When are they swapping I-35 and SH-130? (Austin: pricing, authority)

[Kosmonaut]

This was the recommendation from the I-35 committee, and I assume it is a foregone conclusion that this will eventually happen. Has anyone have an idea of when this will occur? next year, five years?

They are starting to toll every other highway within the city limits as a form of congestion pricing. They will have to do the same to I-35. It's unavoidable at this point.

[gpurcell]

All they really need to do is prohibit through trucks on I-35. That would do a lot to ease central city congestion.

[tildahat]

Originally Posted by gpurcell

All they really need to do is prohibit through trucks on I-35. That would do a lot to ease central city congestion.

True, but I think it's the 'I' part of I-35 that makes that so difficult. I don't think Austin has the authority...

[CarnivalGal]

Instead they just keep increasing the tolls on 130 and then wonder why people aren't flocking to it.

[centralaustinite]

For real? Who would have the authority to do so? And how would this impact the Spanish owners of 130? I can't see this becoming a reality.

[orngkat]

If memory serves...a long time ago, SH130 was to be built solely as a bypass for commercial traffic. Now they are talking about "burying I-35" through the downtown corridor. I have to wonder if that initiative is partially to force drivers on to SH130 for years while I35 is being redone. Then all the investors who bought along SH130 can profit from development. I am getting so cynical about this city...

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by orngkat

If memory serves...a long time ago, SH130 was to be built solely as a bypass for commercial traffic. Now they are talking about "burying I-35" through the downtown corridor. I have to wonder if that initiative is partially to force drivers on to SH130 for years while I35 is being redone. Then all the investors who bought along SH130 can profit from development. I am getting so cynical about this city...

That actually makes a sad sort of sense for the "under the table" reasoning for this.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

For real? Who would have the authority to do so? And how would this impact the Spanish owners of 130? I can't see this becoming a reality.

I think it would be TXDot and they'd need to get permission from the federal government.

The Spanish company would get tolling rights on "old" I-35 through the heart of Austin. They would love that, since the traffic count is so much higher, and would likely remain so even if it's not the interstate.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Kosmonaut

This was the recommendation from the I-35 committee, and I assume it is a foregone conclusion that this will eventually happen. Has anyone have an idea of when this will occur? next year, five years?

They are starting to toll every other highway within the city limits as a form of congestion pricing. They will have to do the same to I-35. It's unavoidable at this point.

It isn't unavoidable, because it is illegal to toll an existing interstate highway. Would require Congress, which is completely uninterested in fixing Austin's problem, changing US code, .

Only way to toll an existing interstate is to build new lanes -- but only the new lanes can be tolled. Exactly what Virginia did with the HOT lanes on the 495 Beltway.

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by scm53

It isn't unavoidable, because it is illegal to toll an existing interstate highway. Would require Congress, which is completely uninterested in fixing Austin's problem, changing US code, .

Only way to toll an existing interstate is to build new lanes -- but only the new lanes can be tolled. Exactly what Virginia did with the HOT lanes on the 495 Beltway.

Could they create new lanes on I-35 for semi trucks and force them to use them?