Austin UTC urges CAMPO changes, seeks limits on MoPac South and Highway 183 expansions

The Urban Transportation Commission told the Mobility Committee on April 17 that it wants major changes to the draft CAMPO 2050 regional transportation plan, including removing or reducing freeway expansions and prioritizing transit, safety and active transportation.

UTC Chair Summers told the Mobility Committee that the draft CAMPO plan proposes a large increase in roadway capacity and includes projects such as the MoPac South expansion and a wide buildout on State Highway 183. “The regional plan proposes adding more than 3,000 new lane miles, which UTC said amounts to roughly a 26 percent increase in roadway capacity,” Summers said, noting UTC’s concern that added road capacity can induce demand and increase vehicle miles traveled.

The commission’s formal recommendations include prioritizing funding for projects that improve safety for all users and for transit and active transportation, deprioritizing…