MoPac Express Lane

An 11-mile variably-priced tolled express lane along MoPac between Cesar Chavez Street and Parmer Lane

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Those wanting to bypass traffic congestion have a choice to use the MoPac Express Lane. Drivers who prefer not to pay a toll can use the non-tolled lanes on MoPac.

About the MoPac Express Lane

01.

The Story of MoPac
02.

Overview
03.

Safety Tips
04.

Frequently Asked Questions
05.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations

The MoPac Express Lane gives drivers the option to bypass congestion on the 11-mile stretch of MoPac between Parmer Lane and Cesar Chavez Street and get to their destination without delay. MoPac is one of Austin’s most important arteries, serving as a key route to downtown and points beyond. As a primary alternative to Interstate 35, MoPac carries more than 180,000 cars and trucks each day. By 2035, MoPac is projected to serve more than 220,000 cars a day. In October 2017, the project fully opened to traffic.

Express lanes are special buffer-separated lanes that use variable tolls to keep traffic moving even when the adjacent lanes are congested. This is accomplished by raising the toll when traffic is heavy and lowering the toll when traffic is light. The lanes provide a non-tolled, congestion-free route for public transit buses and registered vanpools, but also allow individual drivers to pay to use the lane capacity that remains. The Express Lane is located in the middle of the MoPac corridor, separated from the existing lanes by a four- to five-foot-wide striped buffer zone with flexible plastic sticks called delineators. Drivers are able to access the MoPac Express Lane at Cesar Chavez Street, at Far West Boulevard and Anderson Lane, or at Parmer Lane.

Drivers should not attempt to cross the delineators, as they will cause vehicle damage. Trucks and trailers are prohibited from the Express Lane.

Learn more information about the project’s bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Additional Information

MoPac Express Lane Fact Sheet

The History of MoPac

For real-time updates on incident management in the corridor, check us out on Twitter.

Use Your Electronic Tag or Drive on Through, We’ll Bill You

The MoPac Express Lane is completely automated with no need to stop or even slow down at toll booths. The choice is yours – utilize the all-electronic, or cashless, tolling method of payment through an electronic tag account; or if you don’t have an electronic tag just keep moving, and we’ll bill you through the Pay By Mail program.

In Texas, there are multiple transportation agencies that are authorized to operate toll roads, issue their own electronic tag, and do their own billing. In the Austin area, there are two: the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT/TxTag) and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (Mobility Authority).

Mobility Authority customers can pay their tolls with a TxTAG, TollTag, EZ TAG, K-TAG, Pikepass, SunPass, E-470’s ExpressToll or Bancpass and get a 33% discount, or they can choose to Pay By Mail. Pay By Mail customers are billed using a picture of their license plate, and are charged a $1.00 statement fee per bill. Vehicle registration information must be up to date in order for the bill to be sent to the correct address. Pay By Mail is available on all toll roads in Central Texas, although you may receive separate bills depending on which agency operates the road you traveled on.

To learn about paying your tolls, see the download available below.

Paying My Mobility Authority Toll

Traffic Incident & Management Center

The Traffic Incident & Management (TIM) Center is the heart of the Mobility Authority’s intelligent transportation system. The TIM Center affords us the ability to monitor our facilities as well as coordinate resources for incident management and maintenance, enabling efficient responses to accidents and other interruptions to traffic flow.

In the final configuration, 17 high-definition cameras line the MoPac corridor with vehicle detectors set about ½ mile apart. These devices monitor every stretch of MoPac Expressway between Cesar Chavez and Parmer Lane with technicians monitoring live video feeds out of the TIM Center. Operators and an algorithm monitor traffic levels in the Express Lane so that the variable-priced toll rates can be adjusted as needed to maximize the number of vehicles that can be carried in the Express Lanes at target speed of 45 mph for a reliable, free-flowing trip.

Staff working in the Traffic Incident & Management (TIM) Center

Electronic Message Boards Display Toll Price

The toll rate is posted on electronic message boards as drivers approach the Express Lane entrance. Drivers will pay what they see on the sign before entering the Express Lane, even if the price increases after they enter.

72 Hour Delay

To ensure accurate charges, the payment processing for MoPac toll transactions are delayed so that the trips can be billed accurately. Any necessary price adjustments are made during this 72-hour delay period to ensure that drivers are not overcharged when they receive their bill. In addition, cameras capture photos of the Express Lane pricing signs with time and date stamps at every transaction.