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SH130 is becoming increasingly popular with drivers. (SH 130 Concession Company, LLC)
Traffic on the southern end of Texas State Highway 130 has skyrocketed and reached an all-time high last year, according to a new report by the highway operator.
The toll road, which stretches 91 miles from north of Austin to Seguin, is marketed by the concession company operating it as "a high-speed alternative to Interstate 35," with the company running the southern section since 2012.
“More drivers are choosing SH 130 than ever before because it provides the only high-speed alternative to I-35 between two of the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas—and it’s safe, predictable and enjoyable to drive,” said Doug Wilson, CEO of SH 130 Concession Company.
SH130 is one of the the fastest highways in the country at a speed limit of 85 mph. (SH 130 Concession Company, LLC)
A few factors, including pandemic recovery, population growth and increased development along the corridor, have driven the increased traffic. Last year, the operators counted a 3.7 million increase in the number of people driving on SH 130 between Austin and San Antonio, with a total of more than 9.7 million.
Wilson described the corridor as the “epicenter of development in Central Texas.” Located in the "Texas Triangle," the concession company touts that it's a reliable route for commercial drivers moving goods to and from Texas' southern ports and the international airports in the region. Plus, some tech giants could also be upping traffic on SH 130.
“With Tesla recently opening its manufacturing facility on the corridor and a massive new Samsung facility on the horizon, we expect these development and traffic trends along this corridor to continue,” Wilson said.
With an 85 mph speed limit— the highest in the country—and a minimum of two lanes in each direction, congestion isn't completely avoidable. Last year’s traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels. And heavy traffic also saw a high boost, increasing 50%.
But crashes haven't risen with the traffic. They actually decreased last year to an estimated 34 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
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(City of Austin)
Austin Transportation Department workers update speed limit signs to 25 miles per hour throughout the city.
The Austin Transportation Department is following through with City Council plans approved in June to reduce speed limits on many residential roads and add "speed mitigation treatments" where necessary. These projects typically involve speed bumps and curb reconfigurations to slow down motorists.
Downtown streets have already been converted to 25 miles per hour speed limits as of Friday. The plan approved by council members also calls on main roads in the city's central core to have a maximum speed limit of 30 to 40 mph. A city memo states those changes should be complete by the end of the year.
"Speed limit signs in the urban core will be larger than our typically sized signs for multi-lane streets and include supplemental ribbons to enhance noticeability," the memo states.
Neighborhood streets less than 36-feet wide will be changed to 25 mph, according to the memo, and new speed limit signs will be installed starting next year.
Residents will again notice a different looking sign than usual, one that incorporates a yellow fluorescent pattern to enhance visibility. Neighborhood roads that are 36- to 40-feet wide will continue to be evaluated for potential speed limit reductions as well.
Wonder if the speed limit is changing on your road? The city created this before and after map, which allows residents to see potential speed limit changes in their neighborhood.
The next step is to add "speed mitigation treatments" in 14 selected neighborhood roads. Here are the roadways selected for these treatments, which are yet to be designed:
Transportation officials intend to meet with neighborhood residents near selected projects to finalize details and begin construction by the end of the year on all 14 projects. Spillar stated in the memo that road work will be complete by the end of 2021.
Spillar said he will return to elected officials for more financial support in the coming months.
"These projects represent a substantially small portion of the entire citywide need to manage speeds on our neighborhood streets," the memo states. "ATD will seek a mid-year budget amendment next spring to request additional resources to [extend] the program."
For more information about the city's related speed reduction projects, visit the Austin Transportation Department Speed Management Program homepage.
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