Drivers Eligible for TxDOT Toll Violation Fee Reductions Until November 30th


Until November 30th, drivers may be eligible to take advantage of a temporary toll violation fee reduction program being offered by the Texas Department of Transportation. The program began on August 31st and allows drivers to have their outstanding violation fees reduced by 90% if they sign up for TxTag and maintain a valid account. In Central Texas, the program applies to tolls accrued on SH 130, SH 45 and Loop 1. The program does not apply to tolls and violation fees on the 183A toll road.

The Mobility Authority, which operates the 183A toll road, already offered a violation waiver program in May 2008 and has begun filing court cases against drivers who have not paid their toll bills. However, drivers with unpaid toll bills on 183A may still be able to avoid court and settle their outstanding bills by contacting Municipal Services Bureau (MSB) at 1-888-811-4565.

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Mobility Authority to Implement HERO Program


On June 8th the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board approved $1.4 million in federal stimulus funds to restart the Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) program on IH35 from Round Rock to Buda. The two-year program will be implemented and overseen by the Mobility Authority, in conjunction with TxDOT and the Texas Transportation Institute.

The HERO program is a cost-effective strategy to help reduce congestion and improve safety by helping disabled motorists, clearing debris from the roadway and assisting with traffic control at accident scenes.

183A Drivers Save Money and Help the Environment


Earlier this year, the Mobility Authority commissioned a study to determine the environmental benefits of driving on 183A versus US 183. As part of the study, scientists drove two test vehicles up and down the 183A toll road and US 183. They then measured the differences between vehicle emissions and fuel consumption on the two roads. The results were dramatic. The study found that an average vehicle driving on 183A used 26% less fuel. When calculated over the course of a year, the average savings amounted to 108 gallons with a cost savings of more than $281. Meanwhile, vehicles using 183A emitted less carbon (- 37%), which has been associated with global warming, and less nitrogen oxide (-56%), a chemical that contributes to the formation of unhealthy ground level ozone. The findings point out the significant benefits achieved by eliminating stop and go traffic conditions.