× Traffic Volume Change by Time Periods Traffic Volume Change by Scenarios
× TxDOT Alternatives Concepts Comparisons

TxDOT Alternatives

Reconnect Austin

ReThink 35

Capital Express Logo

Scenario Comparison Report on Travel Demand Model Results

I-35 Capital Express Central Project - Evaluation of TxDOT Build Alternatives and Community Concepts |

Orange and Blue Line Max Ridership
Capital Express Logo
Home

Project History and Overview

TxDOT has been preparing to improve the aging I-35 interstate highway since the late 1980’s, focusing intensely on the Central Texas sections, known as Capital Express Central, since 2013. The 8-mile project is bounded on the north by US 290 East and on the South by US 290 West.

Project Objective

As the steward of the state’s roadway system, TxDOT’s objective for the Cap Ex project is to update the roadway such that it accommodates all modes of travel, enhances safety, addresses congestion, and improves operations. As a contribution to these objectives, a number of interest groups have developed concepts for I-35’s reconstruction that reflect some of the Austin community’s goals for the improvements.

Concepts Comparison Analysis

Three concepts are proposed by Reconnect Austin (RA), ReThink 35 (RT), and the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA). The Reconnect Austin concept proposes to depress the highway and cover it with a six-lane boulevard throughout the entire Cap Ex section. Rethink35 proposes to convert the CapEx section to an urban boulevard, and the DAA vision includes depressed mainlanes and a series of caps and stiches along the entire project length. Each project includes several other features and project goals, but these are their highest level characteristics. Texas A&M Transportation (TTI) was tasked with analyzing these concepts against TxDOT’s build alternatives to determine their feasibility.

1 / 3
TxDOT Alternatives
2 / 3
ReThink35
3 / 3
Reconnect Austin

TxDOT Alternatives

The TxDOT–AUS build alternatives (CapEx–C project) proposes adding two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in each direction for the length of the project, with additional direct-connect flyover ramps at I-35 and US 290 East.

Reconnect Austin

The Reconnect Austin proposal is an extensive plan to depress the highway and cover it with a six-lane boulevard throughout the entire section from MLK Jr. Blvd to Holly Street.

ReThink35

The design Rethink35 proposes is a conversion of the central section of I-35 to an urban boulevard, with the I-35 designation transferred to SH 130 on the east side of Austin.

TxDOT Alternatives

TxDOT proposals for I-35 improvements have evolved through discussions with the community. In 2002, a proposal to reconstruct I-35 included two elevated managed lanes through downtown. All TxDOT alternatives now include main freeway lanes below ground level through downtown and more cross-street bridges to connect communities on the east and west sides of the corridor. The alternatives also support a change in the way people travel by building bicycle and pedestrian paths and HOV lanes on the corridor.



Example Proposed Cross Section

1 / 3
TxDOT Alternative 1
2 / 3
TxDOT Alternative 2
3 / 3
TxDOT Alternative 3

Proposed Caps and Stitches

1 / 3
38th Street to Manor Road
2 / 3
15th Street to 11th Street
3 / 3
8th Street to Cesar Chavez Street
Corridor Avg. Travel Time - Morning (6AM to 9AM)

*: restricted access in the downtown area compared to the TxDOT Alternative results in faster travel time.


Corridor Avg. Travel Time - Afternoon (3:30PM to 6:30PM)

*: restricted access in the downtown area compared to the TxDOT Alternative results in faster travel time.

Corridor VMT - Morning (6AM to 9AM)


Corridor VMT - Afternoon (3:30PM to 6:30PM)

Whole Region Model Summary




Subregion Model Summary (MoPac to US-183)





Percent Change (%) of Daily Traffic Volume