First Phase of Manor Expressway Open to Traffic

A 1.5-mile portion of the Manor Expressway is open to traffic. With the opening, drivers can now zip past traffic lights at Tuscany Drive and Springdale Road and connect to US 183 without stopping via direct connect flyover ramps. Drivers can try out the new stretch for free until January 4, 2013. After that, it will cost TxTag customers 50-cents to enter or exit at Springdale Road. Drivers using the direct connect flyover ramps at US 183 will pay an additional 50-cents. The new expressway is cashless, so anyone without a TxTag should expect to receive a bill in the mail. The remainder of the 6.2-mile Manor Expressway remains on schedule to open in 2014.

Congestion Relief Drives Oak Hill Parkway Study

The Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation have launched an environmental study to determine how best to address long-term mobility issues along US 290 and SH 71 in Oak Hill. The Oak Hill Parkway Study began with an open house on November 18, 2012 at Small Middle School. Approximately 80 people attended. They were provided with information about the study process. Maps of the study area were on display, and attendees were encouraged to identify any specific mobility issues they were concerned about. Participants were also encouraged to complete a survey on a host of issues about the quality of life in Oak Hill.

The study team will be using the information collected to identify the purpose and need for the study and to begin identifying various alternatives to improve mobility. Material from the meeting can be viewed at the project web site OakHillParkway.com. The entire study is expected to take approximately three to five years to complete. During that time, there will be numerous opportunities for members of the public to participate in the process and provide feedback.

MoPac Express Lanes Set for Construction in 2013

In July 2010, the Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation promised to complete an environmental study on north MoPac in just two years. In August 2012, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) helped the two agencies deliver on that promise by finishing its review of the completed environmental study and clearing the project for construction. And the Mobility Authority isn’t slowing down.
 
The plan is to add one Express Lane in each direction from Cesar Chavez to Parmer Lane and already three firms are competing to design and build the $200 million dollar project. The Mobility Authority expects to pick a winning firm in February 2013, and design and construction should get underway shortly thereafter. Most of the construction work will occur at night. The construction contractor will be required to keep all existing lanes on MoPac open between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. each weekday. Special restrictions are also being placed on the contractor to minimize impacts to nearby neighborhoods while night work is ongoing.
 
For more information on the MoPac Improvement Project, visit the project website: MoPacExpress.com.

Improvements on the Drawing Board for MoPac South

With plans underway to begin construction on the MoPac Improvement Project in 2013, the Mobility Authority has turned its sights to the future and to the south. The Mobility Authority has selected Jacobs to implement an environmental study extending from downtown Austin south to SH 45. The study is expected to kick off in early 2013.

 

Faster Route to Airport on Horizon 

In September 2012, the Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation held the first open house for the Bergstrom Expressway study. At the open house, members of the community were able to view detailed conceptual plans to upgrade US 183 to a tolled expressway with non-tolled frontage roads.
 
In the months ahead, the project team will be working with landscape architects and members of the community to develop a unique look for the roadway corridor using a process referred to as Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). A major focus of the CSS process will be the area near Montopolis Drive and the Colorado River, where the Mobility Authority is planning to work with the City of Austin to create a visual gateway to downtown from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.   
 
The entire study effort is expected to take approximately two years. If the project is approved, construction could begin as early as 2015.
 

HERO Program Expands to Help More Drivers

The Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) roadside assistance program is being expanded to include more of interstate 35 and a stretch of US 183. HERO trucks provide free roadside assistance to stranded motorists, pick up dangerous roadway debris and provide assistance at accident scenes. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion, improve highway safety, and keep traffic moving. The program is being funded through a federal grant approved by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). The expanded patrols will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays on a 65-mile stretch of I-35 between Kyle and Georgetown and on a 12-mile stretch of US 183 from I-35 to Lakeline Blvd.  For more information about the HERO program, visit MobilityAuthority.com.