Airport Advisory Commission seeks better traffic management during car crashes

Dylan McKim
·2 min read

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s Airport Advisory Commission is recommending the airport staff to coordinate with state and local partners to ensure at least one lane of traffic is open near the airport under most circumstances so passengers can make their flight on time.

The recommendation relates to instances when State Highway 71, the sole entrance and exit out of Austin’s airport, is shut down due to a major crash. On Nov. 15 last year, a fatal crash shut down all eastbound lanes just before the airport exit and created a tremendous traffic jam.

Airport staff sent various alerts on social media to warn travelers of the major delays they could see on the drive to the airport. One traveler took to social media to say they left early to get to the airport but encountered traffic that was backed up for hours.

Council member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2, supports the recommendation from the Advisory Commission. She believes there needs to be some type of procedure in place to help minimize the impact on traffic during crash investigations if it is possible to do so.

“We want to ensure that people can stay on time with their schedules,” Fuentes said.

Fuentes also stressed there needs to be other forms of transportation to the airport to provide more options to travelers. She is pushing to ensure there is more money to fund a light rail line to the airport to provide Austinites with a safe option to the airport.

Currently, there is no design to take the light rail as far southeast as the airport.

Using E. Riverside Drive as an option

A 2018 Airport Master Plan report talked about the possibility of adding another path to the airport that did not rely on State Highway 71. The report said. “The master plan includes two possible alignment options for high capacity transit serving ABIA from Riverside Drive.”

Six years later there is no solid plan in place to build out E. Riverside Drive as another option for drivers to reach the airport. A spokesperson for the airport said the idea is an extremely long-range plan and is not part of the current expansion project at ABIA.

The Texas Department of Transportation would also need to approve the idea for the project to move forward.

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