More Toll Roads Coming to Austin

Austin, TX - Several long awaited road projects in Austin are getting a multi-million-dollar shot in the arm. But getting almost $30-million in state money comes with a catch; the roads will be tolled and the cash will not push any dirt.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority received a $27million grant Thursday morning from the Texas Transportation Commission. The money will be distributed to help 5 projects.

The funding breakdown involves the following projects:

- MoPac Managed lanes = $5.4
-Hwy 290 East-Manor Expressway = $2.2
-Hwy 183South = $4.4
-SH45 SW = $7.4
-The Y at Oak Hill = $7.6

The grant money will be used to pay for environmental and engineering studies and other administrative costs. The grant money will not be used for construction. Finding funding to pay for the paperwork has kept projects on the drafting table, like the proposed improvements to the Y at Oak Hill.

One CTRMA project did receive money to help off-set construction costs. $126.7 million will be applied to the construction cost of 6.2 miles of the Hwy 290E- Manor Expressway.