Judge Wolff and Campbell partner to reduce tolls on U.S. 281

Bexar Country Commissioner Nelson Wolff prior to the Commissioners meeting on Tuesday at the Bexar County Courthouse. Bexar Country Commissioner Nelson Wolff prior to the Commissioners meeting on Tuesday at the Bexar County Courthouse. Photo: For The Express-News Photo: For The Express-News Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Judge Wolff and Campbell partner to reduce tolls on U.S. 281 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and state Sen. Donna Campbell are trying to find a way to reduce the number of toll lanes planned as part of a U.S. 281 expansion project.

The solution might depend on passage of a statewide constitutional amendment in November that could generate $1.4 billion for Texas roads.

Wolff, a Democrat, and Campbell, a Republican, sent a letter to Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ted Houghton on Monday, asking for money to be allocated to the U.S. 281 project should voters approve the ballot measure.

The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, a local transportation agency with tolling powers, is developing a plan to convert U.S. 281 from a divided highway with traffic lights into a controlled-access expressway.

Toll lanes, referred to as managed lanes, are part of the project.

From Loop 1604 to about Stone Oak Parkway, the plan calls for both toll lanes and nontoll lanes on the expressway.

But from Stone Oak to the Bexar-Comal county line, the plan shows all four expressway lanes would be tolled because, officials say, that's the only way to fund that part of the project.

Wolff and Campbell are asking for money so that two of the lanes on the northern stretch of the corridor would be nontoll.

Find out more about the plan at ExpressNews.com or in Wednesday's edition of the Express-News.

vdavila@express-news.net