KXAN News talks with CTRMA’s Mike Heiligenstein after the new MoPac express lane’s smooth initiation to weekday morning traffic. The station notes, “The project contractors are facing up to $20 million in penalties for not having the project completed by the original deadline. So many are asking if they can finish [the entire facility] by the spring of 2017. To ensure the project isn’t delayed any more, Heiligenstein said additional contractors have been added to the construction crews.”
Austin-American Statesman helpfully reports that, “The variable tolls on North MoPac officially have begun to vary.” The newspaper says the toll peaked at 39 cents, 14 cents over the minimum, during the October 17 afternoon commute.
Community Impact Newspaper’s “5 things to know” about the new express lane includes this: “Once the project is complete, drive times will reduce to 10-12 minutes in the express lane versus 30-40 minutes in the main lanes, said Jeff Dailey, the agency’s deputy executive director.”