AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- A new lawsuit is aiming to tap the brakes on proposed improvements to Interstate 35 through the City of Austin.
The Texas Public Interest Research Group, Environment Texas, and the Rethink35 campaign filed the lawsuit Sunday against TxDOT, saying the agency is avoiding a more rigorous environmental review and public engagement process by splitting the I-35 improvements into three separate sub-projects.
"By splitting its I-35 project into separate parts, TxDOT is clearly violating the law," said TexPIRG Environment Campaigns Director Matt Casale. "For such a major highway project, TxDOT should be undertaking the most rigorous environmental review process, as well as giving the public much more opportunity to meaningfully participate in the conversation."
Combined, the north, central, and south sections of the I-35 Capital Express project stretches along some 28 miles from State Highway 45 North in Round Rock all the way south to State Highway 45SE in Buda. The north and south portions are slated to cost just over $1 billion together, while the central project is slated to cost nearly $5 billion.
The southern and northern sections of the project are currently slated to begin construction later this year, and take three to four years to complete. The central portion is slated to begin construction in 2025, pending a final design and other reviews.
Rethink35 is calling on the agency to replace the interstate with a more "vibrant urban boulevard," re-routing non-local traffic around Austin to SH 130 or U.S. 183 instead of through it.