January 9, 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR -
AND A LOOK BACK ON 2019

Happy New Year from the Mobility Authority! As we close the books on another year, we’d like to reflect on some of the highlights that made 2019 another year of record-setting progress in Central Texas mobility.

In 2019, we established a brand-new connection for southwest Travis County and northern Hays County commuters with the opening of the 45SW Toll Road. Drivers are already experiencing the benefits of time saved and less congested neighborhood streets, particularly through the Shady Hollow neighborhood.

Paving the way for further relief, we opened Phase I of the 183 Toll Road in east Austin, which is on track for full project completion in 2020. When the full project opens, drivers will have a non-stop, signal-free route option all the way to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The 290/130 Flyovers project broke ground earlier in 2019, and thanks to rapid progress, the first of the three flyovers is anticipated to open in mid-January—roughly eight months ahead of schedule.

Further to the north, we reached a major milestone with the issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI, on the 183A Phase III project. This environmental clearance paves the way for final design of the 5-mile toll road extension in Williamson County.  

Following a three-year project hold, we resumed efforts on the MoPac South Environmental Study, bringing us closer to achieving greater mobility along the southern portion of the MoPac corridor.

In pursuit of a stronger workforce, we forged ahead with the MoveFWD Program, and celebrated the first graduating class of candidates that now hold their Commercial Drivers License (CDL) The program continues to expand in size and scope, and is poised to add training courses for additional industries in the future.

In addition, our partnership with Travis County expanded, and we have been tapped to deliver a number of safety projects in southeast Travis County, each in various stages of project development. We anticipate breaking ground on the Elroy Road project in early 2020, with seven more projects to follow.

New Year, New You
As an exciting new decade gets set in motion, many of us are setting New Year’s resolutions to help us take stock of our goals and establish more orderly processes for managing for our affairs.

Here are a few items on our checklist to help keep us moving safely and efficiently around Central Texas. 

Vehicle Maintenance: Your car is a well-oiled machine…at least it should be. Here are some tips for keeping your car in tip-top shape:

• Tires: Keep your tires in proper running condition and extend their useful life by checking air pressure, rotating tires, and checking the alignment.
• Fluids: Check your oil monthly, and change it as directed by your vehicle manual. Remember to also check your power-steering, automatic transmission, wiper, and brake fluid.
• Lights: Test your tail lights, brake lights and turn signals to ensure all the bulbs are in proper working condition. In addition to ensuring safety and visibility, it could prevent you from getting a ticket.
• Wipers: Replacing your wiper blades when they no longer work properly is a quick and affordable fix to keep you safe.
• Air filter: A clean air filter can improve your car’s performance. Remember to replace regularly.

Save Time and Money with an Electronic Tag: If you drive the toll roads in Central Texas, remember that getting an electronic tag can save you time and money. Drivers without a tag pay 50 percent more than tag holders. The Mobility Authority accepts any of the following electronic tags: TxTag, TollTag, EZ-Tag, K-TAG, Pikepass, or BancPass. For more information on these electronic tag options, visit the Mobility Authority website.

Keep Your Tag Account Up-to-date to Avoid Pay By Mail charges. Actively managing your TxTag or other electronic tag account is your responsibility. Did you recently move? Remember to update the address on your account to ensure your statements are sent to the proper address. Did the credit card linked to your tag account recently expire? Log in and update your payment information, otherwise your account will default to Pay By Mail processing and you will be charged tolls at a 50 percent higher rate, along with a processing fee.

Resolve Outstanding Toll Charges. Have outstanding toll bills? Contact us to resolve any toll charges you may have outstanding—before facing enforcement actions, including habitual violator remedies like a vehicle registration block, prohibition from toll road, and name published on violator list. Under certain circumstances, the Mobility Authority may arrange payment plans as a courtesy. Customers are encouraged to make payment arrangements by calling our payment vendor at 833-762-8655.
 

OPENING THIS WEEKEND:

Flyover Bridge from Southbound SH 130 to Westbound 290 Toll

Drivers commuting from southbound SH 130 to westbound 290 Toll are about to experience a faster commute into downtown Austin and beyond. Construction of the new flyover bridge linking the two roadways is complete, and will open to traffic on Saturday, January 11.*

Drive Free with an Active, Electronic Tag Through January 31
While this flyover will ultimately be tolled, drivers with an active electronic tag will not be charged to use the flyover through Jan. 31, 2020.

Drivers should note that the free period does not apply to other toll roads, and their tag accounts will still be charged for driving 290 Toll and SH 130 Toll during this interim period.

Tag holders save money on toll roads throughout Texas. Drivers without a tag are billed through the Pay By Mail program, and are charged 50 percent more than tagholders along with a processing fee.

Ramp Changes Take Effect with New Flyover Connection:
The traveling public should take note that the opening of the new free-flowing direct connection from southbound SH 130 to westbound 290 Toll means changes for drivers wishing to access the non-tolled US 290 frontage roads:
 
The southbound exit located immediately south of Parmer Lane (previously named Exit 437) will no longer provide access to the non-tolled US 290 frontage roads. Southbound SH 130 drivers may gain access to the US 290 frontage roads via the newly opened Exit 437A, located north of Parmer Lane. Exit 437A maintains exiting drivers’ direct access to the US 290 frontage roads, bypassing the signalized Parmer Lane intersection via a new bridge.
 
Southbound SH 130 drivers wishing to take advantage of the new flyover to the westbound 290 Toll will use Exit 437B, located south of Parmer Lane.  Exit 436 maintains access for southbound SH 130 drivers wishing to exit and access Parmer Lane. 
 
See maps below for more detail.

*Dates are subject to change based on weather and other circumstances. 

Connecting Communities and Honoring an Advocate
Since opening the second phase of the 290 Toll road in 2014, US 290 has been transformed from one of Austin’s most gridlocked routes to the fastest way into downtown Austin during rush hour. To further expand that relief, we are constructing the 290/130 Flyovers Project, which includes three free-flowing flyover bridges to link 290 Toll with SH 130. We are excited to deliver the first of the three flyover bridges nearly eight months ahead of schedule, providing drivers from northern suburbs an even faster connection into the heart of Austin.
 
Former Mobility Authority Board Member James H. Mills was an advocate for these flyovers. In fact, he was the one who helped identify the need for mobility improvements at this intersection back in 2015. In recognition of his advocacy, the north-to-west and south-to-west flyovers are being named in his honor.



290/130 Flyovers Project Benefits
The 290/130 Flyovers Project, which is on track for full project completion in 2021, also includes constructing flyovers from northbound SH 130 to westbound 290 Toll (tolled), and from eastbound 290 Toll to southbound SH 130 (non-tolled). 

The project will also benefit drivers who prefer the non-tolled option by freeing up capacity at the frontage road intersection. Additional project benefits include:

• Reducing potential for high-speed rear-end collisions on SH 130
• Eliminating queueing of vehicles on the southbound and northbound mainlanes of SH 130
• Saving about $5 million a year for the traveling public in time as well as fuel and vehicle costs
• Attracting more than 5,000 vehicles per day from parallel roadways, thereby providing additional congestion relief to other corridors
• Increasing the average speed by up to 40 miles per hour
• Shifting approximately 67 percent of vehicles off the southbound SH 130 frontage road and onto the new flyover ramp to westbound 290 Toll.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,020 metric tons annually
• Attracting economic development opportunities to the region by way of enhanced local and regional connectivity

For more information on the 290/130 Flyovers Project, visit www.290Flyovers.com.

AUGMENTED REALITY ON 45SW TOLL

Looking for some active and educational family fun? Check out the 45SW Trail in south Austin and experience the beauty of the Hill County through an augmented reality lens.

We recently launched a brand-new mobile app - Trail Explorer by CTRMA. The free app adds an interactive and engaging element to your hike down the 45SW Trail, which runs alongside the 45SW Toll Road.

The app enhances the viewing experience of the 14 interpretive signs along the Trail. The signage displays the rich history and natural wonders of the Hill Country and Edwards Aquifer, including how you can help protect our region’s water source. Using the camera on your phone, scan the signs to launch six visual augmented reality experiences, complete with audio narration in English and Spanish. Experiences include watching a prehistoric sea creature animate in life-size form, a towering Live Oak Tree rise up from the ground, exploring underground caves in Central Texas, and so much more. All 14 interpretive signs include additional information about the topic via audio narration.