AUSTIN, Texas — More than $105 million from the federal government is going to fund part of an Interstate 35 project in Austin.
TxDOT's I-35 Capital Express Central Project would lower I-35 near Downtown Austin and put "caps" on top of the highway.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett said specifically, the $105 million in federal funding will be set aside for the "cap and stitch" connecting East and West Cesar Chavez Street. The city will contribute a $45 million local match. The money is coming from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Austin was one of six cities in the state chosen in a competitive process for a grant to connect communities separated by transportation infrastructure years ago. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in Austin, this funding will be crucial to making sure I-35 doesn't block the east side from downtown.
"It [I-35] really cuts off East Cesar Chavez neighborhood from the rest of downtown, and other parts along the stretch of I-35 as well are effectively divided or cut in two," Buttigieg said. "We have a chance to do something about that."
Secretary Buttigieg said when these highways were created, many neighborhoods of color didn't have a lot of economic and political power, and therefore got separated from the city. But this I-35 expansion project with "caps" and "stitches" will help bring the city together, he said.
"When you have better connectivity, you have more opportunity, you have fewer disparities, less inequality and a better chance of a city feeling whole," Buttigieg said.
Safety is also another benefit Buttigieg said this project will bring, not to mention the parks and green spaces these caps would create for the city.
"This isn't just an investment in better transportation; it's also better quality of life," Buttigieg said.
In total, construction on the I-35 Capital Express Central Project is expected to cost $4.5 billion.
“A primary goal of pushing and pushing to get I-35 lowered was so that we could have the potential for not only reducing the divide it created and continues to perpetuate, but so that we might have caps and stitches that allow for far better connections,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “This federal award will better enable Austin to realize that vision, and I’m really excited about the opportunities that lie ahead to work together to create a more complete city. And thank you to our Congressional delegation who worked to bring home this critical funding.”
The city said the freeway cap between Cesar Chavez Street and Fourth Street will create a potentially uninterrupted walking and biking corridor across I-35 at Third Street that requires no frontage road crossings.
“These are the first three blocks of what could eventually be additional benefits through additional capping along I-35 with help from UT, the city and other interested parties,” Rep. Doggett said in a media release.
“Crossing I-35 on foot doesn’t have to feel like an uncomfortable game of Frogger,” Rep. Greg Casar said. “We’re bringing federal dollars home to Austin, reconnecting East and West Austin, and creating dynamic spaces for all of our residents.”
The city will coordinate with TxDOT on the design and engineering of the cap structure and take public input to determine the design of amenities on top that will be constructed after the structure is built.
Secretary Buttigieg said if they keep getting great ideas and applications from Austin, they will try to support as many as they can.
To learn more about the Cap and Stitch project, visit www.ourfuture35.com.
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