FAQ & Myth-Busting

Confusingly, expanding I-35 would not reduce traffic. Widening highways worsens congestion by encouraging more driving, a phenomenon known as “induced demand”.

When Houston’s Katy Freeway was widened to 23 lanes, evening commutes got 19 minutes longer. In fact, of the U.S. cities where freeways were expanded, congestion increased by 144 percent - outpacing their population growth.

By opposing TxDOT's I-35 expansion plans, we are not asking to leave it as-is. When I-35 was built through Austin, it split the city in half with a dangerous, polluting highway.

We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform one of the most valuable spaces in our city. The City of Austin and State of Texas should rethink the expansion and consider alternative proposals to re-connect our city.

TxDOT's I-35 expansion proposal will exacerbate the problems with today's highway - not fix them.

When surveyed, 70% of Austinites would prefer to to get around Austin in ways other than driving. Replacing the current I-35 footprint with an at-grade boulevard would would reconnect the street grid and increase access for mass transit, pedestrians, and cyclists. A boulevard would eliminate dangerous highway off-ramps, merges, and other choke points that cause highway congestion.

Routing major highways around town - not through it - is not only the norm across the US, but it’s the norm in Texas. Non-local traffic can either continue on the highway around town, or choose to take the business route / boulevard through town.

In 2020, Austin voters overwhelmingly approved the $7 billion Project Connect project, which will expand transit options throughout the Austin area, including rapid bus lanes, light rail, and subway lines.

TxDOT claims that the proposal is not feasible because many trips are local.

But the question of whether the proposal is feasible doesn’t depend on how many trips are local. Trips that are non-local should be going around town, not through it, no matter how many such trips there.

An interstate highway is one of the worst ways imaginable for locals who are running errands. There are much more speedy, efficient, and sustainable ways for locals to get around.

TxDOT approved its own environmental review — kind of like if your kid graded their own test. This is an obvious conflict of interest.

Further, TxDOT skirted around federal environmental law by splitting the project into three pieces, masking the overall negative impact of the full project.

Nope! TxDOT will allow Austin to cap the highway itself—if the city secures hundreds of millions in funding before the expansion ever finishes.

It’s like taking your friend to a fancy restaurant for their birthday, then handing them the bill—but only after you’ve snooped on their bank account. Rude.

Think broadly: The more other people ride bikes, take transit, or walk, the fewer people are driving on the roads and causing traffic.

It’s in a driver’s best interest to stop highway expansion and reduce car dependency, so the car lanes have less traffic in them.

Glad you asked. 💚 Thankfully we have good news: Other highway expansions have been changed or canceled in the past, because of public input.

Rethink35 volunteers have gathered thousands of petition signatures, gotten mainstream press, rallied support at city council, earned support from state/federal representatives, and filed lawsuits.

There are various reasons this expansion could be delayed or canceled — legal, political, financial — so it’s just a matter of getting one to stick.

If you’re tired of feeling helpless, come to one of our monthly socials or become a volunteer. We’d love to have you.