The provision of an HOV facility is consistent with the Smart Growth goal of providing incentives to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles, and increasing auto occupancy in the Austin region. The City of Austin is already participating with the High Occupancy Vehicle Task Force, a multi-agency group working toward regional congestion management through the use of HOV technology. Existing traffic volumes and congestion management studies succinctly state the need for this improvement. Although some additional ROW will be necessary it is recommended that TxDOT minimize any cut and fill sections, as well as utilize filtration controls during and after construction. It connects US 183 to the north and east, and US 290 to the south, forming an inner loop roadway system that helps define the central urbanized portion of the City of Austin.
Additional ROW is relatively limited.
This roadway is of regional importance. Although many acres of land in the northwest portion of Travis County have been acquired for habitat protection, RM 2222 conveys traffic from a much greater area. Connectivity to the high growth corridors in Southwest Williamson County and the Lake Travis Northshore, necessitate a completion of improvements for this roadway. A major reason for the upgrade of this roadway to a 4-lane major divided arterial is to address public safety and a high rate of vehicle collisions. The separation of left turns from high speed through traffic can be provided by a continuous center left turn lane.