By Samantha Smith

The practice of paying for toll roads in central Texas may be in doubt after lawmakers held a discussion on their future March 30, according to reports. 

Lawmakers reviewed the future of toll roads in Texas just weeks after the company that operates the State Highway (SH) 130 toll road filed for bankruptcy protection.

Local officials and residents also weighed in on the issue. 

Buda Mayor Todd Ruge weighed in on the issue saying he thought it was a good idea for Texas to buy back the toll roads gradually. He added the state could cover the deficit that the roads have caused with the money from fuel taxes.

“This is something that over time could make the state of Texas toll free,” Ruge said.

Shelby Fitzgerald of Kyle believed it’s a “shame” that the toll roads aren’t being used more often.

 “It’s a shame that they spent so much money on those toll roads and no one is using them because they’re so expensive,” Fitzgerald said.

Even though investors paid for SH 130, owners of the toll way are more than $1.2 billion in debt. According to reports, commuters on the toll road are dwindling.

SH 130 is a 41-mile toll road that extends from Interstate 10 in Seguin to Georgetown in Williamson County.

The SH 45 toll road, built just outside of Buda near Creedmoor, connects to SH 130.

According to a KXAN report, the Texas Transportation Commission voted to lower tolls for big rigs travelling on SH 130 in an attempt to ease congestion on I-35.

KXAN also reported that State Representative Joe Pickett suggested buying back some of Texas’ toll roads last year. Pickett filed legislation, according to the report, to get the Texas Department of Transportation to start identifying the best tollways for the state to buy.

The report also stipulated that instead of using toll fees to pay for the toll road debt, Senate Bill 5 and Senate Joint Resolution 5 would use money from motor vehicle sales taxes to pay for improvements to the current highways.

According to a 2013 report in the Austin American-Statesman, if Texas lawmakers eliminated tolls on existing roadways like SH 130, the tollway would most likely be renamed I-35E and be toll free.

 Lawmakers who support the elimination of toll roads in Texas cite that traffic on toll ways like SH 130 has decreased since they were built and caused frustration amongst commuters due to the high prices of travelling on them.

According to the Stateman’s report, the pilot program by TXDOT to reduce truck tolls from 4/2013-12/2013 increased truck traffic on SH 130 by about 50%, but an abundance of cars and trucks are still using I-35.

Ruge said traffic on I-35 has increased exponentially since he first moved to Buda, but he didn’t believe toll roads like SH 130 are helping ease congestion due to the overwhelming cost to use them.

“My wife used SH 130 once, and I used it once, and our bill was a total of $14 for two separate trips,” Ruge said. “When you add that cost up monthly, it becomes very unaffordable.”

Ruge further commented on the debate amongst Texas Lawmakers saying,

“The state is in the unique position to do the right thing right now and I hope they will.”