Toll Rates Changing on Mobility Authority Corridors
(Austin, Texas)— The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (Mobility Authority) announced at the October 31, 2018 Board of Directors meeting that new rates on 183A Toll, 290 Toll, 71 Toll Lane, and MoPac Express Lane will go into effect January 1, 2019. The 2.27 percent increase, consistent with the Consumer Price Index, will equate to rates approximately $0.01 – $0.05 greater than the current rates at each toll plaza for customers with electronic tags. The rate increase on the MoPac Express Lane only applies to the base, or minimum rate.
Pay By Mail customers, or customers who drive on toll roads without an electronic tag will notice a rate differential of 50 percent compared to rates paid by tag holders. As a partner in the Central United States Interoperability Hub, the Mobility Authority accepts any of the following tags on its toll roads: Texas Department of Transportation’s TxTag, Harris County Toll Road Authority’s EZ-TAG, North Texas Tollway Authority’s TollTag, Kansas Turnpike Authority’s K-TAG, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s PIKEPASS, as well as Bancpass. Customers with electronic tags save 33 percent compared to Pay By Mail customers.
There is now a new option for customers who wish to pay discounted toll rates without getting an electronic tag: Prepaid Registered Accounts. This allows customers without a tag to have their tolls paid automatically rather than waiting to receive a toll bill in the mail. Customers can opt in online or over the phone, add $25 to their registered account, and begin driving Mobility Authority-operated toll roads hassle-free. Registered account holders receive a 25 percent savings on Pay By Mail toll rates beginning January 1, 2019. Customers without a tag who choose not to opt in for a Prepaid Registered Account can pay their toll bill in person, over the phone, online, or by mail.
183A Toll
This inflation-based adjustment adds $0.06 to the cost of a full-length trip on 183A Toll for customers with an electronic tag. The increase at individual tolling locations will vary. The Lakeline Mainline will increase from $0.56 to $0.57, the Crystal Falls Mainline will increase from $1.07 to $1.09 and the Park Street Mainline will increase from $1.51 to $1.54.
290 Toll
This inflation-based adjustment will add $0.05 to the cost of a full-length trip on 290 Toll for customers with an electronic tag. The increase at individual tolling locations will vary. The Giles Lane Mainline will increase from $1.15 to $1.18, the Parmer Lane Mainline will increase from $0.57 to $0.58 and the US 183 Ramps will increase from $0.57 to $0.58.
71 Toll Lane
This inflation-based adjustment will add $0.02 to the cost of a trip on the 71 Toll Lane for customers with an electronic tag. This equates to an increase from $0.89 to $0.91.
MoPac Express Lane
This inflation-based adjustment will add $0.05 to the base cost of a trip on a single segment, or $0.10 to the cost of a full-length trip on the MoPac Express Lane for customers with an electronic tag. This increase does not apply to the variable toll rate. This equates to an increase from $0.25 to $0.30 per segment, or from $0.50 to $0.60 for the base cost of a full-length trip on the MoPac Express Lane.
SH 45SW
When the SH 45SW Toll Road opens in 2019, customers with an electronic tag will be able to travel the corridor at the cost of $1. The rate for Pay By Mail customers will be $1.50.
The toll rate increases are part of a Mobility Authority policy that adjusts rates annually in line with inflation to avoid larger increases every five years. To inform customers of this rate change, the toll rate signs will be updated in advance of the rate increase. However, customers will continue to be charged the lower 2018 rates through December 31, 2018.
For toll rate charts, click here.
Click here to download a pdf of this press release
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About the Mobility Authority
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a local, independent government agency created in 2002 to improve the regional transportation system in Travis and Williamson Counties. The Mobility Authority implements innovative and sustainable transportation options to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in Central Texas. The Mobility Authority operates 183A Toll in Williamson County, 290 Toll in east Austin, the 71 Toll Lane in east Austin, and the MoPac Express Lane in Central Austin. The agency is also finishing construction of the eight-mile 183 South Project in east Austin, and the four-mile SH 45SW toll road between FM 1626 and MoPac in southern Travis and northern Hays counties. For more information about the Mobility Authority, visit www.MobilityAuthority.com.