They built the toll roads, but, most don't use them.
Austin is bisected by the Colorado River, and Austin has always been cheaper than cheap on road building. Any time you have to cross the river ( i.e. N-S travel) sucks.
San Antonio has a highway system that grew out of having 5 of the most important US military bases concentrated in one city.
SA, in the 70s, it was fantastic, with the overbuild of roads, but they also stayed up on expansion. Austin, any development is like pulling teeth, because they are cheap and all the greens and luddites. The only functional roads in Austin are North Austin, as that has been forced by the tech boom republican types, as you can't have factories with shit transport. Cenral/South Austin is the realm students, government stooges, greens, and luddites, and that is the side that is San Marcos side.
Been involved in driving and related things in Texas since forever, so intimately know this stuff, sadly.
That said: On a sunny spring or summer day, this old geezer doesn't mind being stuck on guadalupe/the drag, if nothing is time urgent.
[–] SayTan ago
Short version: BINGO. THEY DRAG FEET ON ANY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.