DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E., Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Loop 1604 Managed Lanes Project
SUMMARY:
The Transportation & Capital Improvements Department (TCI) will provide a briefing on the Loop 1604 Managed Lanes Project recommended for inclusion in the TxDOT Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) by the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Board (TPB).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 23, 2017, the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Board (TPB) voted to recommend to the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) that the Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) be updated to include Loop 1604 Managed Lanes Project. The UTP is the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) short-range 10 year program. The AAMPO list adds 12 projects totaling $1.591billion to the UTP, including $882 million for the Loop 1604 Managed Lanes Project. This project will be managed by the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (ARMA). Prior to this meeting, on January 9, 2017 the Executive Committee of the MPO Policy Board voted to recommend the proposed UTP changes to the full MPO Policy Board with the provision that a letter be approved requesting the ARMA consider the elimination of tolls for high occupancy vehicles (two passengers and up) in addition to buses. The MPO at its January 23 meeting approved this recommendation.
ISSUE:
In 2015 the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (ARMA) estimated Loop 1604 daily traffic at 144,300, which is 60% over vehicular capacity. Without traffic improvements by 2045, ARMA estimates daily traffic of 242,400, 168% over vehicular capacity.
The MPO has recommended the inclusion of the Loop 1604 Managed Lanes Project in the Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) list which will be considered by the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) in early March. This project scope includes expanding vehicular capacity with the addition of two managed lanes in each direction from SH 16 to I-35. The managed lanes will be tolled with the exception of transit and high occupancy vehicles (HOV). The existing four lanes would remain free, as would the access roads.
Phase 1 of the project will include SH 16 to Redland with construction beginning in 2020 and open to traffic in 2023. Phase 2 will begin construction in 2027 from Redland to I-35 and open to traffic in 2030. Cost projections for Phase 1 are $666.6 million and Phase 2 are $215.6 million. The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (ARMA) will be the project and construction manager.
The updated funding strategy for the $882.2 million includes $556 million from previous Federal fund allocations and projected toll revenue. This action will add $326 million from additional Federal funds being made available by the Federal Fast Act Category 2 funds. This Category can only fund TxDOT projects, so City projects are not losing any potential revenue.
After the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) takes action on updates to the Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) in early March, the AAMPO Transportation Policy Board (TPB) will take action to include these updates in both the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and the short range TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) that will come in March and April.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.