03 Oct SH45SW Meeting with the Capitol Transit Regional Mobility Authority

CTRMA (Capitol Transit Regional Mobility Authority) is meeting October 8 at Bailey Middle School from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to get feedback from Southwest Austin-area neighbors regarding the proposed Southwest extension of State Highway 45, also known as SH45SW. What CTRMA doesn't realize, however, is that hundreds of Southwest Austin neighbors from dozens of area neighborhoods, including Circle C, are working together to stop SH45SW. SH45SW will cut through protected lands and will be built over the watershed, destroying the quality of life, property values, and water supply (potentially) for thousands of residents in the quiet South Mopac corridor.

Residents in the area know transportation is important, but with the LCRA lakes at 32% capacity, risking polluting one of Austin's rare water supplies is not worth it. 60,000 Austin residents rely on the Edwards' Aquifer for their well water. There is also a risk that SH45SW, with its run-off from the highway's particulate matter, oils, brakes fluids, etc., will pollute Flint Ridge Cave, a Federally protected cave that provides a natural habitat for rare species.

The neighborhoods ask CTRMA, CAMPO, and TxDOT to focus on alternative transportation, such as Lone Star Rail, light rail, public transportation, and better shared-use paths, among other viable solutions.

According to area politicians, SH45SW is needed is to relieve traffic on Brodie Lane. SH45SW may help Brodie Lane in the short-term, but CAMPO suggests it may not help in the long-term. CAMPO counted cars that entered Brodie Lane at FM 1626 and found that a great deal of the traffic on Brodie Lane comes from the neighborhoods on Brodie Lane. Having these neighbors drive south on Brodie Lane to SH45SW, then west 3.6 miles on SH45SW to sit in traffic on South Mopac for 45 minutes is not a solution. CAMPO proposes that 30,000 additional cars will be added to South Mopac commuters' route if SH45SW is built. Meanwhile, Lone Star Rail, which could go online in about ten years (which may be the same timeframe as
SH45SW), will be able to transport eastern Hays County commuters downtown in minutes.

Some of the neighborhoods that are impacted are Circle C, Meridian, Grey Rock, The Villages of Western Oaks, Western Oaks, Deer Park, Sendera, Twin Creeks, Legend Oaks, Beckett Meadows, and all of the neighbors on FM 1826 who drive South Mopac everyday. Property values in the area, noise, light, and air pollution and the quality of life will be negatively impacted.

If you believe water, protected land, and quality of life are important for sustainability for Austin, Texas, please let CTRMA know at their open house October 8 at Bailey Middle School between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, you can let CTRMA know how you feel by sending them an official comment via their http://www.sh45sw.com/contact link.

For more information on the issues with SH45SW, please see http://www.facebook.com/SouthMopac.