Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition | January 2023

2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE

Red Line makes progress; other Project Connect work moves forward

OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2023

In 2023, planning for Austin light rail will continue; a new MetroRail station will open; and two bus lines will be completed. The work is part of Project Con- nect, a multibillion-dollar plan to rethink and expand Austin’s trans- portation infrastructure passed by voters in November 2020. The plan includes the light rail, a downtown tunnel and multiple new MetroRapid bus routes along with anti-displace- ment funds. Capital Metro expects to complete the two MetroRapid lines, according to the Austin Transit Partnership end-of-year review. The Expo Center line will connect northeast Central BY SUMAIYA MALIK & DARCY SPRAGUE

While the multibillion-dollar transit overhaul known as Project Connect is expected to take years to complete, several pieces will move forward in 2023.

PROJECT CONNECT UNDERWAY

Start of 2023

Fall 2023

Winter 2023

$35 million of anti- displacement funds becomes available

McKalla Station expected to be completed

Lakeline-Leander Double Tracking Project expected to be completed

HAMILTON POOL RD.

Hamilton Pool Road updates Work to improve Hamilton Pool Road from RM 12 to Hwy. 71—including adding a continuous turning lane, shoulders on both sides of the road, dedicated turning lanes and new travel lanes in each direction—will continue in 2023. The right side of the roadway has been prepared by crews, and portions on the left side will begin in early 2023, along with drainage projects. Timeline: December 2021-spring 2023 Cost: $16 million Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

SOURCE: AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin and downtown, and the Pleas- ant Valley line will connect Mueller and Goodnight Ranch. Two projects related to the MetroRail Red Line, which runs from downtown to Leander, are set to wrap up in 2023. The Lakeline-Leander Double Tracking Project started in

January 2021 and is expected to open in 2023. The McKalla Station broke ground in July and is expected to be complete in fall 2023. Of the $300 million dedicated to anti-displacement initiatives, $35 million will be available for scal year 2022-23.

TxDOT announces preferred $4.5B plan for I35 widening project

The Texas Department of Transportation released its preferred alternative for the multibillion-dollar expansion of I-35 through downtown Austin in December. I35 CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL PROJECT

In December, the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation released its preferred alternative for the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central Project—an endeavor that would widen 8 miles of I-35 downtown. The favored plan—known as Modied-Build Alternative 3—would develop 42 acres of land and displace 107 homes and businesses, leading to over 600 jobs lost if the businesses do not relocate in the area, according to TxDOT. The competing plan, Alterna- tive 2, would displace 291 homes and businesses, amounting to 1,125 jobs lost, according to TxDOT documents. “The last expansion of I-35 in this area of any substance was in the BY KATY MCAFEE AND DARCY SPRAGUE

mid-1970s, and as you can imagine, the population has grown since then and will continue to grow in the future,” TxDOT Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson said. On each side, much of the project includes two high-occupancy vehicle lanes, several main lanes and one to four frontage lanes. However, from Dean Keeton Street to Cesar Chavez Street, the frontage roads in both directions would start on the east side then move to the west. The project would sink much of the main lanes below ground level, remove the upper decks, and widen east-west cross-street bridges. Construction could begin as early as 2024.

MOPAC $4.5 billion cost 8 miles of road and 42 acres of work 107 homes and businesses displaced

William Cannon improvements On Dec. 8, the city authorized the Austin Corridor Program Oce to begin work on 0.7 miles of William Cannon Drive between Running Water Drive and McKinney Falls Parkway. The work includes expanding the road from two to four lanes and other upgrades. Timeline: spring 2023-26 Cost: $24.6 million Funding sources: 2016, 2018 mobility bonds

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SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT

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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • JANUARY 2023