What elected leaders are saying

Elected leaders are speaking loudly against I-35 expansion

Austin City Council

CITY Council resolution, October 19, 2023

“City Council finds the projected increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the TxDOT I-35 Capital Express Central project… to be unacceptable.”

“City Council asks TxDOT and the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board to delay funding for the construction of I-35 Central until after the completion of the CAMPO Regional Mobile Emission Reduction Plan and the Austin MSA Climate Plan.”

Natasha Harper-Madison, Council Member, District 1

“This highway was built to exclude Black and brown Austinites from opportunities, access, and resources. We must tear down this divisive, environmentally damaging, and racist highway.” (Source)

Vanessa fuentes, Council Member, District 2

“We don't know yet what all the mitigation strategies and solutions that we should be considering, [so] does it make sense for us to move forward with this expansion project?” (Source)

José velásquez, Council Member, District 3

“I can't wait to see this Great Wall of Austin come down.” (Source)

To each of you taking time to email, to call, to advocate, and to show up… Thank you from the City of Austin.” (Source)

Chito vela, council member, District 4

“I disagree with the fundamental premise of highway expansions, especially through the hearts of cities. Larger and larger highways carrying more and more cars and trucks are not the future. High-quality mass transit and multimodal transportation that promotes walking and biking is the future.” (Source)

Paige ellis, Council Member, District 8

“This highway project… is completely out of step with the will of the public. We have a lot of community members who are concerned about this expansion and we're coming together to fight.” (Source)

Zo Qadri, Council member, District 9

“[I-35] is one of the greatest mistakes in our city's history. This expansion flies in the face of the mobility, safety, climate, and affordability goals that our community has embraced. It will lead to more congestion, more traffic deaths, more greenhouse gases, more air and water pollution, and more noise.” (Source)

Alison Alter, Council Member, District 10

“We have each received emails from hundreds if not thousands of concerned Austinites and members of Travis County directly impacted by this proposed expansion....we have been asking about the air quality, and i35 is not just any project, it’s right through the middle of our community.” (Source)

Image Courtesy of Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon/KUT

Travis County Commissioners Court

commissioners court letter to txdot, september 26, 2023

“The Travis County Commissioners Court requests… [that] TxDOT specifically address all of our previously submitted concerns, including specific analyses requested, prior to moving forward with the project.”

Andy Brown, Judge

“If we're going to think what we want this community to look like in 50 or 70 years, it's going to need to involve things other than car traffic.”

“I'm disappointed [rail] between here and San Antonio wasn't a part of the solution.” (Source)

Jeff Travillion, Commissioner, precinct 1

“We've gotten almost 300 letters against this and we haven't seen any in favor of this from our constituents.”

“[With I-35 expansion] it seems that we're repeating the sins of the past.” (Source)

Brigid shea, Commissioner, precinct 2

“[The environmental impacts of the I-35 project] affect so many people. And [the EPA has] attached something like a 49 billion dollar health cost associated with this soot pollution. And that's why they approved these new standards, because there is such a profound health impact.” (Source)

“Particulate matter from vehicle exhausts is such a dangerous pollutant. I’m surprised that [TxDOT] didn’t include that in the Environmental Impact Statement.” (Source)

State, federal, & central texas leaders

Gina Hinojosa, texas state representative, district 49

"…there has been overwhelming opposition to the [expansion], which includes doubling the size of a highway linked to a century of racist practices...I ask that you act expediently in response to the Title VI complaint" (Source)

“Why is this the way forward, expanding the highway? We should be investing in public transportation. A wider highway is not the answer to dealing with traffic.” (Source)

Greg Casar, US Representative, district 35

“[Expanding I-35 is] a project that I can't support.” (Source)

“With our scarce public dollars, we should be making our community safer, but this expansion will make our city more dangerous.” (Source)

Lloyd doggett, US Representative, district 37

“I am greatly concerned about many aspects of the proposed I-35 expansion, including more air and water pollution and more greenhouse emissions… I join the requests of the City of Austin and Travis County to make significant changes to this project.” (Source)

Jim Penniman-morin, mayor, cedar park

"If we were going to spend billions of dollars to address traffic in Austin, there probably are better ways to do it." (Source)

James Talarico wearing a blue suit and necktie with a white shirt talking at a podium with one hand up.

JAMES TALARICO, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 50

"That's why we need folks like [Rethink35] who prioritize a vision for our infrastructure growth that fights climate change, grows our economy, and builds stronger communities. So thank you for getting activated" (Source)

Op-Ed

“Bigger is not always better when it comes to Texas highways. In communities showing a dedicated investment in transit and active transportation, TxDOT and CAMPO should entertain the possibility that ‘improving’ a corridor might mean keeping the roadway the same size, or even making it smaller.” (Source)