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What's next for I-35 now that toll plans are scrapped?
KHOU ^ | January 3, 2018 | Rebeca Trejo, KVUE

Posted on 01/21/2018 10:49:36 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

AUSTIN - As we begin the new year, congestion on Interstate Highway 35 continues to be a problem for commuters in Central Texas.

Late last month, TxDOT leadership voted to scrap plans to add tolls to the interstate.

So, what plans does the state have to address traffic on the interstate and other highways?

TxDOT is looking to its leadership, the Texas Transportation Commission -- a government-appointed 5-member body.

Because leadership voted against tolls, TxDOT is essentially regrouping and said it is wanting to talk with local partners to get to a solution for I-35.

KVUE spoke with Ben Wear, a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman who has been covering transportation for the paper for 14 years.

He said I-35's current projects will still continue.

"TxDOT is going to continue doing projects on I-35 as tax money is available," Wear said

But as far as adding toll lanes to I-35:

"That has morphed over time from one lane each side, to two lanes each side, to adding lanes to the upper deck, to taking down the upper deck," said Wear. "It's had several different versions and several different cost estimates. But the whole idea of adding toll lanes to I-35, at least for now, I think is dead."

(Excerpt) Read more at khou.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: austin; funding; infrastructure; texas; tolls; traffic; transportation; txdot
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Being Born Again doesn't mean I stopped being a road geek. :-)
1 posted on 01/21/2018 10:49:36 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Sell all our freeways to China and let them toll us to death.

In before the Pooch!!!

LOL.


2 posted on 01/21/2018 10:54:40 PM PST by BobL (I shop at Walmart...I just don't tell anyone)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

We also spoke with Texas Senator Kirk Watson’s office...”While we have more money than before, the funds are insufficient to address the state’s infrastructure needs without other sources of revenue, including tolls.”

I’m fine up to the last two words, since isn’t all money one color, and if they’re funded sufficiently from the sale tax, for example, what the h3ll does it matter.


3 posted on 01/21/2018 10:59:08 PM PST by BobL (I shop at Walmart...I just don't tell anyone)
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To: All
No new tolls planned for Texas in revised transportation plan (12/21/17)
4 posted on 01/21/2018 11:13:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Saved 01-17-18, by the grace of God)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If you deported all your illegal aliens, your roads would be surprisingly easy to get around on.


5 posted on 01/21/2018 11:48:04 PM PST by vette6387
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If Austin’s leadership had it’s say, they were turn all of it into bike lanes.


6 posted on 01/22/2018 12:13:44 AM PST by OrangeHoof (Donald Trump: Doing the work American politicians just won't do.)
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To: All
I-35 toll lanes in Austin cut from long-range transportation plan (12/15/17)
7 posted on 01/22/2018 12:45:35 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Saved 01-17-18, by the grace of God)
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To: All
New toll lanes tabled, for now, after state transportation vote (12/14/17)
8 posted on 01/22/2018 1:03:45 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Saved 01-17-18, by the grace of God)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Just make trucks free on the existing toll roads which bypass Austin and that would free up a significant amount of traffic.


9 posted on 01/22/2018 2:02:00 AM PST by Just_Sue (I'm from Texas)
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To: Just_Sue

“Just make trucks free on the existing toll roads which bypass Austin and that would free up a significant amount of traffic.”

Being the Trans Texas project is dead a new super interstate is needed. A logical path seems to me would be starting from Ciudad Acura and go north utilizing right of ways of US 277/208/70 with expansion as necessary.


10 posted on 01/22/2018 2:43:52 AM PST by snoringbear (,E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
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To: BobL

believing in road socialism is never going to solve congestion.

capitalism works

your friend - Pooch :)


11 posted on 01/22/2018 3:35:07 AM PST by vooch (America First Drain the Swamp)
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To: BobL
Sell all our freeways to China and let them toll us to death.

And roads that were built with taxpayer dollars in the first place.

12 posted on 01/22/2018 4:06:47 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: vette6387

They ain’t sending back anyone. Austin liberals looove their cheap labor.


13 posted on 01/22/2018 4:20:54 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A little bit of Capitalism interjected into the picture might help Austin's 'weird' liberals. ('Keep Austin Weird' is a common bumper sticker in the town.) If people actually used the existing toll roads around Austin, the problem might be significantly improved. The toll road toward San Antonio is so lightly used that the Wizards of Austin recently raised the speed limit to 85 to encourage use.

How about cutting the toll!!!

The toll prices are so high, few use the toll roads. When real capitalists can't sell their products, they CUT THE PRICE. I suspect that if the toll prices were made more reasonable, usage would increase, revenue would actually INCREASE, and the I-35 congestion would go down.

14 posted on 01/22/2018 4:38:17 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (The stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones.)
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To: snoringbear

Ciudad Acura? Acuna maybe


15 posted on 01/22/2018 5:22:54 AM PST by KMG365
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To: Just_Sue

“Just make trucks free on the existing toll roads which bypass Austin and that would free up a significant amount of traffic.”

That’s so out of the box, it would probably work and be cost-effective. Simply have TXDOT pay the tolls up to a reasonable limit, providing the trucks get free passage. Just running a few numbers, if TXDOT pays the operator(s) $20 per truck, and 1000 trucks per day take advantage, it would cost $7M per year (a drop in the bucket for TXDOT), but a HUGE impact on I-35.

Sucks to have the concrete right there, unused, because of one STUPID governor who was in bed with the toll road lobby.


16 posted on 01/22/2018 6:42:38 AM PST by BobL (I shop at Walmart...I just don't tell anyone)
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To: norwaypinesavage

The P3 toll road from Mustang to Seguin has always been 85mph.


17 posted on 01/22/2018 2:37:27 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Saved 01-17-18, by the grace of God)
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To: norwaypinesavage
"How about cutting the toll!!! The toll prices are so high, few use the toll roads."

No kidding!
The few times I've been on the Austin bypass, it was almost deserted!
While I love being able to set my cruise control on 100, something still seems wrong.

Imagine what it would do to free up Austin's congestion if more folks took the bypass?

18 posted on 01/22/2018 2:46:16 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: norwaypinesavage
"'Keep Austin Weird' is a common bumper sticker in the town."

And it's a T-shirt, AND it's a mindset...

19 posted on 01/22/2018 2:48:22 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
"The P3 toll road from Mustang to Seguin has always been 85mph."

Not according to NPR in 2013: https://www.npr.org/2013/12/17/248757580/even-an-85-mph-highway-cant-fix-austins-traffic-tangle

From the Article: "Texas Highway 130, a new Austin bypass toll road, is so far east of the city that it sees little traffic. The state recently raised the speed limit there to 85 mph in hopes of boosting its use."

20 posted on 01/22/2018 3:50:20 PM PST by norwaypinesavage (The stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones.)
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