Wednesday, city and state leaders will hold a news conference announcing the implementation of the first phase of a plan intended to help ease traffic congestion on MoPac.
If you want to get Austin drivers fired up, ask them if they're tired of dealing with the congestion on MoPac.
"Absolutely yes. Everyday, mornings and afternoons," said Isabel Hargrove.
"Anytime we have get on MoPac during rush hour we're going to do anything we can to not get on it," said Adam Cowart.
"It's ridiculous," said Michael Gonzales.
Those drivers will be glad to know that work will begin on MoPac soon. From RM 2222 to Cesar Chavez, lanes will be re-striped to allow for one managed lane in each direction. That means one lane will become a toll lane. Similar to managed lanes used in other states, drivers here would pay anywhere from about half a dollar to a few dollars depending on just how much traffic is on the road.
"What it does, which is every exciting, is manage peak capacity so we can better utilize the infrastructure that we have," said Sarah Eckhardt, the Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 2.
The initial section of MoPac that will employ the managed lanes runs through Travis County Precinct 2, where Sarah Eckhardt is commissioner. A long time opponent of toll roads, Eckhardt said the managed lane concept is a good use of toll roads because it changes driver behavior.
"Because as many have said in the biz, 'You simply can't pour enough concrete to move people exactly when they want to go'. You have to manage your capacity throughout the day," said Eckhardt.
Eckhardt said not only will those using the managed lanes enjoy a shorter commute, but she said numerous studies have shown that drivers in the free lanes will spend less time commuting as well.
"It's better than doing nothing. And with the limited amount of space that we have to do anything else with MoPac, I think it's a good option. It's probably our only option," said Gonzales.
Rapid bus transit, which Eckhardt said is not allowed on other toll roads, will be allowed to use the managed lanes. She says another benefit, the long-promised sound walls along MoPac, will be put in place.
