Austin Cap & Stitch Project

A community-centered plan to build infrastructure over I-35 that connects downtown, improves mobility, and provides community amenities.

Welcome to the I-35 Cap and Stitch Virtual Public Meeting 

Learn about plans to connect downtown Austin with caps and stitches over I-35.

How to Engage:  

  • Explore the project information, possible locations, and sample concepts of caps and stitches in the pre-recorded presentation, which is also  available as a pdf file  for download.

Background:

This virtual engagement began Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

With TxDOT proposing to lower I-35 near downtown, Austin has a unique opportunity to reunite the community and provide Austinites a space to enjoy. The City of Austin and Downtown Austin Alliance are seeking input on proposed deck plazas and enhanced crossings (a.k.a. caps and stitches) over I-35 that connect east and west downtown Austin. 

Questions? 

Email  ATXCapStitch@AustinTexas.gov  or call 512-974-7898. 

Sources of the presentation images can be found  here .

About ATX Cap & Stitch

Because the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing reconstruction of I-35 through their  Capital Express Central project , Austin has a unique opportunity to create better multimodal connections between east and west Austin (stitches) and to construct large decks (caps) through downtown Austin. 

The City of Austin, Downtown Austin Alliance and TxDOT are working together to make this community-inspired vision for downtown caps and stitches a reality.

 Click here to see the preliminary map  that shows which locations TxDOT has deemed structurally feasible for downtown caps and stitches. Final locations of caps and stitches have yet to be confirmed.

What is a cap?

A cap is a large deck over a highway. Some may also refer to a cap as a deck, land bridge or lid.

The City is considering multiple caps across the proposed I-35 improvements.

These potentially multipurpose spaces would connect east and west Austin, and the specific usage of these will be determined through community engagement and ongoing coordination with TxDOT.

(Image provided by Downtown Austin Alliance)

What is a stitch?

A stitch is a widened bridge over a highway, connecting one side of the highway to the other.

The City is considering multiple stitches across the proposed I-35 improvements.

At a minimum, the stitch would include travel lanes for cars as well as protected paths for bicyclists and pedestrians. Additional potential uses could include landscaping and additional buffer space between cars and those on bikes or on foot.

(Image provided by Downtown Austin Alliance)

What are the benefits?

Cap and stitch infrastructure provides opportunity for amenities that celebrate and connect all Austinites. Through building greenspace caps (or lids) over segments of I-35 and through new and improved cross streets that stitch east and west Austin above I-35, our city can make important strides toward unifying our downtown and mending the divide between east and west Austin.

Greenspace caps and enhanced cross streets (i.e. stitches) are also expected to positively impact the environment and the local economy, while increasing safety and mobility for all transportation modes.

(shown right: a photo of a stitch that was built as part of the I-70/71 Columbus Crossroads Project in Ohio)

Project Status

Plans to cap and stitch are preliminary. At this stage of design, the City, Downtown Austin Alliance and TxDOT are coordinating to determine where caps and stitches will be constructed. This determination will be based upon ongoing public input as well as current recommendations from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Community and ULI location recommendations are being evaluated for engineering feasibility as the City works to confirm which recommended locations best meet constructability standards in relation to the I-35 Capital Express project and best meet community, safety and mobility priorities.

Once the specific locations of the caps and stitches are confirmed, the project team will continue engaging community members and partner agencies to determine the features of each cap and stitch structure.

Historic Context

East Avenue (shown here) was once a vibrant gathering place for people from all walks of life, but in 1928, the street became a segregation line as part of the City's 1928 Plan.

The 1928 Plan designated the west side of East Avenue for whites and the east side for African Americans and Mexican Americans.

In the 1950s, I-35 was built in place of East Avenue, creating a distinct physical boundary between the two segments of downtown.

Urban Land Institute Recommendations

In February 2020, Downtown Austin Alliance engaged the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) national advisory services, inviting their expert evaluation of Austin’s I-35 cap and stitch opportunity. That same month, after research, community engagement and interagency collaboration, ULI published a report of recommendations on how cap and stitch infrastructure should be implemented.

The City, in partnership with Downtown Austin Alliance and TxDOT, is using the ULI report to guide the cap and stitch design plans. During the current phase of design, the City is evaluating the ULI recommendations through a feasibility lens and is coordinating with TxDOT on exact locations and uses of the cap and stitch structures.

(This photo was taken during the ULI panel hosted by Downtown Austin Alliance in February 2020.)

Community Engagement

The Austin Cap and Stitch Project is building upon the community engagement that has been occurring through  Our Future 35  and the  I-35 Scoping Working Group .

Community feedback will be instrumental during the phases of upcoming development and design, and the cap and stitch team will conduct outreach through public meetings, walking tours, e-newsletters, and through social media and web updates.

 View cap and stitch display boards  from the TxDOT Capital Express Central Open House that took place on August 10, 2021.

(This photo was taken during the ULI bus tour in 2020.)

Questions?

Contact us ATXCapStitch@AustinTexas.gov or at (512) 974-7898.