The Problem

Background

February 26, 2015 the toll agency presented to the public the "preferred alternative" of 2 double decker toll lanes each direction -- with double decker toll lanes going right over Lady Bird Lake.  The public did not like the double decker toll lane plan and more than 1,200 community comments poured in saying NO!  

The toll agency released 6 new configuration options for the South MoPac project.  There were only 3 viable options which align with our regional transportation plan (requirement) and the other 3 options are being “studied” but not seriously considered because they don't.  

Two out of the three options being considered require building 45-50 foot elevated toll lanes over the existing elevated MoPac lanes.  These elevated toll lanes would tower over the existing elevated lanes for 3 miles across the Hill Country gateway to downtown Austin.  The toll rates are dynamic and change in real time according to congestion and there is no cap on how high they can go.  Estimates in the media have said tolls could be $12-15 dollars per trip in peak traffic.

We need to tell the toll agency that we do NOT want elevated toll lanes in the middle of the historic park district and residential neighborhoods. This has to stop.

 

7 Important Issues:

  1. The Toll Agency Refuses to Study/Improve Bee Cave/2244 Intersection at MoPac

    • The Bee Cave/2244 Intersection is part of MoPac South project and should be studied and improved
    • 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 Bee Cave/2244 intersection does not have adequate room to accommodate bus turning radius safely during special events
    • 2244/Bee Caves is planned to have a park and Ride/Bus Route to and from Bee Caves and downtown Austin
    • The toll authority will not optimize Bee Caves/2244 in any way for transit to get to special events or for general traffic flow

  2. The toll agency has shown a clear preference for an expensive design with elevated toll lanes

    • Despite repeated requests, the toll agency has yet to "optimize" the option with NO double decker toll lanes to include elements that are included in the double decker elevated toll lanes designs
    • At or below grade option have the lowest impact to the parks and neighborhoods while comparably improving traffic.
    • Elevated toll lanes will substantially impact many recreational: Walking, biking, urban parks, wildlife, water, historical sites, etc.
    • Travel times for non elevated lanes are almost identical to double decker toll lanes even though the non-elevated designs haven't been optimized.
    • HOV, transit only and other non-tolled projects have not been fairly studied or considered by the toll authority
    • The double decker toll road construction cost is $30-40 million more than non-elevated toll road option

  3. Cities across the country are actively removing elevated portions of highways. 

    • The toll authority plans is to bury I-35 to "Reconnect Austin" while simultaneously double decking MoPac
    • Both Dallas (I-325) and Houston (I-45) are actively removing elevated portions of their highways 
    • Elevated double decker toll lanes are eye sores
    • Elevated double decker toll lanes divide neighborhoods
    • Elevated double decker toll lanes create noise and light pollution
    • Elevated double decker toll lanes are expensive to build and maintain
    • Elevated double decker toll lanes add little or no transportation efficiency

  4. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should been done for MoPac South

    • The Cumulative Impact of multiple simultaneous projects that feed into MoPac haven't been studied (SH 45 SW, Intersections, Oak Hill, 183 North, 183 South)
    • The entire project falls over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone
    • The separate "Intersections" project will change traffic to free flow – where it is currently a stop light at Slaughter
    • The separate SH-45 SW project will ultimately connect Mopac to I-35 and create a western bypass around Austin
    • The separate Oak Hill Project is a double decker toll road that will destroy 114 Protected, 137 Heritage, and 37 Legacy Trees
    • There are three Park and Rides proposed on S. MoPac (3 in plans for MoPac South area – all with funding attached)
  5. Elevated Toll Lanes will not provide congestion relief for general purpose lanes - they will create more congestion for regular folks
    • It does not benefit the toll authority to reduce congestion (it benefits them to make congestion on get people to pay tolls to get out)
    • The toll agency is in business to make a profit. In order to ensure that profit, they must have people who want to drive on their roads. The toll agency wants people on the toll roads so more traffic and congestion are their goal (just look up their bond prospectus if you need proof of that!)
    • The toll road takes up the entire right-of-way, thereby preventing any other possible future transit options.
    • Texas law dictates that the Texas Transportation Commission cannot convert a non-toll road segment into a toll road unless the public has “a reasonable alternative non-tolled route” (Texas Transportation Code Ann. § 370.035(2),Vernon 1999 & Supp. 2004), TxDOT’s plan for MoPac is required to have handle both toll and non-tolled traffic. The toll road creates the need for a highway that is wider than a football field for more than 3 miles with double decker lanes over existing free lanes.
    • The toll road takes up the entire right-of-way, thereby preventing any other possible future transit options.
    • The ingress and egress to get to the toll lanes will create new bottle necks and/or make existing bottle necks worse for regular drivers not on the toll lanes
    • There are three Park and Rides proposed on S. MoPac (3 in plans for MoPac South area – all with funding attached)
  6. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and Transit Only Lanes need to be studied and Objectively Evaluated
    • The toll agency ruled HOV and Transit only lanes saying they are 50% less effective than toll lanes.  They compared 1 HOV lane with 2-toll lanes.  If comparing 1 HOV lane with 2 Toll Lanes then of course the 1 HOV option would would be 50% less effective than 2 toll lanes.  
    • High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and Transit Only Lanes need to be studied and Objectively Evaluated
    • The toll authority based their decision on not analyzing non tolled options on the position that no regional funding is available for this project to provide free lanes
    • The toll agency used 16 million in Rider 42** funds to fund the South MoPac elevated toll lanes & Intersections projects
    • Alternatives which employ HOV, Transit only or additional free lane capacity should be included in alternatives even if they are not within the jurisdiction of the toll agency
  7. The Greater Austin Community Values and wants to preserve and protect the natural beauty of this special and unique part of Austin
    • Elevated toll lanes will destroy the natural beauty of this unique part of Austin, which is the hill country gateway to downtown
    • Elevated toll lanes  will transform the character from peaceful and great to austere and industrial
    • Elevated toll lanes will bring noise and light pollution to nearby parks and residential neighborhoods
    • Elevated toll lanes will substantially impact many recreational: Walking, biking, urban parks, wildlife, water, historical sites, etc.
    • The Current Bee Cave/2244 intersection design in not up to current code standard
    • 2244/Bee Caves is planned to have a park and Ride/Bus Route to and from downtown Austin
    • The Bee Cave/2244 intersection does not have adequate room to accommodate bus turning radius safely
    • The Bee Caves/2244 intersection will not be optimized in any way for transit to get to special events or general traffic flow
    • Bee Caves is planned to have a park and Ride/Bus Route to downtown Austin