Austin Planning Authorities to Toll Five Existing Roads

Austin residents who opposed tolling existing roads have lost their battle. The Capital Area Metro Planning Organization (CAMPO) went against citizen opposition and voted to toll five existing roads in Austin.

CAMPO says they would like to build freeways, but can't afford to do so because the gas tax fund has a shortage. I would like the accusation validated, but heard that the gas tax shortage is due to CAMPO and other authorities spending funds on pet projects and causes other than the primary purpose (transportation).

WHICH ROADS WILL HAVE TOLLS?
The following existing Austin roads will be tolled as soon as CAMPO can implement their plan: US Hwy 290 East, Hwy 183 South, State Highway 71 East, US Hwy 290 and SH 71 at the Y in Oak Hill, and SH 45 Southwest.

Link: CAMPO Votes to Toll Five Existing Austin Roads.

Read the previous articles: Toll Road Talks Stir Controversy. Austin Toll Party tries to stop tolling. Read the Austin Toll Party Alternative Solution.

Comments

[Candy]

This is a hard one for me. I live in Anderson Mill. The new 45 tollway starts less than a mile from my house. The new 183a starts less than a mile from my house. In theory, I'm against them. But the reality is that I can now get from here all the way to Taylor in TWENTY minutes. It used to take an hour. So, while part of me is screaming "no no no" the other part is wondering how quickly I'll be able to get to Oak Hill when this is done. It's tough. It also helps that we don't go beyond our little area here more than a couple of times a week. I don't have to sit in commuter traffic. I dunno... like I said, this is a hard one for me.

[Spencer]

I'm not a toll supporter, but I wanted to point out that the headline about tolling existing roads is misleading and only serves to undermine your credibility. It is true that roads currently exist on 4 of the 5 toll projects approved by CAMPO. However, all of those existing roads currently have signalized intersections. The tolled lanes would bypass the signals, and no cost frontage roads will still be available to avoid the tolls on all of the projects. There are plenty of reasons to protest against the way toll roads are being forced down our throats, but the "tolling existing roads" argument is not useful.

[Dee Copeland]

I think I'm not "against" toll roads, but like the plan that the Texas Toll Party has suggested. I appreciate the input.

It's a fact that the roads are existing and are not being built, which is usually the purpose of most toll roads. You use toll funds to build new roads and when the bond is paid, you give it back to the "people".

The argument is whether using toll funds is the best plan when there are alternatives.

[Dee Copeland]

UPDATE. I spoke to Andrew Clements (Downtown Neighborhood Association) and others about toll roads so I can get the other side of the story. The folks I know at CAMPO seem to dance around the issue and I just wanted to know the truth about options.

Looks like CAMPO was basically between a rock and a hard place. According to my sources, they chose the "best" option of "bad ones available".