The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s ability to build new toll roads may be temporarily stymied by opposition from state leaders, but the agency is keeping busy with major ongoing projects. While the great majority of its spending is on expanding roadway capacity for cars, CTRMA Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein emphasized the millions the agency […]
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
The governing arm of Central Texas transportation. The board of directors is appointed by the governor and the Travis and Williamson County Commissioners Court. 1.5 stars on Yelp.
Posted inRoads
Despite moratorium, CTRMA advances two toll projects
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is moving forward with two toll projects despite a significant roadblock put up by the Texas Transportation Commission last year. On Wednesday, the CTRMA’s board of directors voted 6-0 to start the bidding process for three new flyovers at U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 130 in East Austin. […]
Posted inRoads
Stuck in park, the CTRMA looks beyond tolls
The agency primarily known for building toll roads in the Austin region is spitballing some new ideas as state policy keeps its activities largely in a holding pattern. Last week, board members of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority briefly discussed the effective prohibition mandated by the Texas Transportation Commission against building new toll projects. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Ethics commission slaps CTRMA board member with fine
The Texas Ethics Commission has collected a small fine from one of Travis County’s appointees to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s Board of Directors. Charles Heimsath agreed to pay the $300 penalty after consenting to offer no further challenges to allegations that he failed to list two business interests in personal finance statements he […]
Posted inRoads
CTRMA and TxDOT disagree, putting project in potential holding pattern
A rare spat between the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation is clouding the prospects of a major project at the intersection of two separate toll roads. On Wednesday morning, CTRMA Director of Engineering Justin Word brought his board up to speed on the disagreement that could stall the construction […]
Posted inTransportation
Capacity, regional cooperation take center stage at transportation forum
Standing beside four other representatives from local and regional governments on Tuesday, Mike Heiligenstein of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority declared that Central Texas has to build its way out of congestion. “We cannot solve our problem without adding capacity in every sector of the region. Not just Austin, but the entire region,” Heiligenstein […]
Posted inTransportation
Ethics complaints filed against CTRMA board members
Three top officials at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority are facing formal complaints that they failed to properly disclose pertinent business interests. The director of the nonprofit watchdog group Texans for Public Justice filed three complaints with the Texas Ethics Commission against CTRMA Chair Ray Wilkerson, Vice Chair James Mills and Board Member Charles […]
Posted inTransportation
Mobility authority unveils MoPac South options
MoPac South is back on the public radar, except now community members have several flavors of the proposed highway expansion to choose from as they submit input over the next month. Responding to a call from residents and elected officials for more options, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority unveiled six possible configurations online Wednesday […]
Posted inRoads
Mobility authority to unveil MoPac South options
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has announced that it will roll out a slew of new MoPac South alternatives online on Oct. 21 in preparation for an open house on Nov. 10 at the Palmer Events Center. Members of the public will be able to provide comments on the alternatives as part of the […]
Posted inCourts
Save Our Springs sues toll road agency again
The Save Our Springs Alliance filed suit on Tuesday against the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, seeking information that the agency has refused to release concerning a traffic and revenue study on the proposed MoPac South toll lanes. According to SOS, “The agency refused to release the traffic study, claiming it was ‘draft’ internal policymaking, […]
Posted inRoads
Alternative to MoPac “double-deck” being studied
In the wake of public outcry against a proposal to add elevated lanes to MoPac Expressway over Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is considering an alternative that the Austin Transportation Department first put forward in May. The staff alternative cuts out a “double-deck” design and a southbound flyover […]
Posted inTransportation
CTRMA hears mixed legislative review
Mike Heiligenstein, the executive director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, told CTRMA board members at their most recent meeting that staff met a great deal with state representatives during the recent 84th legislative session – and they think it paid off. Jerry Valdez, a lobbyist who worked with CTRMA, said it was the […]