Oct 25th 2019 | Posted in Transportation by Texas Government Insider

Planners at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are incorporating high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into their vision of the I-35 Capital Express project in Austin.

Rendering of I-35 Capital Express South project

Prohibited by the Texas Legislature from collecting tolls on this much-traveled section of highway, TxDOT is considering the addition of two HOV lanes, or managed lanes, in each direction on Interstate 35 between Ben White Boulevard and SH 45 Southeast.

North of downtown Austin, TxDOT would construct one HOV lane on I-35 from SH 45 North to U.S. 290 East. The projects call for bike and pedestrian paths and safety enhancements along the highways and access roads.

TxDOT has $400 million in funding for the northern section and $300 million for the southern section of the I-35 Capital Express project, but the central portion is yet to secure funding and is anticipated to cost billions of dollars.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022 on both sections.