Austin and Travis County found themselves at odds over road project funding during this week’s Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting. Billions are needed to fund I-35’s overhaul, and amid all projects, Austin sees that as priority #1 and supports reroute millions from other projects to fund I-35’s overhaul.
That includes Highway 620, where County Commissioner Brigid Shea said data and public support both backup both the roadway’s widening and the addition of a new bypass lane, “and you have a public promise that was made so.. I can’t support this.”
Austin City Councilmember Jimmy Flannigan said I-35 should be the main focus because it’s a symbol of racism and white supremacy, “the existence of this road has been more of a division and a damage to the city of Austin for alot of reason’s the least of which is the impact on traffic.”
In the end, the City of Austin got its way. The CAMPO board voted to defer a total of $633-million in road projects that had already been cleared for funding, with that money now being funneled into I-35.
