welcome to the virtual open house!
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what is our future 35?
Our Future 35 is a community-centered initiative to create public spaces along the I-35 corridor in Central Austin and connect East and West Austin.
Because TxDOT’s I-35 Capital Express Central project will lower the highway’s main lanes between Lady Bird Lake and US 290 East, the City of Austin has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to construct “caps” and “stitches” over the highway, reconnecting the two sides of I-35 and creating new public space.
Combined, these cap and stitch opportunities could create up to 30 acres of new land in the middle of Central Austin.
Caps have been constructed over highways in many of Austin’s peer cities, including in Dallas, Denver, Seattle, and Boston. The images above show before and after cap construction at Klyde Warren Park, a 5.2 acre deck park in Downtown Dallas.
cap and stitch prOJECT HISTORY
Pre-2019: TxDOT studies the replacement of I-35 through Central Austin to improve safety and mobility.
2019: TxDOT initiates an Environmental Impact Statement study to evaluate alternatives for their I-35 Capital Express Central Project.
2020: The Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) organizes an Urban Land Institute (ULI) study and community engagement to identify cap and stitch opportunities in conjunction with TxDOT’s project.
August– September 2022: The City of Austin holds a community-wide “Visioning” open house to solicit input on desired outcomes from potential caps over I-35.
February 2023: TxDOT publishes the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, identifying the preferred alternative for their Capital Express Central Project, which lowers I-35 through Central Austin and creates opportunities for caps over the highway.
Throughout 2023: The City of Austin collaborates with community members to develop a draft Vision statement and project goals for the City’s Cap and Stitch effort.
September 2023: TxDOT publishes the final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.
December 2023: Austin City Council authorizes $19M towards engineering costs for Caps and Stitches.
March 2024: USDOT awards the City of Austin $105M for construction of the Cesar Chavez to 4th Street Cap.
WHAT ARE CAPS AND STITCHES?
A “cap” is a deck over the lowered highway lanes that is greater than 300 feet long.
The longer caps effectively create a tunnel over the highway below, requiring additional engineering, ventilation and fire/life safety equipment.
A “stitch” is a highway deck less than 300 feet long.
WHERE ARE CAPS and Stitches POSSIBLE?
The locations on the map show places where TxDOT has confirmed that a cap or stitch over the highway is possible, meeting their required clearances above the highway lanes below.
The City’s Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch initiative is evaluating funding opportunities for the caps shown in green as well as the Holly St. Stitch. The University of Texas at Austin is evaluating funding opportunities for the caps shown in orange between 15th St. and Dean Keeton St.
TxDOT requires a clearance of 16.5 feet above the highway road surface and any highway ramps.
Potential Cap And Stitch Benefits
New public land over the I-35 freeway has the potential to:
Reconnect East and West Austin
Create new, signature public green spaces over I-35
Transform the landscape of Central Austin
Incubate and support local businesses
Provide space for arts and culture
Make walking and biking across the I-35 corridor safer and more comfortable
wHAT IS POSSIBLE ON TOP OF A CAP?
Caps could provide a wide array of both indoor and outdoor public amenities on top, including:
Park-like open space features such as trees, walking and bicycle paths, areas for play, and landscaping.
Waterloo Park in Austin, TX
One to two-story buildings. Building height is limited to two stories due to engineering constraints.
Example of a two-story building structure that could be possible.
(Branch Park Pavillion)
Community amenities such as spaces for local businesses, farmers markets and cultural event space.
Cinco De Mayo celebration at Mendez Park
This diagram shows the types of amenities possible on top of a cap
Types of possible amenities include:
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Artist Work Space
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Art and Cultural Performance Space
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Dog Parks
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Renewable Energy Generation
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Event Space for festivals
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food vending/market areas
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small business incubator space
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Cooling Stations (ex., misters)
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play areas
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pollinator gardens
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public art
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sports courts
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water features
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recreational lawn space
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other (open ended)
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![micromobility stations (e-bike, scooters)]()
micromobility stations (e-bike, scooters)
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outdoor gym/exercise stations
where are we now?
The City is determining what the approximate uses and amenities are for each cap, so TxDOT can engineer the structural loads to support activity on top of each cap. The public is being asked for their preliminary preferences on how to use the caps, and the percent of green space to buildings for each cap.
Your Input
Approval or Disapproval of the Project Vision and Goals
Preferred Amenity Balance on Each Cap
Preferred Amenity Types on Each Cap
What we’ll do next
Develop Design Strategies in Alignment with the Vision and Goals
Determine “Loading Zones” for the Cap Structures that will Approximately Accommodate Requested Amenity Weights
Refine Concept Plans in Alignment with Feedback
Our Future 35 Vision Plan:
Draft Vision and Goals
The Our Future 35 Vision Plan will act as a road map for the City’s Cap and Stitch effort. It will document the community’s goals and desired outcomes for freeway caps in Austin and will be used to guide decision-making as detailed designs are created for cap amenities in the future. The draft Our Future 35 Vision Statement and goals were developed by a community steering committee and were based on public input from the August 2022 Our Future 35 Visioning Open House.
Vision Statement:
New shared public spaces over I-35 are inclusive and sustainable; support opportunity and equity; celebrate heritage and cultural narratives; support community health and restorative natural spaces; encourage environmental stewardship; and promote safe and comfortable access to all citizens.
east avenue trail
The proposed East Avenue Trail is a unifying feature that would connect individual caps and stitches along the I-35 corridor.
The proposed East Avenue Trail pays homage to the historic East Avenue, the tree-lined street that preceded the construction of I-35.
Click to enlarge.
The trail would connect into surrounding trail networks, such as the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake, and would provide a comfortable new way to travel along the I-35 corridor by foot or bike, separated from vehicle traffic. The East Avenue Trail could also provide opportunities for art installations, wayfinding, and interpretive nodes.
CAP CONCEPTS
PRELIMINARY AMENITY CONCEPTS
Tell us which types of amenities you would like to see on each cap, and what you think is the best balance of open space to buildings. Your selections will influence the urban design and amenity planning choices, as well as construction and maintenance costs.
vIEW THE CAP CONCEPTS BELOW. Click on an image to expand.
What is the Equitable Development Strategy?
The City of Austin is working with the Austin Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) to develop an Equitable Development Strategy for the project corridor. The recommendations will help support address workforce development needs, housing affordability, small business support, and capacity building efforts on and in the vicinity of new caps and stitches.
The Equitable Development Strategy comprehensively looks at programs, projects and policies to ensure that future development along the corridor be considerate of equitable opportunity for all Austinites. Specific recommendations for on-cap elements will be reflected within the preliminary cap concepts in the Vision Plan.
AEDC will continue to meet with stakeholders throughout the summer to shape and refine initial strategies to be integrated into the overall project and future development.
PROJECT cost and considerations
The rebuild of I-35 through Central Austin provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect East and West Austin.
The Cap and Stitch Project can be funded by a combination of Federal Grants, Bond Proposals, Special District Assessments, Facility Rentals and Private Philanthropy.
If all 30 acres are completely built out, the total cost would be approximately $868M in 2024 dollars.
To date, the City has secured a $105M federal grant to construct the Cesar Chavez to 4th St. Cap (5.28 acres)
The City is considering funding the remaining underlying roadway elements now ($144M) to preserve the opportunity to cap the highway as monies are available over time in the future.
Building the underlying structure with the highway rebuild now will be the least expensive option to achieve caps over I-35.
Project Timeline and What’s Next
Stay Involved!
Mobile Engagement: If your community group or organization is interested in learning more, email us at OurFuture35@AustinTexas.gov .
Mobility Study: Beginning in the summer, the City will analyze how the caps and stitches will connect to the rest of the city’s transportation network.
Fall Open House: See how your feedback shaped the designs! We’ll share updated concepts this Fall.
Thank you!
Your voice is shaping this exciting project. Thank you for making Our Future 35 a true reflection of our Austin community!