“My main concern with the current design is the vast majority of pedestrians and cyclists can’t pass safely through the corridor,” resident Erick Benz said. “... We need a [continuous] shared-use path along this corridor.”

Residents shared their thoughts at the Nov. 12 public hearing for the 183 North project the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is proposing. The project would add two variable-priced toll, or express, lanes to US 183 in each direction between SH 45 N and MoPac. The express lanes would connect to express lanes under construction on MoPac and to the fixed-price toll lanes on Toll 183A in Cedar Park.

A fourth general-purpose, or nontolled, lane would also run continuously throughout the corridor. Additionally, flyovers would be built to connect US 183 to RM 620 as well as to connect the US 183 express lanes to the MoPac express lanes.

The total cost of the project is estimated at about $650 million, of which $5 million will go toward bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including to add continuous sidewalks and two sections of a shared-use path.

The project would take about two to three years to build and could be built in stages, Mobility Authority Engineering Manager Sean Beal said.

Bike Austin Advocacy Director Miller Nuttle brought a list of 115 signatures in support of a continuous shared-use path, which the Mobility Authority had told him was not feasible in some areas because of corridor constraints.

“The area has some of the highest short-trip bike use [in the city], and people need to get around safely,” he said. “... It’s important for CTRMA to look at the bigger picture if they are going to talk about mobility and meaningful ways to get around safely.”