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SH130 is becoming increasingly popular with drivers. (SH 130 Concession Company, LLC)
A Central Texas highway is gaining favor over I-35 for some drivers, a trend fueled by the region's tech hub status and rapidly growing populations.
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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Popular
(Moriah Wilson/Instagram)
Austin police are investigating the killing of Moriah "Mo" Wilson after she was found with gunshot wounds inside an Austin home.
Wilson, a gravel and mountain bike racer, was visiting Austin from Colorado in preparation for the Gravel Locos race on Saturday taking place in Hico, a small town 2 hours from Austin.
On Wednesday, her roommate came home and found Wilson unresponsive with "a lot of blood near her,” police said. It is now being investigated as a suspicious death. No further information on the suspect or motive behind the killing are available at this time.
Wilson recently had become a full-time biker after winning a slew of races in the past year.
(Pexels)
Some of your favorite Instagram filters can’t be used in Texas anymore and Austinites are sounding off on social media.
Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, announced on Wednesday that certain filters would no longer be available in Texas.
The change is a result of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company uses facial recognition technology that violates laws in Texas. A release from Meta says it stopped using facial recognition tech in November 2021 and denies Paxton’s allegations.
Some Austinites bemoaned the shift, saying some of their favorite filters were now unavailable.
This was my FAVORITE filter on @instagram and they done removed it cause I’m in Texas ! Like wowwwwww pic.twitter.com/uX60hdIC0Q
— Pinkyy Montana (@inkstar_pinkyy) May 11, 2022
i heard that instagram filters got banned in texas? what the actual fuck y’all better give me my favorite filter back
— lia 🤍 (@liatootrill) May 11, 2022
loved this stupid filter sm i hate texas pic.twitter.com/DXr9mmUc64
— birthday boy jeno 🎂 (@beabtox) May 12, 2022
But more often than not, locals joked about the ban.
Texas women seeing the filter ban on IG pic.twitter.com/yDMcP3Qtsr
— Christian (Anabolic) Flores (@christian_flo24) May 11, 2022
So, the state of Texas has banned filter use on IG? THE END IS NEAR. 😂
— THE FRANCHISE! Франшиза (@NYCFranchise718) May 12, 2022
And some in-between chose to show off some natural beauty.
I live in Texas, but no filter needed. 😉 pic.twitter.com/A6teRgYMKn
— bad and bruja (@starseedmami) May 11, 2022
filter, no filter..texas women still reign supreme.
— 🎍 (@_sixile) May 11, 2022
Finally, some are trying to cash in on the opportunity.
Texas IG users- if you want to filter your picture cashapp me $1.50 $ErvnYng
— Gemini (@ervn_y) May 11, 2022
Meta said it plans to create an opt-in system for both Texas and Illinois residents, who are facing the same issues.