Case Study Analysis of Mid-Size Urban/Rural Area Toll Road Options - Year 2 Report (5-4055-01-3)

This report documents the second year or the research implementation project 5-4055-01, Case Study Analysis of Urban/Rural Toll Roads Options. The primary purpose of the research implementation project is to transfer research findings and best practices to the toll development process for Tyler Loop 49, given the unique nature of the project as a rural, low-volume toll facility. The secondary purpose of the effort is to document the processes used in evaluating and developing Loop 49 as a toll project so that other districts in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) can draw from lessons learned from Tyler's experience. During the second year of the implementation project the researcher team focused on technology transfer associated with Loop 49 public outreach and documentation of the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) formation and environmental re-evaluation process. In addition, the team formulated lessons learned from the Loop 49 experience into a one-day workshop to facilitate the sharing of information with other TxDOT district offices. These lessons drawn from the Tyler experience can be used in the development of other tolling projects in Texas, particularly in a smaller urban or rural setting. The report documents best practices that have been learned so far and summarizes them at the close of the report.