DOWNTOWN WORKING GROUP COMMITMENTS In 2014, TxDOT convened a group of downtown stakeholders to develop goals for the downtown portion of the Capital Express Central Project. A year later, TxDOT published a report representing the working group’s recommendations. Members represented neighborhood groups, business organizations, local governmental entities, I-35 users and other stakeholders with an interest in the roadway. Although downtown and the surrounding communities along TxDOT’s project have changed, and the thinking continues to evolve (particularly through the process of developing materials for the ULI Panel), TxDOT has made the following commitments to its Working Group. ☐ Maintain east/ west connectivity at 6th Street and all other current interstate crossings ☐ Consider east/ west connections at 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Streets ☐ Incorporate urban design principles regardless of raised or lowered option ☐ I-35 connections will include wider, safer bicyclist/ pedestrian crossings ☐ Preference for lowering main lanes and adding caps, or a “lid” ☐ Enhanced transit access After the Downtown Working Group disbanded, TxDOT continued to work on the preliminary engineering plans for the Capital Express Central Project with their General Engineering Contractor (GEC), AECOM. In January 2020, TxDOT decided to go back to the drawing board with local engineers from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the Capital Metropolitan Planning Transportation Authority, the City of Austin’s Transportation Department, as well as representatives from UT, to address issues of cost, design, and constructibility.
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