The roads go on forever

The Texas Department of Transportation has given the green flag to yet another toll road expansion project in Austin. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced yesterday that TxDOT conferred its clearance on the 183 North Mobility Project’s environmental study. That in effect gives CTRMA permission to start building two new variably priced toll lanes in both directions on US 183 between SH 45 North and MoPac Expressway. Those new express lanes will connect with existing toll lanes on US 183A to the north as well as the work-in-progress toll lanes on MoPac to the south. The project will also include “(s)ignificant bicycle and pedestrian accommodations throughout the corridor including continuous bike lanes between SH 45N and MoPac, two Shared Use Path segments, approximately ten miles of new sidewalks and cross street connections.” The only thing standing in the way of the groundbreaking now is the quest for project funding.