Stage Eight: Comment on a Colleague's Blog

In my classmate’s article titled “Mopac: Toll or No Toll?” the author raises questions about the financial impact it would have on regular commuters using the toll road. She further opines “that (this project) could definitely improve the traffic congestion that happens daily through central Austin.” Additionally, she asks about the length of time it would take to complete this project and how the access would change for drivers using the MoPac expressway. In my research on this subject, I found views from both sides of the issue that state reasonable objections and support for it.

An opposing viewpoint from the article, “Would You Like toKeep MoPac Toll Free?” states several reasons for their objections. Neighborhoods on either side of MoPac have had to tolerate noise pollution since its inception because sound walls were never built, as promised, to deflect the traffic noise. This group also questions why a toll road is not being considered along Interstate 35 instead of making MoPac the major thoroughfare to navigate through Austin. They further argue that traffic lights at the northern and southern end of MoPac have created a bottleneck issue that Texas Department of Transportation sees its solution by creating a toll way to ease the traffic congestion. By their estimates, toll road users will spend about $500 a year commuting five miles, two ways for 200 days a year and this can create a negative financial effect on someone’s yearly budget. Their final argument stems from the private ownership, sometimes by foreign countries, which can eventually operate and control the toll road as they wish.

According to the TexasTollways website by the Texas Department of Transportation, our highway system has not kept up with a rapidly increasing population. Building new roads costs more money than the gas tax brings in and there is an immediate need to solve traffic congestion. The solution is building toll roads at a much faster rate than regular road construction could achieve when gas tax revenue generates the necessary funding. This system of toll roads provides drivers with an alternative to reach their destinations faster and less time on the road results in less vehicle emissions by improving our air quality. Another reason cited is that drivers who decide to use toll roads will pay for its cost. Those who don’t use the toll road will not pay because there will always be an alternative route to not using the toll road.

The $250 million project construction is estimated to begin in 2014 and completed by 2016 for public usage. Flyovers will connect the toll lanes to Cesar Chavez Street and new lanes from the river to RM2222 would be reduced in width from the existing lanes to create those new lanes. Alternate routes during the construction phase will likely add to MoPac drivers’ time and increase congestion. This project is ready for final approval this fall when an environmental study will be completed. In my opinion, a major construction undertaking of this type should have been presented for voter approval since it impacts the lives of many people living alongside MoPac expressway and may not be the wishes of other Austinites. Nevertheless, the decision has been made to move forward with this project and it will probably alleviate congestion initially, but it may not have as much usage later, as is the case with the present 183A toll way verses the congestion commuters face on Highway 183 during peak traffic times.