Austin seeks feedback for I-35 mobility project

"What could you do short-term, medium-term, that could address a lot of things, with everybody recognizing, 'OK, the big three-, four-, five-billion-dollar fixes aren't coming any time soon?'" Schatz said.

Proposed solutions to the project have been to make the roads wider, taller and deeper. However, because of historical landmarks, the University of Texas practice field, the displacement of residents and businesses, St. David's Medical Center, Texas State cemetery, funding and other factors, the process is ongoing.

"The challenge, of course, has been two-fold: they're very expensive propositions, so it takes a lot of budget for that, but it also takes a lot of community will," Schatz said. "When you want to widen a freeway, you're taking land on either side."

Currently, the city has provided $1 million, and TxDOT has provided $1.2 million toward the project, but Schatz said the project has been a collaboration.

"It is City of Austin, TxDOT, Cap Metro, CAMPO, CTRMA, Travis County, Hays County, Williamson County—it's all of us because I-35 is our road. It's our challenge." Schatz said.

Additional open houses for community feedback will be scheduled. Austin residents are also able to provide their thoughts on the Austin Mobility website.

To view maps and proposed ideas of the project areas of I-35, visit the downloads tab.