I-35 Central Small Area Mobility Plan

The I-35 Central Small Area Mobility Plan (SAMP) provides a long-term vision for improving mobility, connectivity, and access in the areas surrounding the I-35 Capital Express Central project.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) I-35 Capital Express Central project will lower the highway’s main lanes and remove the existing upper decks between Lady Bird Lake and Airport Boulevard. This major reconstruction creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect East and Central Austin through potential “caps” and “stitches” over I-35.

The SAMP looks beyond the highway itself to identify improvements the City can make to the surrounding street network. It brings together previous planning efforts, planned projects, technical analysis, and community input to identify opportunities to improve walking, biking, transit, crossings, and connections throughout the study area.

The plan was developed through a data-driven, collaborative process led by City of Austin Transportation and Public Works (TPW) technical staff, informed by input from other city departments, agency partners, community members, mobility experts, and representatives of major institutions in the study area.

The study area extends from Town Lake to East 51st Street and includes neighborhoods on both sides of I-35, as well as much of Downtown Austin, the Capitol Complex, and the UT Austin campus.

I-35 Central Small Area Mobility Plan Study Area 

A Roadmap for Future Improvements

The SAMP identifies a range of mobility improvements and priorities that can help create a more connected and accessible transportation network. While the potential caps and stitches could provide important new connections across I-35, their construction and funding remain uncertain. Improvements to streets, sidewalks, bikeways, crossings, and transit can provide opportunities to advance mobility goals now and over time.

The SAMP does not directly fund or schedule projects. Instead, it provides a roadmap for future investment. Recommended projects can be considered through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and other funding opportunities as resources become available. Implementation will depend on funding, coordination with partner agencies, and coordination with other major projects underway in the area.

What Happens Next

The SAMP establishes priorities to guide future mobility investments in the I-35 Central area. The City will use the plan to help identify opportunities, coordinate with ongoing projects, pursue funding, and advance projects as resources become available.

The SAMP establishes priorities to guide future mobility investments in the I-35 Central area. The City will use the plan to help identify opportunities, coordinate with ongoing projects, pursue funding, and advance projects as resources become available.

We have completed the final draft of the I-35 Small Area Mobility Plan and are sharing it with the community for review and feedback. Please review the draft and recommended projects, and share your comments by August 31, 2026.

Review Draft Plan