Cedar Park Edition | February 2026

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Drivers heading north on the US 183 express lanes would pay $2.33 with a toll tag or $3.51 by mail to travel the full 9-mile stretch to the 183A Toll/Avery Ranch Boulevard. Price subject to increase during peak demand. Toll rates

How it works

What’s next

Sexton said crews will continue working to put the nishing touches on the project through at least the end of the year, including nishing some connections, painting and planting vegetation. “There’s a lot of the smaller, ner elements of the project that still need to be completed,” Sexton said. “Those will be done mostly nights and weekends so that they’re not impacting tra c during rush hour periods.” Sexton said he looks forward to wrapping up the project and opening it fully to the public. “With all these improvements, everyone benets,” Sexton said. “It’s been ve years, and I know people are ready to move on—we’ll be wrapping this up, the part that impacts the public the most, by the summer. ... People will get to enjoy the corridor moving forward for years to come.”

The new express lanes will use variable tolling. That means the rates will uctuate based on demand. Sexton said the goal is to maintain a steady ow of trac in the express lanes even when the nontolled lanes are congested. Tolls are charged by segment—the span between an entrance and the next exit. Initial toll rates start at $0.73 per segment with a toll tag or $1.10 per segment by mail and will increase as trac gets heavier. Tolls will be displayed on electronic signs at the entrances to the express lanes. Drivers will be charged tolls based on the rates in eect when they enter the express lanes, even if those rates change before they exit. Sexton said authorities hope to keep trac in the express lanes moving at least 45 miles per hour at all times. Some vehicles can use the express lanes for free, including: • Public transit buses • Emergency responders

Cost using a toll tag

Cost using pay-by-mail

Base rate

$0.73

$1.10

Additional charge to use direct connect to MoPac

$1.46

$2.20

SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

• Capital Metro registered carpools and vanpools • MetroAccess vehicles • State and federal military vehicles The total cost of the project is approximately $612 million, according to the Mobility Authority. The nontolled lanes were built with $104 million in federal funding allocated to the project by the state. The remaining cost is covered by a combination of federal loans and toll revenue bonds, which will be repaid with revenue from the express lanes.

CEDAR PARK EDITION