MoPac Expansion Update from MoPac Neighborhood Associations Coalition

At the MoPac Neighborhood Associations Coalition (MoNAC) meeting on October 21, 2009, an update presentation was made by representatives of TxDOT, CTRMA, the City of Austin and Cap Metro concerning on the status of the MoPac expansion plans for adding a managed lane and sound barriers on MoPac (Loop 1).

The consulting firm for the project (Patrick Owens and John Kelly of AECOM (formerly DMJM Harris)) reported the findings of a traffic modeling study showing that the addition of a north and south bound managed lane between Parmer Lane and Lady Bird Lake could yield noticeable travel-time savings for all vehicles.  By 2030, during the southbound a.m. peak hour, travel time in general purpose lanes could be reduced by 50 percent and users of the potential managed lane could see a 63 percent travel-time savings compared to a “no-build” scenario.  Additionally, northbound in the p.m. peak hour, travel time in general purpose lanes could be reduced by 5 percent and users of the potential managed lane could see a 50 percent travel-time savings compared to a “no-build” scenario.

John Kelly said that the environmental study for the project will consider the impact of a tolled managed lane, a non-tolled managed lane, and the no-build option. He projected a total cost for the entire managed lane project, including sound walls, at $150 million, with $120 million financed with toll-backed bonds, requiring the remainder to be financed with other funds.