Austin Mobility News For December 13

Press release from the City of Austin:

December 13, 2021

As part of a $4.9 billion project to reconstruct I-35 through Central Austin, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to lower the highway through downtown. The City of Austin and Downtown Austin Alliance are coordinating with TxDOT to build deck plazas, or caps, and enhanced crossings, or stitches, over I-35 downtown to connect east and west Austin.

Through this cap-and-stitch effort, the city has a unique opportunity to reunite the community and provide residents a space to enjoy.

A virtual public meeting will be made available Wednesday, Dec. 15, and we will be inviting public comments on the cap-and-stitch ideas.

The public meeting presentation will feature an informational video with general project plans as well as possible locations and high-level concepts of what caps and stitches could look like over I-35 through downtown. Materials for the public meeting will also be provided in Spanish.

To find more information and to view the open house starting Dec. 15, visit the Cap-and-Stitch webpage.

The Blue Line, an 8.2-mile light rail transit corridor that would operate from Republic Square to the Airport, will travel downtown in a tunnel under 4th Street, providing an opportunity to reimagine 4th Street’s public realm between Trinity Street and Guadalupe Street. This workshop will discuss design options and provide feedback to the Project Connect engineering and design teams.

The Bicycle Advisory Council advises the City of Austin and other jurisdictions on all matters relating to the use of the bicycle.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board of Directors is comprised of seven local community volunteers who are responsible for setting policies, identifying priority projects and ensuring the agency is operated in an efficient and effective manner.

The Austin Transit Partnership is an independent local government corporation with the authority and resources to design, construct and implement the Project Connect program.

The Capital Metro board of directors holds regular public meetings, and the public is always welcome to attend to share ideas and feedback.

This press release was produced by the City of Austin. The views expressed here are the author’s own.