1. The Texas Department of Transportation completed extended entrance and exit lanes on Loop 360 on Dec. 2 to improve intersections with Walsh Tarlton Lane, the Barton Creek Square Mall entrance and MoPac. A left-turn lane was also added on the northbound frontage road of MoPac at Loop 360 to create a triple left-turn condition. Final paving for the project begins this spring. Estimated timeline: February 2016-spring 2017

2. Approximately 2 miles of Flint Rock Road—between RR 620 at Baylor Scott & White Lakeway and Serene Hills Drive—will be widened and an asphalt shoulder added. Estimated timeline: October 2015-To be determined

3. TxDOT is adding a new auxiliary southbound lane on RR 620, from just north of Lohmans Crossing Road to Spillman Loop. Estimated timeline: Aug. 8-late fall/winter

4. A project team is refining two build alternatives for the Oak Hill Parkway study to bring long-term traffic relief to the intersection of Hwy. 71 and Hwy. 290. A no-build alternative is also under consideration. No new workshops have been scheduled. Estimated timeline: Environmental study expected to be complete in late 2017 or early 2018

5. A drainage project, including replacement of a culvert, construction of a retaining wall and paving, is underway on Hatley Drive near Inwood Road in Rollingwood. Estimated timeline: October-December (weather permitting)

Transportation Updates Lake Travis | Westlake6.  Bee Caves Road upgrades

On Nov. 1, TxDOT began placing barricades and signage on Bee Caves Road near Redbud Trail for a six-month utility relocation effort related to the Bee Caves Road construction project. The lanes on Bee Caves Road from Westlake Drive to Redbud Trail were restriped in mid-November to provide a 10-foot accessway for ongoing utility work.

Right turns were banned beginning Nov. 9 from Reveille Road onto Rocky River Road to alleviate traffic in West Lake Hills during construction.

Timeline: November 2016-2018 Cost: $29 million Funding sources: TxDOT

7. Traffic signal at Lohmans Crossing Road and Lohmans Spur

Installation of the new traffic signal is substantially complete and city officials said they are waiting for its traffic controller programming and testing to be finished .

Timeline: April 2016-To be determined Cost: $246,500-$275,000 Funding sources: city of Lakeway

8. Fort Smith Trail substandard road improvement in Apache Shores

Road paving and drainage improvements on Fort Smith Trail were completed in 2015. Two drains are now being replaced.

Timeline: July 12, 2011-2017 Cost: $350,000 budget Funding sources: Travis County

Transportation Updates Lake Travis | WestlakeWhy is there a State Highway Fund shortfall?

In Texas, funding for new roads and maintenance comes from a number of sources, including fuel tax revenue and vehicle registration fees, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. This revenue makes up the State Highway Fund—the fund TxDOT uses to pay for existing and new roadways.

However, because state and federal fuel taxes have not been raised since the early 1990s, revenue from these sources has remained steady while road construction costs have increased.

Each year, Texas has a $5 billion shortfall for road maintenance and mobility improvements, according to TxDOT.

In 2014 and 2015, Texas voters approved propositions 1 and 7, respectively, measures to transfer taxes paid by oil and gas production companies and general sales tax revenue from the state into the State Highway Fund. It is estimated the measures will transfer at least $4.2 billion annually to the fund, beginning with the 2017-18 fiscal year.

To bridge the rest of the gap, TxDOT and state legislators are considering other revenue sources in this upcoming legislative session, such as increasing the fuel tax or partnering with private entities.