While Austin officials are intent on beefing up the city’s transit systems via rapid bus and light rail, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning an $8 billion expansion of a 33-mile segment of Interstate 35 through the city. The project would entail doubling the number of toll lanes but would also include free lanes as part of a double-decker, three-tier design. TxDOT is currently conducting a $20 million environmental study that should be complete by 2019.
Though Capital Metro has seen approval for its plans to boost area transit, the agency’s proposals are not without their critics.
