The big picture
Dubbed the “new I-35” in recent years, officials from both Austin and San Antonio have continued to paint a vision of how SH 130 will eventually link the two metros, akin to the connectivity seen in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“SH 130 is an increasingly important piece of the regional transportation network in the heart of the booming Austin-San Antonio corridor,” Prasad said in a statement.
With over 30 years of experience in transportation leadership across the public and private sectors, Prasad is expected to build on his predecessor’s efforts by strengthening partnerships with the Texas Department of Transportation and regional stakeholders while advancing initiatives with local economic development groups, a news release from the company states.
SH 130 Concession has reported a continued increase in traffic along the southern section of tollway in recent years as well as the volume of freight vehicles traveling through Central Texas.
In addition, state transportation authorities are developing a 21-mile “smart corridor” along SH 130 from Georgetown through Del Valle as multiple driverless trucking companies have launched operations throughout the Austin area.
This northern stretch of roadway will be equipped with sensors and cameras that will help autonomous commercial vehicles navigate road conditions and potential hazards.
Sorting out the details
Spanning 91 miles from north of Georgetown to the northwest of San Antonio, the SH 130 toll road offers an alternative to traffic along I-35 in Central Texas.
The northern expanse of tollway, segments 1-4—which stretch from Georgetown to Mustang Ridge—were designed and constructed by TxDOT.
These segments opened between 2006-08 and remain owned and operated by TxDOT. They are apart of the Central Texas Turnpike System, which also includes SH 45 and MoPac toll roads; however, the operation of the two latter toll roads has been contracted to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
In contrast, the southern segments of SH 130, segments 5 and 6—which run from SE SH 45 to Seguin—were developed under a public-private partnership between TxDOT and the private company, SH 130 Concession Company LLC. The $1.35 billion southern segments opened in 2012 and are privately operated under a 50-year lease agreement between the state and SH 130 Concession.
Segments 5 and 6 boast 85 mph speed limits, the highest speed limit in the nation.
