AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- A proposed expansion to MoPac South is heading to court.
The Save Our Springs Alliance says it has filed a lawsuit against the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, alleging the agency is violating state law by withholding public comments regarding the proposed expansion. The lawsuit, filed in Travis County district court, claims CTRMA is in breach of the Texas Public Information Act for refusing to release feedback submitted during the project’s ongoing environmental review process.
According to the legal petition, the environmental advocacy group requested all public submissions tied to the MoPac South project, but the agency has declined to produce them while the comment period remains active.
Save Our Springs argues that the agency is incorrectly categorizing these submissions as internal documents, asserting that state law requires public information to be released promptly upon request.
The legal dispute centers on an estimated $825 million project intended to expand an eight-mile stretch of MoPac from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane. While the mobility authority maintains the expansion is necessary to alleviate congestion and improve travel times, Save Our Springs has voiced significant concerns regarding the project's potential environmental impact on the Barton Springs watershed and surrounding ecosystems.
CTRMA has defended its timeline for disclosure, stating it follows standard procedures tied to the National Environmental Policy Act. In previous statements, the agency explained that it intends to review, respond to, and publish all submissions once the formal comment period concludes in early May.
The agency declined to comment further on the specific allegations, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation.
