The Central Texas Regional Mobile Authority is planning for a 290 Extension Project—improvements that would reduce congestion between Hwy. 130 and Hwy. 95 South.

The details

The Mobility Authority is working with the Texas Department of Transportation on a schematic design and an environmental study with other partners, including:

• Travis County
• Bastrop County
• City of Manor
• City of Elgin
• Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

The approximately 15-mile stretch of Hwy. 290 under evaluation is among the top-100 most congested road segments in Texas, according to TxDOT.

“Current congestion levels along [Hwy. 290], just east of Austin, can add up to 17 minutes to an average trip for commuters,” Mobility Authority officials said in a statement. “As the population in the fast-growing Austin metro area continues to increase, those delays will only get worse.”

Zooming in

The Mobility Authority identified several potential solutions, including:

• Adding lanes alongside existing lanes
• Enhancing cross street intersections
• Including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure

The lane improvements would be tolled.

“This approach aims to provide drivers with choices and improve safety and mobility,” Mobility Authority officials said in the statement.

Also of note

The Mobility Authority sought public feedback over the last several weeks.

Now, area residents have until Oct. 10 to submit their feedback via an online 16-question survey.

The outlook

The first draft of design schematics for the 290 Extension Project is expected to be completed and made available to the public for feedback in mid-2026.

No other timeline is available at this point, according to Mobility Authority officials.