(Video courtesy of the Austin American-Statesman)
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) voted to support the Mobility35 Capital Express Project, a proposed project to improve I-35 through the heart of Austin. Additionally, two other much-needed projects – completing frontage roads along US 183A in Cedar Park, and a grade-separated intersection at RM 620 and Anderson Mill – will round out the suite of projects for which CAMPO is committing its own future federal and select state transportation dollars. With this affirmation and financial commitment, CAMPO is also asking the Texas Transportation Commission to consider allocating construction funding through the Unified Transportation Program planning process to address the congestion on I-35.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the City of Austin and Central Texas to make desperately needed improvements to I-35 a reality. With tonight’s vote, CAMPO signals to the Texas Transportation Commission that CAMPO, and this region, are serious about mobility and that fixing I-35 is our number one priority,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler, CAMPO Transportation Policy Board chair.
Last year, the downtown Austin portion of I-35 was the third most congested roadway in Texas and has been the most congested road in the state several times. Additionally, there are four other segments of the interstate through the CAMPO region ranked on the 2018 100 Most Congested Roadways list.
“I-35 is a critical piece of our region’s transportation network. Today CAMPO committed to partner with TxDOT in addressing not only I-35, but also frontage road gaps on 183A and RM 620, two other vital roadways for our region,” said Cynthia Long, CAMPO Transportation Policy Board vice-chair and Williamson County commissioner.
TxDOT previously completed a preliminary study in which thorough community input was gathered and used to decide how to move forward. Extensive public involvement will continue in the environmental study and will also be part of CAMPO’s outreach when TxDOT requests to add these projects to CAMPO’s Transportation Improvement Program and TxDOT’s outreach for the State Transportation Improvement Program
