Austin has become the heart of a new Texas Silicon Valley - home of Dell Computer, AMD Microsystems, Motorola, and the University of Texas - and as a result has become one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Along with all of this growth has been a tremendous increase in auto traffic volumes and a more than commensurate increase in congestion (delays increase exponentially as volumes approach capacity). Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) has been investigating alternatives for relieving this traffic and believes that construction of toll highways is the most financially viable alternative. But, how much are Austin commuters and other travelers willing to pay in tolls to save travel time over the existing free roads?

To answer that question, Texas DOT turned to Resource Systems Group, SurveyCafe's proprietor to design and administer a detailed survey of Austin residents and travelers. The survey questionnaire contains an imbedded Geographic Information System ("GIS") with electronic maps to locate respondents' trip origins and destinations and a simulation of the effects of the proposed new highway on more than 1 million different trip locations. It was administered in both English and Spanish. Data from the survey respondents were evaluated using advanced statistical methods to determine likely response to different toll price levels. The results of the work will be used to support an "investment grade" forecast of traffic volumes and revenues and we will post the results when they become publicly available.