20260520-002, MoPac South Project Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

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RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Environmental Commission Recommendation 20260520-002: MoPac South Expansion WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission was given a presentation regarding the MoPac South Expansion on May 6, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed Resolution 20241212-066 expressing concern about the environmental impact of the MoPac South expansion, lack of consideration of viable alternatives, and integration with existing public transportation; and WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed Resolution 20190808-078 declaring a Climate Emergency on August 8, 2019, declaring greenhouse gas emissions from transportation a leading cause of climate change; and WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed Resolution 20260423-064 expressing concern that the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) Draft Environmental Assessment for the MoPac South Expansion is incorrect in its assertion that the MoPac expansion, “is likely to have no significant environmental effects on air and water quality, endangered species, caves and karst features, public parkland and community spaces, and vulnerable school-aged communities”; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation 20260203-006 recommends the CTRMA produce a complete Environmental Impact Study with a thorough study of alternatives before moving forward with the project; and WHEREAS, Hays County, over the objection of the Travis County Commissioners Court and with a contractor led by the former CTRMA Executive Director, is simultaneously moving forward with studies and planning aimed at connecting State Highway 45 Southwest to I-35, with roughly half of this project located in Travis County; and WHEREAS, if these two projects are both completed, MoPac would be converted from a local commuter highway into an alternative freeway, inviting large amounts of interregional and interstate traffic, including truck traffic, onto MoPac, with harm to the environment, neighbors, and local commuters from Travis County, northern Hays County, and Williamson County; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission Recommended (202504-003) that the MoPac South Extension be removed from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2050 Regional Transportation Plan; and . WHEREAS, both construction and operation of the project would do direct harm to Lady Bird Lake parkland, Austin High School, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, Barton Springs, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Barton Creek, Gaines Creek, Williamson Creek, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, and other parkland and neighborhoods along the project route; and WHEREAS, the expansion will cause harm to natural wildlife such as the Barton Springs salamanders as well as local cave ecosystems; and WHEREAS, the expansion would increase impervious surfaces, leading to greater runoff of pollutants such as heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and sediment into the aquifer; and WHEREAS, the expansion would also negatively impact Barton Springs and local stream flows; and WHEREAS, building such a highway expansion conflicts directly with the transportation and climate protection goals of both the City of Austin and Travis County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Environmental Commission recommends that the Austin City Council request the Board of Directors of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to consider other, more affordable, less environmentally damaging alternatives that will improve MoPac traffic flow for local commuters and that Austin City Council, the Rollingwood City Council, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees, and the Travis County Commissioners Court work to oppose the CTRMA MoPac South project as proposed and to instead support traffic demand reduction strategies and safety improvements that protect our public trust resources, including buying more land and conservation easements to permanently protect more land in the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer watershed with the additional following conditions: • Austin residents need to be engaged with a comprehensive report about how they have been engaged from across the city, but most importantly the areas surrounding the expansion. • Complete a full Environmental Impact Statement for the MoPac South expansion up to NEPA standards. • Adopt, in full, the Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation, 20260203-006 and 202504-003, Austin City Council Resolutions 20260423-064, 20190808-078. • Halt development of the MoPac South Expansion until completion of the expansion of Loop 360 and I-35, widening of Brodie Lane, and completion of the Oak Hill Parkway to determine the necessity and scope of the MoPac South expansion. • Evaluate additional options, such as including light rail or CapMetro routes into the expansion in order to reduce the number of lanes required and consider adjusting tolls to allow for free public transit. Integrate the City of Austin’s Climate Equity Plan and Austin Strategic Mobility Plan into the MoPac South expansion. • • Coordinate with CAMPO in their Regional Transportation Emission Reduction Plan and publish all studies and reports online on the CTRMA/MoPac South website, as opposed to requiring the public to view them at TxDOT Austin District Offices. • Work with Federal, TCEQ, County, and City officials to participate in the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program to reduce transportation emissions. . Date of Approval: May 20, 2026 Motioned By: Secretary Qureshi Seconded By: Commissioner Sullivan Vote: For: 7-0 Chair Krueger, Secretary Qureshi, Commissioners Brimer, Fierro, Fleury, Morrison, and Sullivan Against: None Abstain: None Off the dais: Commissioner Changsut Absent: Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke Attest: _____________________________________________ Mariana Krueger, Chair