"Managed Lanes" (Toll Roads) Planned for Mopac Expressway

Quoting a bizjournel.com article,

"The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has approved the managed lanes project in its transportation improvement plan, and along with the Texas Department of Transportation, has found a way to build the extra lanes without taking any right-of-way from the Union Pacific line or any of the property that abuts MoPac.

The new plan calls for the lanes, one in each direction, to run from Town Lake to Parmer Lane. By narrowing existing lanes from 12 feet to 11 feet and making MoPac's shoulders narrower, TxDOT has found a way to add the lanes in already existing space. Kelly says that reduces the price tag by at least $10 million, because it eliminate the need to pay Union Pacific an acquisition fee and build a debris containment wall."

My Comments:
The tax payers own this right of way. Why in the world would they think it's OK to narrow existing lanes and the shoulders, add a lane and then charge a fee to use it?

Additionally, adding lanes while reducing lanes size and shoulders seems dangerous. Are they planning to lower the speed limit to 55 mph?

More Articles:

Statesman: Plan would change Mopac from 6 to 8 lanes

KVUE: Proposal unveiled to extend Mopac from six to eight lanes

KXAN: TxDOT Proposal Expands Mopac Without Widening Road