In case you missed it
After the Texas Department of Transportation widens and sinks I-35 underground, city leaders are planning on covering portions of it with large decks and bridges, and adding amenities, such as parks, community buildings or coffee shops, on top. The multimillion dollar plan is in the early stages, and city staff are still working out where the caps and stitches will be located along the corridor.
The details
Council approved a $1.82 million advance funding agreement with TxDOT for the engineering and design study of the cap and stitch project. The city’s share is expected to be around $166,700 plus any cost overruns, according to city documents.
The second batch of funding approved for the project is $15.45 million allocated from the Transportation and Public Works Department’s 2023-24 budget that will pay for the 30% design costs—the first major milestone for large-scale construction projects.
The city will need to identify $19 million more by next December to reach 100% design.
What they’re saying
“As Austin continues to grow and densify, we will have to have the stamina over the next decade, and creativity, to provide Austin with more accessible options for active transportation and lessen the congestion of cars on our roadways,” council member Natasha Harper Madison said.
What’s next
In the spring, Austin will hear back on whether or not they received a federal $105 million Reconnecting Communities grant. If approved, the grant would pay for a 5.3-acre deck and its supportive infrastructure from East Cesar Chavez and Fourth streets.
Following the grant announcement, city staff will begin laying out a plan for what caps and stitches will be prioritized, and how the remainder of the project will be funded.
