The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is considering several options to ease congestion on US 183 between MoPac and RM 620.

The agency hosted an open house Feb. 18 to discuss options with residents and inform them of the purpose of the project, which launched last August and is undergoing an environmental analysis. The Texas Department of Transportation is partnering with the Mobility Authority on the project.

Mobility Authority Communications Manager Rick L'Amie said the goal of the US 183 North project is to manage congestion, provide more effective means of travel for transit and allow for more reliable emergency response.

"The northwest is growing so fast, and there are a lot of questions about what can be done on 183," he said. "Traffic is not going to be getting any better, but we're looking at ways to reduce and improve traffic."

The options include:

• adding one general-purpose lane in each direction,
• adding a high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lane in each direction for use by transit and/or carpools,
• building one toll lane in each direction,
• looking at low-cost options for transportation system management; examples include making intersection improvements, synchronizing traffic signals and managing accidents,
• addressing transportation demand management, which would decrease demand by encouraging use of carpools or public transit and commuting during non-peak hours, and
• a no-build option

Great Hills resident Reah Dahl-Stamnes said she would not support the addition of toll lanes on US 183. She said she now avoids having to use US 183 during peak hours by taking back roads.

"We need rapid transit buses people can depend on," she said.

Matthew Ludlum, who has lived near US 183 for three years, said he turned down a job that would have required him to use US 183 in rush hour and opted to take a job closer to home. He said he is glad the Mobility Authority is doing something to address congestion.

"They've got a difficult project in front of them," Ludlum said. 'The problem is only going to become harder and harder."

The Mobility Authority could face several environmental issues stemming from the highway running over part of the northern segment of the Edwards Aquifer, said Kemble White, a regional scientist and project manager with environmental consulting firm SWCA. This area is also home to the Jollyville Plateau salamander, which lives in caves fed by the recharge zone in the aquifer. White said there is a risk of finding small caves and springs in the limestone during the environmental process.

Residents are invited to submit their comments to the Mobility Authority about the proposed options and take the online survey. More information is available at www.183north.com.