Northwest Austin Edition | January 2023

TOP STORY

EXPANDING US 183 NORTH

The US 183 North project will have two new tolled lanes in each direction that will be built in the center of the existing highway. Drivers will be able to enter and exit the tolled lanes from few access points long the corridor.

The highway has three existing nontolled main lanes in each direc- tion, but the Mobility Authority will continue the fourth nontolled lane and add two tolled express lanes in each direction, said Sylvia Shelton, Mobility Authority assistant director of communications, in an email. The express lanes are being added in the center where the median is located to maintain the existing corridor footprint. The new express lanes will work the same way as the express lanes on MoPac to uctuating tolls and keep trac owing as it builds up in the adjacent nontolled lanes. This allows for timely travel and easier travel for emergency services, Shelton said in an email. “The goal with any express lane, just like MoPac, … [is] during rush hour periods, we raise the price so that we keep the trac in that one lane or express lane owing at 1,600 vehicles an hour. If you can put 1,600 vehicles [in that late], now your average speed will be about 45 miles an hour,” said Greg Mack, Mobility Authority direc- tor of information technology.

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I think it’s going to have a huge impact on mobility and relief of congestion,” said Bobby Jenkins, chair of the Cen- tral Texas Regional Mobility Author- ity, the agency overseeing the project. The project is already approxi- mately 24% complete after breaking ground Jan. 26, 2022. “This project has been years in the making and is an exemplary example of our commitment to improving mul- timodal mobility in our region as well as in being a good partner to the com- munity as construction takes place and beyond,” said Mike Sexton, acting director of engineering for the Mobil- ity Authority, in an email. Addressing congestion and delays TxDOT published a study in 2016 that showed by 2035 travel times on 183 North in rush hour could be as high as 50 minutes. The 183 North project was designed to improve traf- c ow, reduce congestion, and give transit and rst responders more reliable travel times, according to the Mobility Authority.

Northbound toll lane entrances Northbound toll lane exits

Southbound toll lane entrances Southbound toll lane exits

Existing shared- use path Shared-use path extensions

LAKELINE BLVD.

45 TOLL

RIDE, WALK SAFE In addition to new lane miles, the 183 North project will add:

620

an extension of the shared-use path on Jollyville Road;

shared-use paths near Lake Creek Parkway; new sidewalks along the US 183 frontage roads; cross-street connections for bicyclists.

LAKE CREEK PKWY.

SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.

183

OAK KNOLL DR.

JOLLYVILLE RD.

TRANSPORTATION FUNDS The $612 million 183 North project includes several types of funding sources.

BRAKER LN.

SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.

TxDOT funding through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization: $7.2M

*The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority also received $244.19 million in federal Subordinate Lien Bond Anticipation Notes, or BANS, that will pay for the project in the short term, while the long-term federal TIFIA loan repays all or part of the BANS. Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act federal loan*: $250.29M

Scan for more information on the US 183 North project.

GREAT HILLS TRL.

TOTAL: $612M

360

Texas Department of Transportation funding: $120M

MOPAC

Toll revenue bonds: $234.51M

SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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