The document discusses plans to upgrade a congested 11-mile freeway in Austin, Texas called Mopac 1. It describes the existing issues with the outdated 1960s/70s design including narrow shoulders and some ramps. The project will add lanes, upgrade to current design standards, address safety and neighborhood environmental issues, and accommodate a rail line and pedestrian/bike facilities. After initially proposing a greatly widened design requiring extensive right-of-way, TxDOT took a collaborative approach forming committees with neighborhood representatives and experts to develop a concept plan within the existing right-of-way that includes noise walls, traffic calming, and neighborhood-designed aesthetic features while staying within budget.

1. Project 4
Mopac 1
Austin, Texas
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2. Existing
 11 mile freeway
 Built 1960s, 1970s
 Now congested
 Outdated design
 Narrow shoulders
 Some ramps
 Safety issues
Source: TxDOT
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3. Project
 Add lanes
 Upgrade to current design criteria
 Address issues
 Safety
 Neighborhood environmental
 Cut-through traffic
 Noise
 Air, water quality
 ROW takings
 aesthetics
 Accommodate rail line
 Provide ped/bike facilities
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4. Approach
 Original 2001
 Greatly widened facility
 Extensive additional ROW
 Subsequent collaborative approach
 Created Systems Analysis Special Committee
 MPO
 Neighborhood reps
 TxDOT
 Created technical team of experts
 Urban planning
 Landscape architecture
 Rail transit
 Transportation engineering
 Noise/vibration
 Public involvement
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5. Technical Team Recommendations
 Process, scope
 Open CSS-type collaborative process
 Work within existing ROW
 Can accommodate commuter, freight rail
 Noise walls
 Ped/bike facilities
 Traffic calming devices (city streets)
 MPO network plan update
 TxDOT withdrew original design proposal
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6. TxDOT
 Formed Aesthetics Advisory Committee
 Develop TxDOT guidelines for Mopac 1
 Permit budget to stay within original amount
 Members
 Austin State School
 Texas Historical Commission
 City of Austin
 Mopac 1 project manager
 TxDOT District Landscape Architect
 Community representatives
 Developed concept plan
 Community largely supports new plan
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7. Features
 Additional lanes
 Little additional ROW
 Realignments to stay within ROW
 Shoulders used for extended merging distances
 Noise walls reflecting neighborhood design input
Source: ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/aus/mopac1/express_issue_02.pdf
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8. Features
Source: TxDOT
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9. Features
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