Tollway 183A profits in high gear

From KXAN, March 27, 2009...

The new 183A toll road is more profitable than officials dreamed it would be, bringing in $5 million more than anticipated in 2008, according to new numbers released Friday by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

The 4.5-mile stretch of toll road brought in $15.5 million last year, a full 50 percent more than the $10 million authorities were expecting.

And it's stacking up to be a good year for the authority in 2009 as well.

Revenue from 183A for this past January alone almost $3 million, with the Pay-By-Mail late fees bringing in more than $48, 000.

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County prosecutor to pursue toll scofflaws

From Community Impact Newspaper, December 12, 2008...

Drivers who fail to pay the piper for using Toll 183A will soon have to face the music. Starting in January, the Williamson County Prosecutor will begin legal proceedings against drivers who have repeatedly ignored requests for payment.

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CAMPO approves financing plan for Manor Expwy

From Austin Business Journal, December 3, 2008...

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved the creation of a financing plan that allows toll revenue from U.S. Highway 183A to help pay for a planned tolled portion of U.S. 290 East. The plan would provide that U.S. 183A effectively be a co-signer or financial backstop for the financing of the new toll road.

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Highway 183-A toll road using only electronics

From News 8 Austin, December 1, 2008...

Cash is a thing of the past if you're driving along the U.S. Highway 183-A toll road near Cedar Park.

As of Monday, drivers using the road will either need to use a TX-Tag, receive a bill in the mail.

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CTRMA project update

From Community Impact, November 21, 2008...

Higher-than-anticipated usage of Toll 183A has bumped up the date for expansion of the road by six years. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is finalizing negotiations for the design work now. Originally, an extension was to be complete in 2017.

Steve Pustelnyk, CTRMA’s director of communications, said the authority hopes to begin construction by late 2009 and anticipates less than 18 months until completion.

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CAMPO, CTRMA seek feedback on 290 finance proposal

From Austin Business Journal, November 6, 2008...

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, together with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, is seeking public input on creating a financial system that allows toll revenue from U.S. Highway 183A to help finance a planned portion of U.S. 290 East.

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Toll booth workers losing out on cashless conversion

From News 8 Austin, October 28, 2008...

Cash customers on the U.S. Highway 183-A toll road will soon be cruising through with no stops.
On Dec. 1, the toll booths in Cedar Park will be closing, and customers who normally pay cash will be billed by mail.

The toll booths closing are affecting more than the drivers.

Erin Gibbs has been collecting cash from customers since the Cedar Park toll plaza opened just about two years ago.

Gibbs, along with 14 other toll booth employees, soon will be without a job.

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CTRMA offers scratch-offs to promote cashless Toll 183A

From Community Impact, October 24, 2008...

During November, Toll 183A drivers will receive a scratch-off ticket when they pay cash at the Park Street Main Toll Plaza.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority planned the promotional giveaways, which reveal up to $100 in prepaid TxTag tolls, to make customers aware the road is going cashless Dec. 1.

Instead of slowing down to go through the cash lane at a toll plaza, drivers without a TxTag can remain in the main lanes. Cameras mounted above those lanes will photograph each license plate and the vehicle’s registered owner will receive a bill in the mail. A $1 processing fee is charged per bill, and bills are sent out every 15 days.

Scratch-off tickets will also be available without purchase at community events, the TxTag Customer Service Center, 12719 Burnet Road in Austin, and by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, 301 Congress Avenue, Ste. 650, Austin, TX 78701.

The CTRMA and Magic 95.5 will be at Lowe’s, 1495 US 183 in Leander, from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Nov. 1 and at Circuit City in 1890 Ranch, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 15.

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Public Hearing August 19 for Hwy 183 North Project

From Wilcounty Line, July, 2008...

On Tuesday, August 19, 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in cooperation with Williamson County, will conduct a public hearing to discuss plans to improve US Highway 183 between SH 29 and 183A in northern Williamson County. The public hearing will be held at the Liberty Hill High School, 13125 West SH 29, in Liberty Hill. The public hearing will begin with an open house from 6 to 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., a formal presentation will be given.

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Toll booths will be eliminated on 183A

From Austin Business Journal, June 25, 2008...

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board has voted to eliminate cash collection on the toll road by the end of this year.

Roughly 80 percent of those who use 183A pay via TxTag, according to CTRMA. Consequently, it costs the authority nearly as much to operate the cash booths as it collects from those drivers.

Cashless toll collection on 183A is expected to take effect as early as November 2008. Once it begins, those drivers who do not have TxTags, Tolltags or EZ-Tags will still have to pay -- only later. CTRMA will implement a pay-by-mail program where cameras will take pictures of drivers' license plates and send them a bill in the mail for the toll.

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Questions Answered About Cedar Park and Leander’s First Toll Road

From Community Impact March 24, 2008...

Although currently only 4.5 miles of tolled road, Toll 183A is a stretch of pavement that has become a big topic of conversation.

The road, which opened in March 2007, starts at Toll 45 in Northwest Austin and runs northward, ending just past RM 1431. Future expansion will take the road farther north through Leander, past RM 2243, ending just south of the South Fork San Gabriel River. Frontage lanes have already been built to the river, north of Leander. They are open and free to use.

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Portion of 183A Could Be Video-Tolled

From the Austin Business Journal Januaary 30, 2008...

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority will change its tolling system to video tolls along U.S. 183A in order to cut down on cash users and inadvertent toll violators. The video tolls could be installed in March or early April.

Steve Pustelnyk, CTRMA spokesman, says with the video tolling, drivers who go through the tolls without paying would be mailed an invoice instead of a fine and given an opportunity to pay the toll, which would be 20 percent above the TxTag toll rate and include a $1 handling fee.

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History at the Forefront of Two Projects

From the Community Impact Newspaper January, 2008...

Cedar Park plans to hire a consultant to make recommendations about creating a historical district within the city, including where it should be located, what buildings and artifacts to include and how it could contribute to the city’s tourist appeal.

In Leander, a property predating the town sits in the planned path of CR 274. Initially overlooked when state officials were plotting future roads, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation was noticed during the construction of the frontage roads for 183A Toll, which cut through the property and would be intersected by CR 274. The road is in limbo without a clear solution

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Saving Williamson history in midst of road building

From the statesman.com December 2, 2007...

Historians, landowners and government officials in limbo over road planned for a historical site near 183-A.

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