May 27, 2016 2:05 PM

Chairman Pickett signals House committed to take some tolls off toll roads

Texas holds $12.7 billion in toll roads with debt payment at $7 billion and maintenance of $3.5 billion. That’s about $2 billion in excess revenue, albeit over 20 years

The Texas Transportation Commission gave its final blessing this week to the conversion of new lanes in San Antonio from toll roads to high-occupancy vehicle lanes, a move hailed last fall by both Gov. Greg Abbott and Speaker of the House Joe Straus.

The Bexar County delegation in attendance was predominantly, if not entirely, on board with the concept of HOV lanes, which already are used in Dallas and Houston. The changes, confirmed by minute order, will add capacity to both US 281 and Interstate 10, both key corridors to new growth in the greater San Antonio area.

This is the first significant reversal of Texas’ move toward toll roads, one that Abbott touted during his campaign for governor. Abbott promised Texas congestion problems could be fixed without relying on user-funded toll projects across the state.

By Kimberly Reeves