Sample Letter

Dear CTRMA and Elected Officials,       

In addition to other comments I may submit, I want to express that I do not support elevated toll lanes of any kind over MoPac.  Please do not add a double decker over Lady Bird Lake or two wishbone bridges over MoPac.  Elevated lanes will impact the hill country feel, beauty and charm of this special downtown Austin area, and will transform the character from peaceful and green to highly urbanized and industrial. 

CTRMA's current study should reexamine alternatives to converting MoPac South into a toll road. HOV and transit only lanes should be fairly evaluated and compared with the toll and general purpose lane options proposed to give the public an understanding of why toll lanes are being considered as the only option.  Along with a no-build scenario, options such as expanding telecommuting, ride sharing, and rail should be considered. 

If toll lanes must be built the 2-toll-lane each direction with NO elevated lanes option has the lowest impact to the park, lake and neighborhoods while still significantly improving travel times and capacity on our roadway with travel times very similar to the double decker options.  The 2-lane each direction with NO elevated lanes option will be more likely to be delivered in a timely manner because it requires no right of way be taken from Zilker Park, Lady Bird Lake or Lamar Beach Park.  There will also be more support from neighboring cities and residents if elevated structures are not included in the plan.

CTRMA must study and improve the Bee Cave/2244 Intersection as part of the MoPac South project.  The Bee Cave/2244 intersection has 3 times more traffic than the Cesar Chavez exit.  The current Bee Caves/2244 intersection design is antiquated and inadequate for todays traffic, much less for the projected traffic. The Current Bee Cave/2244 intersection design in not up to current code standard.  

Adding elevated toll lanes over 2244 will take away much of the limited right-of-way needed to ever improve the intersection.  The outdated design of the intersection does not provide adequate room to accommodate bus traffic turning radius safely during special events and so this MAJOR intersection must be shut down during special events.  In addition, 2244/Bee Caves is planned to have a park and Ride/Bus Route to and from Bee Caves and downtown Austin.  CTRMA has communicated they will not optimize Bee Caves/2244 in any way for transit to get to special events or for general traffic flow.  This is not acceptable.  Traffic congestion would get much, much worse, not better for the thousands of commuters who use 2244/Bee Caves daily.

I request CTRMA perform an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) instead of an Environmental Assessment (EA) so a more comprehensive and detailed assessment of impacts can be made available for public review because the project will significantly impact land over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, Zilker Park, the Nature and Science Center, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Lake, Austin High School and City of Austin and City of Rollingwood surrounding neighborhoods.

The proposal to build double decker toll lanes over Lady Bird Lake or wishbone double decker toll lanes over 2244 will do serious harm to Zilker Park, Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs, surrounding neighborhoods and Austin High School.  

Thank you for your consideration.

Please ensure the plan you choose support our public parkland use, green spaces and community values. 

Sincerely,

Copy and Paste the sample letter to get started --- and then make it your own!

 

ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR YOUR LETTER:

  • A double decker over Lady Bird Lake or two double decker wishbone bridges over Mopac at Bee Caves Road will be 45-50 feet above ground level and will impact the hill country feel, beauty and charm of this special downtown Austin area, and will transform the character, look and feel from peaceful and green to highly urbanized and industrial.  Elevated lanes will also add more noise and light pollution (than not building up) to Zilker Park, the Nature and Science Center, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Lady Bird Lake, and Austin High school.    
     
  • The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes option meets all of the MoPac South project "goals and objectives" set by CTRMA and this option is consistent with the CAMPO 2040 Long Range Plan.  Providing direct access to toll users into the downtown area is not a goal or objective identified by CTRMA or CAMPO for this project.
     
  •  The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes provides consistency with local plans for park land use because it has the least impact to the park land.  Adding elevated lanes damages Austin's parks, restricts community members who use the open spaces, and damages neighboring neighborhoods.
     
  •  The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes option has the lowest impact to the park, lake and neighborhoods while still significantly improving travel times and capacity on our roadway with travel times in 2035 that are within 3-5 minutes of the double decker options.  
     
  •  The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes option provides reduced congestion and travel time savings for all roadway users in 2035 with results comparable to both the Double decker over Lady Bird Lake and double decker wishbone bridges.  If free lanes are added to match the capacity of other plans, more congestion and time savings can be achieved without building elevated lanes.
     
  • The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes is the more fiscally responsible option because the cost is $30 Million less than the double decker wishbone bridges and $40 million less lane the double decker over Lady Bird Lake concept, but the results are almost identical.
     
  • The 2-lanes each direction without elevated lanes option minimizes impact to our water quality because it will mean less construction and less concrete over our aquifer and near Lady Bird Lake than if elevated structures were built.  
     
  • The 2-lane each direction without elevated lanes option lowers the impact on the natural and human environment because there will be less impact to the park and neighborhoods, less noise pollution, less light pollution and less ascetically unattractive bridges than if elevated structures were built.
     
  • The 2-lane each direction without elevated lanes provides toll road users and emergency vehicles plenty of time and ability to safely maneuver and exit downtown.  If there is an accident on the elevated portion of the toll lane it could actually make response times slower or impossible for emergency responders as there will be no way to exit the elevated structures until fully descended.
     
  • I also support the addition of an 11' multi-use path on the west side of MoPac from Lady Bird Lake to Barton Creek Mall.  Instead of the proposed 8' sidewalk, I would like to see an 11' multi-use path that can accommodate both bikes and pedestrians and will connect and seamlessly with Phase III of the MoPac bicycle and Pedestrian project.

 

SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT!  Submit your “public comment” to CTRMA anytime during this environmental study and they will be included in the environmental document!  Comment now, comment often!

Ways to submit comments:
1) On the MoPac South website: http://www.mopacsouth.com/contact/
2) Send a fax to: 512-996-9784
3) Mail:
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
3300 North I-35, Ste 300
Austin, Texas 78705

 

EMAIL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS! Let them know we don't want double decker toll lanes!

(Copy and paste this list)
kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us rwilkerson@ctrma.org, cheimsath@cmraustin.com, cheimsath@ctrma.org, darmbrust@abaustin.com, darmbrust@ctrma.org, nikelle.meade@huschblackwell.com, nmeade@ctrma.org, dsingleton@ctrma.org, mayotte@ctrma.org, aellsworth@ctrma.org, terry.mccoy@txdot.gov, Donna.howard@house.state.tx.us,steve.adler@austintexas.gov, alison.alter@austintexas.gov, jimmy.flannigan@austintexas.gov, delia.garza@austintexas.gov, ora.houston@austintexas.gov, pio.renteria@austintexas.gov, greg.cesar@austintexas.gov, ann.kitchen@austintexas.gov, leslie.pool@austintexas.gov, ellen.troxclair@austintexas.gov, kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov, greg.malatek@txdot.gov, Brigid.Shea@traviscountytx.gov, Barbara.Rush@traviscountytx.gov, jeff.travillion@traviscountytx.gov, mayormckee@cityofrollingwood.com, smartmopac@gmail.com, Gerald.Daugherty@traviscountytx.gov,Margaret.Gomez@traviscountytx.gov, Sarah.Eckhardt@traviscountytx.gov,administrator@cityofrollingwood.com, spusteinyk@molilityauthority.com, mheiligenstein@mobilityauthority.com, atomlinson@hntb.com, jeffrey.travillion@traviscountytx.gov, geanie.morrison@house.texas.gov, mando.martinez@house.texas.gov, cindy.burkett@house.texas.gov, yvonne.davis@house.texas.gov, craig.goldman@house.texas.gov, celia.israel@house.texas.gov, ina.minjarez@house.texas.gov, joe.pickett@house.texas.gov,ron.simmons@house.texas.gov, ed.thompson@house.texas.gov, senfronia.thompson@house.texas.gov, 

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