While many folks have been led to believe that the toll roads in Central Texas are owned and operated by a foreign company, nothing could be further from the truth. All of the currently operating toll roads in Central Texas are
owned and operated by government agencies. SH 45, SH 130 and Loop 1
toll roads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation, but
183A, which runs through Cedar Park and Leander, is actually run by a local
government agency, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. Williamson and Travis Counties created the Mobility Authority in 2002. Under state law, the Mobility Authority has the power to implement a wide range of transportation projects encompassing all modes of transportation. To date, the Mobility Authority has focused most of its efforts on building toll roads, but it has also been developing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and supporting a study of commuter rail serving portions of eastern Williamson and Travis Counties. A seven member Board of Directors oversees the Mobility Authority. The County Commissioners in Williamson and Travis County each appoint three members to the Board, and the Governor appoints the Chairman. Board members are volunteers who serve two-year terms and receive no compensation for their work. The Board hires an Executive Director who then employs a staff to run the organization. The Mobility Authority currently employs a small staff of 15 individuals. In addition to the 183A project, the Mobility Authority has also started construction on the Manor Expressway, a 6.2-mile toll road that is being constructed in the median of US 290 east of US 183. The agency has also
been developing plans for the MoPac Improvement Project, which would
involve constructing Express Lanes on the MoPac Expressway from Parmer
Lane south to downtown Austin. A number of other critical projects are also in the early stages of development including improvements to the “Y” in Oak Hill and to US 183 and SH 71 around
Austin Bergstrom Airport. | 
