Loop 360
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| Capitol of Texas Highway | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length: | 13.987 mi (22.510 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1962 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
   US 290 / SH 71 / Loop 343 in Austin
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 Loop 1 RM 2244 RM 2222
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| North end: |
 US 183 in Austin
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| Highway system | ||||
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Loop 360 is a 13.987-mile (22.510 km) loop route in Austin in the U.S. state of Texas. Loop 360 is a scenic highway winding through the hills of West Austin. The road is described by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as "a 4-lane depressed median arterial with at-grade signalized intersections." In 2001, the average daily traffic was 55,000 vehicles at the most traveled point. The highway should not be confused with Texas State Highway 360 in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
Loop 360 was designated on March 29, 1962 on its current route from US 290 to US 183. On September 30, 1969, Loop 360 extended north to Loop 1. On April 25, 1996, the section from US 183 to Loop 1 was cancelled and removed from the state highway system. The south section of Loop 360 from US 290 to RM 2244 was opened on February 11, 1970. The last section of roadway for Loop 360 (excepting the bridge) between RM 2244 and FM 2222 was approved on September 30, 1976. The north and south sections of Loop 360 were connected when the Pennybacker Bridge was opened for traffic on December 3, 1982. On February 19, 1980 the Travis County commissioners voted to designate it the "Capital of Texas Highway."
On July 14, 2004, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) changed segments of the future designation to a toll road, despite popular outcry. However, toll conversion of the road is unfunded so plans to toll Loop 360 are delayed indefinitely and there remains substantial opposition to any toll conversion of the road from residents and environmentalists. Also, CAMPO has begun to re-examine the toll roll designation. The road should remain toll-free for at least the near-future. On December 6, 2006, the Mobility Alternatives Finance Study final report commissioned by the City of Austin and other central Texas municipalities noted the poor financial feasibility of toll conversion by stating "Loop 360's toll revenue funds the smallest share of its construction cost (7%)" given a construction cost of $741 million with revenue bonds backed by future tolling of Loop 360 contributing just $51.8 million (in 2006 dollars).
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