Cap-and-stitch this, cap-and-stitch that, what even is a cap-and-stitch? By now, you’ve probably heard about a plan to cover Interstate 35 with decks and bridges, a.k.a. caps and stitches, that include green spaces, trails, retail, and more. The issue has been a tricky one, facing a split Austin City Council and funding woes. Today, city council members will vote on which parts of the plan to fund.
Here’s what you need to know:
🛣️ The Cap-and-Stitch Plan Is Part of TxDOT’s I-35 Makeover
Adding lanes, narrowing lanes, and tearing down some decks are all part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan for Interstate 35, which also includes sinking parts of the highway below ground level. TxDOT's plan also calls for adding caps over the sunken parts of the highway that the city and The University of Texas at Austin are responsible for funding, according to KUT.
💵 The Original Plan Would Cost $1.4 Billion
Six decks and two bridges would be installed over parts of the highway under the original cap-and-stitch plan.
✂️ With Federal Cuts, the Plan Is Changing
The city expects to lose a $105 million federal grant that was going to be used for the cap-and-stitch plan between Cesar Chavez and Fourth streets. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee may cut the funding in an attempt to reduce the federal deficit.
The city is also facing a $33 million deficit in its General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026, due in part to a 3.5% cap on property tax increases without voter approval, according to the Austin Monitor.
👍 Mayor Kirk Watson Is Backing a Scaled-Down Plan
Earlier this week, Watson said he plans to back a $49 million plan that calls for the construction of just two decks — from Cesar Chavez Street to Fourth Street, and from 11th Street to 12th Street — instead of six.
The downsized plan has been recommended by city budget staffers and is cheaper than an alternative some council members are backing to spend $203 million on columns for five decks.
