Staff recommends funding I‑35 'roadway elements' only, seeks partners for cap decks

Transportation staff presented updates on the Cap & Stitch program for I‑35 and recommended proceeding only with the vertical roadway elements that 'future‑proof' locations for cap decks, while seeking external partners to design, fund and build the cap amenities.

Brianna Frye (Cap & Stitch program manager) said council’s $104 million roadway commitment (approved last May) funds bridge/roadway elements that make future cap decks possible; recent refinement lowered the projected cost for two northern stitches and increased contingency reserves. Frye said TxDOT will continue to design enhanced bridge crossings and the city does not need to fund those TxDOT elements.

Kim Olivares, director of financial services, laid out the financial and schedule constraints: TxDOT is at roughly 30–60% design for caps, structural loading for two‑story buildings remains uncertain, utility and maintenance costs for caps are not yet estimated, and TxDOT cost updates raised the 11th–12th Street cap estimate substantially. Olivares said staff’s analysis found the ROI for city‑funded caps is weak at present and emphasized that other cap projects nationally relied heavily on federal, state and philanthropic funding.

Council members asked whether the city could reduce its $104 million commitment and what deadlines govern decisions. Staff said the city can discuss changes with TxDOT but that the June AFA (advance funding agreement) and November TxDOT bid deadlines create scheduling constraints; staff said there are later opportunities (change orders, post‑construction) to add caps but earlier decisions preserve the option. Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers and the staff team said partners have not yet committed to fully fund caps and that raising the hundreds of millions needed would likely take years and require a dedicated capital campaign.

Council reactions were mixed: some members supported staff’s recommendation to preserve options by funding roadway elements only while pursuing partners; others urged continuing outreach to potential private and philanthropic partners and suggested focusing on a single priority cap if resources are limited. Staff said next steps include executing the AFA for roadway elements as scheduled, continuing partner outreach, and returning with more detailed cost and scope information as it becomes available.

Ending: Staff recommended no council action to commit city funds for cap deck construction at this time; the council will consider follow‑up information and potential refinements before the TxDOT deadlines.