I-35 Expansion
The I-35 expansion promises to make the highway ever wider; further dividing our city, polluting our river, and wasting our state budget on antiquated views of mobility. Many activist organizations are teaming up to fight the expansion in court. Here’s what’s happening and how you can help!
How to help
Donate to the Rethink35 lawsuit or become a Rethink35 member with a recurring donation. Get involved with Rethink35 by volunteering, joining their Discord, and attending their events. They’ve also got all the standard social media that you can follow and share!What’s Happening?
TxDOT is set to start construction on a massive I-35 expansion through central Austin in mid-2024. Local groups and elected officials have raised major concerns and opposition to the project, including:
- Sept 26, 2023: Travis County Commissioners Court asks TxDOT to comply with air quality and environmental studies for I-35 project; which the county says they did not do.
- Oct 19, 2023: Austin City Council passed an official resolution asking TxDOT to pause the I-35 project until further environmental review is completed.
- Nov 5, 2023: Over 300 activists attended the “Wider Won’t Work” rally to oppose I-35 expansion; including U.S. Congressman Greg Casar.
- TxDOT solicited comments on their draft Environmental Impact Statement. 75% of public comments opposed the expansion.
TxDOT has yet to listen to the public, to elected officials, and to common sense that shows highways have been a fatal and failed experiment in moving people safely and efficiently around the US.
Rail is faster
If a train ran along I-35 it could get you from San Antonio to Austin in 38 minutes, or from San Antonio to Dallas in 2 hours and 8 minutes.Rethink35 Lawsuit
Rethink35 and 16 other plaintiffs have sued TxDOT. The lawsuit alleges:
- TxDOT didn’t properly study other options such as:
- The Rethink 35 proposal which involved rerouting the highway and replacing it with a boulevard.
- The Reconnect Austin vision which called for the highway being placed underground with a boulevard on top.
- TxDOT failed to study several air pollutants and their impacts on the people who live near I-35. This includes particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) which puts people at increased risk for asthma and other health conditions. Based on new EPA standards, Austin is already above the safe limit. TxDOT was aware of this concern.
- There was a significant change to the water outfall that was made after the Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published and so there was no opportunity for public comment. Polluted runoff from the highway will exit into a wildlife preserve in East Austin; around US-183 and the Colorado River.
Civil Rights (Title VI) Complaint
Rethink35 has also filed a Title VI civil rights complaint. The complaint alleges:
- I-35 was built to be intentionally discriminatory by replacing East Ave and solidifying a line of segregation between East and West Austin.
- Under Title VI, agencies with a history of prior discrimination have a responsibility to take affirmative action to redress previous injustices.
- Instead, this project exacerbates these very same harmful practices by:
- Displacing people from homes and businesses. 86% of the displaced are in Environmental Justice communities (ie. low income, and people of color).
- More than doubling the number of lane miles of I-35. Thus widening the barrier between East and West Austin.
- Dumping polluted storm water into a Wildlife Sanctuary in East Austin, continuing a long-standing pattern of moving environmental waste from downtown to East Austin.
- Worsening air quality, climate change, and increasing summer temperatures, all of which disproportionately burden communities of color.