Incentives for Truck Use of SH 130

Several state departments of transportation, including Texas, have been actively pursuing tolling to boost inadequate funding of transportation infrastructure. In some cases, toll roads were partly motivated by the need for truck bypasses around congested urban areas. For example, SH 130 was envisioned as a potential bypass around the Austin downtown area for through truck trips. However, the trucking industry has been observed to be reluctant to use tolled facilities. This report aims to increase the understanding and the behavioral responses of the trucking industry to toll fees charged. Specifically, the report looks at the current use of the tolled bypass road around Austin (SH 130) that was meant to serve as an alternative to IH 35, which goes through Austin. The report likewise examines past incentives to encourage truck traffic on SH 130.