TxDOT rolls out I-35 project design changes at Airport Boulevard intersection

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Transportation debuted new design changes this week to its Interstate 35 Capital Express Central project, following some concerns floated by area residents.

Previously, TxDOT envisioned upgrades to the I-35 and Airport Boulevard intersection in the form of a single-point urban interchange, or SPUI. However, officials debuted this week an updated design with a more traditional intersection layout in its place.

At a community meeting Wednesday, officials said a traditional intersection would enhance pedestrian access and create a direct connection between the highway and Airport Boulevard. It would also help the southbound I-35 frontage road maintain the designed speed of 35 miles per hour.

Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela, whose district is impacted by the project, attended Wednesday's meeting and said he was pleased with the pivot to a traditional intersection design.

"The prior design was difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross. It was very winding and complex," he said, adding: "The traditional design will slow vehicles down as well, which will also benefit bicyclists and pedestrians."

Along with those safety and accessibility benefits, Vela said the design change offers more space for a possible highway cap running from Airport Boulevard to 38th Street. He added the addition of a cap there would not only minimize noise and light pollution impacts from the highway, but it could also be used for parkland or other community spaces that enhance the surrounding area.

Right now, the intersection of 38th Street and I-35 is essentially a giant parking lot, Vela said, adding the west side features the Hancock shopping center -- another "huge parking lot." He said it's imperative that the city think critically about developing not only these caps, but the properties surrounding them to maximize effectiveness.

"We have to turn those parking lots into much more vibrant, mixed-use areas with residential, commercial," he said. "There's no point in capping that area if we're just going to have parking lots."

Right now, the city is in the thick of collecting community input as to what could go on these future cap sites. Our Future 35 -- the city-led program poised with designing and delivering the caps atop TxDOT's planned expansion -- noted possible amenities could include parkland and greenspace, shade, art and community spaces as well as small buildings.

Not only does Vela believe the caps will improve connectivity with the eastside and downtown, but they can enhance economic vitality in the region surrounding the improvements.

He pointed toward work at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Phoenix's I-10 project and the Big Dig in Boston. Those all maximized land use above their respective highways while attracting economic prospects to those corridors.

"I would really look to what other cities have successfully done with their highway capping projects and just kind of take best practices, and then, of course, put a local flavor on it," he said. "What do we want to do that would really reflect our community values, and that would make it an Austin area? There's really a lot of potential there."

Friday marks the last day that residents can submit feedback on the cap designs. Looking ahead, Vela said Austin City Council and city leaders will look into some form of tax increment financing, a tool that allows real estate tax increases to help finance infrastructure improvement projects, per the Federal Highway Administration. That, Vela said, is a "critical component" in paying for these upgrades.

"If we create some kind of system that can capture the property tax value of the development that's going to go in surrounding the cap, that will help pay for the cap," he said.

More details on Our Future 35's community survey and proposed enhancements are available online.