Final Days to Speak Up on MoPac South

Austin Stands United on “Mopac South Expansion.”
We Deserve a full Environmental Impact Statement and Reconsideration of Alternatives.

In a powerful display of unity from local elected officials, both the Austin City Council (unanimously) and the Travis County Commissioners Court approved actions calling upon the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to prepare a full environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion of MoPac South.

As County Commissioner Brigid Shea said, “If you’ve done even a preliminary review and it shows likely environmental harm, you shouldn’t be proceeding,” Shea said. “You should stop and go back and do a full environmental impact statement.”
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The message is clear: our elected officials acknowledge that this highway expansion will have significant environmental impacts that require thorough review, not the deceptive "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI) that CTRMA is trying to push through.

ADD YOUR VOICE -- MAKE YOUR COMMENT TODAY

Hundreds of concerned citizens turned out last week for the MoPac South Town Hall at Austin High on Earth Day

Community Voices Ring Out at MoPac Town Hall
Last week's MoPac Town Hall, hosted by Save Our Springs Alliance and the Better MoPac Coalition, was a tremendous success. THANK YOU! Hundreds of students, parents, environmentalists, and concerned residents packed the Austin High School cafeteria to speak out against this destructive highway expansion and to call foul on CTRMA's proposed FONSI.
And for good reason. This expansion will:

• Pave over 110 acres of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, threatening groundwater quality, our creeks and Barton Springs;
• Harm 4 federally endangered species and their habitats, including the Barton Springs Salamander and Austin Blind Salamander;
• Carve through some of Austin's most iconic parkland and recreational spaces, including Zilker Park, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail; and

Pollute our air with massive increases in cars (increasing annual vehicle miles traveled on MoPac by a whopping 331 million) with more car emissions directly next to neighborhoods and Austin High School (If you didn’t see it, Austin’s air quality just received a failing grade from the American Lung Association).
It’s time to demand better. The community is tired of watching CTRMA and TxDOT sacrifice our environment, public health, and quality of life for highway expansions that don’t solve congestion.

Two Critical Actions You Can Take This Week
1. Attend the CTRMA Board Meeting – Wednesday, April 29th at 9am
This is our chance to speak directly to the decision-makers. Show up on Wednesday morning at 9am and tell the CTRMA Board to:

• Reject the FONSI
• Proceed with a full Environmental Impact Statement

You’ll need to sign in before 9am to be able to speak. 3300 N. IH 35, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705.
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2. Submit Your Comments by May 3rd -- and Spread the Word!
The deadline for public comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment is this Saturday, May 3rd. This is one of the most important ways you can make your voice heard. You can submit more than one comment—and please share this widely: socials, workplaces, family, friends, and your communities (running groups, paddling crews, trail runners, water lovers). A huge number of people still haven’t heard anything about this highway expansion, and the only support we’re seeing for proposed plan is coming from those who stand to profit from it.

TAKES 2 MINUTES TO COMMENT

What to Include in Your Comments:
Demand a Full EIS: CTRMA is cutting corners with a predetermined FONSI. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, a full EIS is required when a project will significantly impact the environment. Drilling into the Edwards Aquifer, harming endangered species, damaging parks, and worsening air quality next to Austin High School are all significant impacts that should trigger a full EIS.

Question the Outdated Analysis: This project started in 2011, and the traffic model used to dismiss alternatives was finalized in 2012—over 14 years ago. Since then, we've had a pandemic, expanded telecommuting, and approved Project Connect. We need CTRMA to rethink this project with reconsideration of alternatives, updated data, and consideration of local goals and policies.

Challenge the "Benefits": After 5-7 years of disruptive construction, the project will save only 5-6 minutes for someone traveling the entire 8.77-mile length during rush hour.  Meanwhile, construction delays will largely zero out these minimal improvements.

Protect Endangered Species: CTRMA admits the expansion will adversely affect 4 federally endangered species but refuses to consider design alternatives that could avoid these impacts. Construction will threaten the clean flow of groundwater to Barton Springs and kill cave ecosystems that cannot be restored.

Demand Clean Air for Students: Austin High School students and nearby residents will be exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from increased traffic, tire wear, and brake dust. CTRMA's claim that air quality will improve despite 331 million more vehicle miles traveled per year being added to the corridor is not credible.

Protect Our Water: The proposed water quality treatment doesn't meet the standards that Travis County and the City of Austin use for their own roads. During construction, sediment and pollutants will flow directly into the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, causing irreversible harm.

How to Submit Comments:
Easiest option: Use the Better MoPac Coalition's custom form at bettermopaccoalition.org.
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, ATTN: MoPac South, 3300 N. IH-35, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705
Voicemail (3 minutes max): 512-387-5811
Tips for Effective Comments:

1. Use your own voice. CTRMA must respond to every comment, so personalizing your message ensures your specific concerns get addressed 
2. Talk about significant impacts to your community. What will this mean for your neighborhood, your family, your commute, your daily life?
3. You don't need to be a scientist. Your experience and common sense matter.
4. Share widely. Encourage friends and neighbors to submit comments too.

The Bottom Line
Every city has traffic problems, but there's only one Barton Springs. No other City in the world has such a unique, spring-fed pool minutes from downtown.
We don't have to accept CTRMA's false choice between destructive highway expansion and doing nothing. We can demand better solutions that protect our environment, keep our air and water clean, and invest in modern, sustainable alternatives like transit and demand management. We can also pursue small tweaks to fix bottlenecks to get traffic moving at a fraction of the cost, without construction delays, using existing pavement.
The momentum is building. Let's finish what we started.
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Submit your comments by May 3rd, and we'll see you at the CTRMA Board meeting on April 29th.
For more information, maps, and resources, visit bettermopaccoalition.org

In Solidarity,
Save Our Springs Alliance & Better MoPac Coalition