls Mainline Plaza and Lakeline Mainline Plaza— will see a $0.09 increase. The Mobility Authority predicts weekday tra c increases of more that 50% by 2040.
MoPac South project to start next steps Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority leaders discussed next steps during a Jan. 29 board meeting to address more than 1,200 comments received on the MoPac South expansion. In a nutshell The agency has dialed in on plans for up to two new toll lanes in either direction to address tra c for an 8-mile stretch of south MoPac from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaugh- ter Lane. Austin City Council member Paige Ellis urged the Mobility Authority to limit expansion to only one additional express lane, while the city of West Lake Hills joined Rollingwood in pushback against the project due to its impact on local mobility.
183A TOLL
35
130 TOLL
183A Toll
45 TOLL
183
620
290 Toll
Austin
MoPac Express Lane
290
35
71
183 Toll
290
MOPAC
183
71
SH 45 Toll
Hwy 71 Toll Lane
N
The MoPac Express Lane will also see an $0.08 rate increase. Additionally, the agency is eyeing an extension of the MoPac Express Lanes in South Austin.
O cials break ground on east-west trail connection City of Austin o cials broke ground Jan. 31 on the rst phase of the Bergstrom Spur Trail, trans- forming the abandoned Union Paci c Railroad tracks into an east-west shared-use path. The details
The route will serve to connect neighborhoods, parks and destinations, according to city docu- ments, speci cally outlined as an alternative route to walk or bike to the airport. What’s next Construction is divided into three phases, starting near St. Elmo Elementary School, with full completion expected by late 2027.
The trail is expected to be 6.5 miles long in total and connect Vinson Drive in South Austin to East Riverside Drive and US 183 in Southeast Austin.
Local o cials celebrated the groundbreaking of the Bergstrom Spur Trail on Jan. 31.
COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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