Traffic in Austin is inching along as Interstate 35 through the state capital has once again earned dubious distinctions in road congestion. Ranking fourth overall in Texas but taking the top spot for truck traffic gridlock, that stretch between U.S. Highway 290 in north Austin and Ben White Boulevard/State Highway 71 in south Austin has drivers at their wit's end, according to a recent report by KVUE.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute's latest findings are a testament to the frustration of drivers like Rey Castillo, who have to navigate the mess on a daily. "If we’re only relying on 35, there’s only going to be more congestion, and adding more lanes won’t help at all," Castillo told KXAN. With delays totaling nearly 8 million hours along that notorious chunk of asphalt, the congestion costs are staggering, exceeding $200 million, according to the institute's estimations, which measure both the cost of fuel and time lost.
Despite the existing woes, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has its eyes set on an expansive overhaul of the I-35 through the Capital Express Project. Plans are to introduce HOV-managed lanes in both directions along I-35. TxDOT is intent on improving the flow of traffic, especially truck traffic, which has been a thorn in the side of Austin's commuters. "Studies show most of the truck traffic is local, meaning it originates or ends in the vicinity of the project area," TxDOT spokesperson Bradley Wheelis explained to KXAN.
However, this solution is not without its critics. Adam Greenfield, executive director of Rethink35, asserted to KXAN that "Widening roads makes traffic worse. The only solution when you have congestion is to provide alternatives to driving that are congestion-free, such as public transportation, bus lanes, trains, bus rapid transit, bicycling, and walking." His group is even going as far as suing to stop the Capital Express Project, suggesting a different approach to an ever-growing problem. Yet others, like Texas A&M Transportation senior research scientist David Schrank, see expansion as a partial relief to a city's growth and the inevitable pains that come with it.
For many Austin locals, relief can't come soon enough. TxDOT has its work cut out in smoothing over the concerns of stakeholders. While they make efforts to connect displaced businesses to vacant commercial properties due to expansion.
