Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition | March 2023

CITY & COUNTY

News from Austin, Dripping Springs, Hays & Travis County

Austin leaders press TxDOT on I35 expansion AUSTIN City and county ocials in February each sent formal letters to the Texas Department of Transportation opposing aspects of the state agency’s proposed I-35 expansion through Austin. The actions came as TxDOT continues work on its environmental impact statement for the Capital Express Central initiative, the 8-mile redesign of I-35 between Hwy. 71 and Hwy. 290. The state- ment is a federally mandated part of the project’s development. TxDOT’s plan is expected to grow I-35 and its “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We’ve got to get it right,” Vela said. Vela and other council members have expressed strong support for a “cap and stitch” plan. Caps are decks that would cover parts of the highway and could hold parks or other structures. Stitches are paths over the road to connect both sides. The city would likely have to pay for the plan. Austin council members approved their resolu- tion in a 10-1 vote, with Mayor Kirk Watson opposed to the nal document. On council’s message board, Watson raised issue with pieces of the resolution, such as the cost of a full cap and stitch program, estimated at $800 million. BY KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON

CAPITAL EXPRESS CENTRAL Both Travis County and Austin leaders in February sent letters opposing parts of the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to expand I-35.

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PROJECT REQUESTS • more east-west connections • bury more roadway • minimize displacements • reroute truck trac • lower frontage road speed limits

frontage roads to as many as 22 lanes in Austin, and current plans call for the demolition of more than 100 existing residences and businesses. Austin and Travis County leaders’ requests were accompanied by widespread opposition to Capital Express Central by residents, engineers and activists speaking at the February council and commissioners court sessions. Sponsored by Council Member Chito Vela—whose District 4 is divided by I-35—City Council’s item calls on TxDOT to adjust its highway plan by adding more east-west connections and burying more of the roadway, minimizing displacements, reducing negative environmental eects, rerouting truck trac, and lowering frontage road speed limits.

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“I question the feasibility of demanding TxDOT design the project as dictated by the resolution given that we have yet to identify a funding source for the caps alone,” Watson wrote. The following week, county commissioners said they generally support TxDOT’s latest designs and believe there is a need to grow I-35 through Austin. However, they shared concerns about the plan’s potential eects on the historic Palm School complex on West Cesar Chavez Street, which the county may seek to redevelop. Commissioners also requested a focus on limiting displacements and providing more safe access for

SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT

pedestrians and cyclists. “The commissioners court is condent that TxDOT and the region working together can realize signicant mobility and access improvements while also improving the community fabric along the I-35 corridor,” commissioners wrote.

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