FAQs

They are. But the gas tax, at current levels, doesn't raise nearly enough money to build and maintain the road network Central Texas needs.

• The Federal government hasn't increased its gas tax since 1993, and Texas hasn't seen a state gas tax increase since 1991. With the impacts of inflation, the 20 cents per gallon gas tax is worth less than 15 cents a gallon today. Surveys have shown that voluntary tolls are more popular than mandatory taxes.
• Texas is a "donor state" that gets less in funding than it pays in federal gas taxes. The state also does not use all its gas tax revenue directly on road projects. Right now, the Texas Department of Transportation spends as much each year on highway maintenance as it collects in gas tax revenue. As more roads are built, a greater share of available funding goes to maintenance, leaving less money to build new transportation facilities.
• Gas tax revenues collected in Central Texas do not always return to the region. The Mobility Authority uses local dollars to meet local needs. All toll revenues generated in Central Texas will be used on projects here in the region.

We need them now. The new toll roads and lanes in Central Texas are projects that have long been part of the regions transportation plans. Today, Central Texans do much of their driving on roads that were built decades ago. We need to build the next generation of highway projects now to serve the region as it continues to grow.

Even though highways like I-35 and MoPac were built to serve Austin for generations, the regions growth has been so fast that the road network hasn't kept up. More recent projects, like U.S. 183 (Research Blvd.) and Texas 71 (Ben White Blvd.) have taken decades and still aren't finished. We can build toll projects more quickly than under the traditional gas-tax-funded, pay-as-you-go system.

We also need to build those projects before it's too late – before corridors get developed, while right-of-way is still affordable, before road projects would require displacing and disrupting large sections of the community.

The current mobility crisis in Central Texas is bad for everyone – bad for the environment, for the economy, for public safety, and for quality of life. New toll roads and lanes give drivers more choices and allow them to spend less time on the road. Traffic congestion causes air pollution, and a more efficient road network will help improve air quality.

It will also reduce the threats to public safety now caused by crowded highways and cut-through traffic in neighborhoods. New toll roads and lanes will also produce revenue to support other components of the regional transportation network – including mass transit service and bicycle lanes and trails.

No. Many of the new toll roads are to be constructed in existing highway corridors. The toll roads will be built in the middle of or alongside the existing toll-free facility. In many cases the non-tolled facility will be upgraded, improving mobility for everyone including those who choose not to use the toll roads.

Building any road – whether toll or "free" – requires taking steps to protect the environment. As a local agency, the Mobility Authority staff recognizes the importance of protecting the natural resources that are unique to Central Texas.

Most of the Mobility Authority's projects are outside the most environmentally sensitive areas in Central Texas. These projects will help direct future growth away from the places where Central Texans don't want it. Any Mobility Authority projects in sensitive areas will be extensively studied and scrutinized. The Mobility Authority will work closely with environmental groups, neighborhood residents and all interested stakeholders to ensure projects are developed in a manner that is consistent with community needs and desires.

It is important to note that many of the roadway corridors where toll roads are planned have outdated environmental control systems. As the toll roads are constructed and the older non-tolled roads are upgraded, modern water retention facilities will be constructed, improving water quality and reducing the risk of flooding. Also, reducing congestion will result in less air pollution.

No. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a government agency working to improve the transportation system in Williamson and Travis counties. The agency was created through State legislation in 2002.

TxTag is an electronic sticker that mounts on the inside of a vehicle's windshield behind the rearview mirror. The sticker has a small transponder inside that communicates with an overhead antenna at toll facilities, allowing drivers to pay tolls electronically. The toll is deducted from a toll account that is set up ahead of time by the customer.

Many newer toll roads have TxTag lanes that allow drivers to pay tolls without slowing down or passing through an old-fashioned toll booth. TxTag customers receive a 25% discount over Pay By Mail rates. TxTag is accepted on toll roads throughout the state. Toll roads in Central Texas also accept toll tags from Dallas (Toll Tag) and Houston EZ Tag).

For other FAQs related to TxTag, click here.

There are three easy ways to get a TxTag or open an account:

• Online www.TxTag.org
• By phone: 1-888-468-9824
• In person at the TxTag Customer Service Center at 12719 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78727

Toll Bills are received by drivers who use Central Texas toll roads without having a TxTag, TollTag or EZ TAG account. If you received a Toll Bill, a vehicle registered in your name has recently traveled on a Central Texas toll road. Be aware that if you lease or loan your vehicle to someone else, Texas law dictates that the registered vehicle owner is responsible for paying any tolls incurred in that vehicle. Failure to pay a Toll Bill can result in additional fees and court fines.

Toll Bills are part of the Pay By Mail program. Equipment on the expressways take pictures of vehicle license plates and that information is used to identify the registered owner of the vehicle. A Toll Bill is then sent to the registered owners address.

Toll rates for Pay By Mail customers are higher than for drivers with a TxTag to offset the cost of processing license plate information and mailing the Toll Bill. In addition, each Toll Bill comes with a $1.00 processing charge. Depending on which toll roads you use, you may be issued separate Toll Bills.

Pay By Mail customers have 30 days to pay their bill either in person, via check, online or over the phone.

Click here to pay your 183A Toll Bill online.

Click here to pay your toll bill for use of all other Central Texas toll roads.

Pay By Mail customers are given 30 days to pay their Toll Bill. In some situations, honest customers may accidentally fail to pay their Toll Bill for a variety of reasons. In other cases, individuals may intentionally break the law by not paying for their use of the toll roads. Here are the steps a Pay By Mail customer can expect if they fail to pay their bill:

• Failure to pay a Toll Bill within 30 days will result in the vehicle owner receiving a Notice of Toll Violation. An additional $15 fee is added to the original Toll Bill.
• Failure to pay a Notice of Toll Violation within 30 days will result in the vehicle owner receiving a Final Notice of Toll Violation. An additional $15 fee is added to the original Toll Bill.
• Failure to remit payment within 30 days of receiving a Final Notice of Toll Violation will result in the vehicle owner being referred to a collections agency. An additional $30 fee is added to the original Toll Bill.
• If the collection agency is unsuccessful in recovering the money that is due, the vehicle owner may be referred to the court system and face misdemeanor charges for toll evasion under chapter 370.177 of the Texas Transportation Code.

Click here to pay your 183A Toll Violation online.

Click here to pay Toll Violation for all other Central Texas toll roads.

Municipal Services Bureau (MSB) is the toll payment processor for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. MSB can assist you with questions related to your 183A toll bill or notice of toll violation and can process your payment.

Click here to contact MSB.

Cashless (or all-electronic) toll collection is being implemented on toll roads throughout the United States. Most new toll roads are cashless and many existing toll roads are being converted to cashless.

Cashless toll collection is more cost effective, improves safety, speeds up traffic, reduces vehicle emissions, and conserves fuel by eliminating the need to stop and pay a toll. Thanks to improved technologies, the Mobility Authority also offers a license plate based "Pay by Mail" program for customers who don't have a TxTag account but still wish to use the toll road.

Although cash payment at toll booths on the roadway is not offered, 183A customers who prefer to pay their tolls in cash can still do so in the following ways:

• Pay your Pay By Mail toll bills in person.
• Fund your TxTag account in person at the TxTag Customer Service Center, located at 12719 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78727.

Pay By Mail is a toll payment option for drivers who want to who want to use the toll roads but do not have a TxTag, TollTag or EZ Tag. Drivers who use the toll roads without a TxTag will receive a bill in the mail. There's no need to prepay or register.

Cameras on the toll roads take pictures of vehicle license plates, and that information is used to identify the registered owner of the vehicle. A bill for the tolls is then sent in the mail.

Toll rates for Pay By Mail customers are slightly higher than those for TxTag customers to offset the costs related to processing license plate information and Pay By Mail toll bills include a $1 processing fee.

Failure to pay a toll bill can result in additional fees and court fines. If you let other people drive your car, be advised that under Texas law you are responsible for any tolls incurred.

More information about Pay By Mail for 183A toll road users can be found here.

Information about Pay By Mail for all other Central Texas toll roads can be found here.