The section of I-35 through Central Austin is one of the most congested sections of roadway in Texas, and the Texas Department of Transportation has been planning much needed improvements to reconnect the community. Those improvements included the elimination of all elevated structures throughout downtown for stitch and cap possibilities – a move that also would displace hundreds of people using these structures for shelter. To address that issue, the $780,000 Mobility35 IAH program developed a coalition – led by TxDOT that worked to find shelter and housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. The IAH program helped more than 130 individuals successfully transition to permanent housing, while also improving their health and employability. TxDOT’s innovative use of public right-of-way offered a “bridge of hope” between public streets and stable housing with a human-centered approach for mitigating the displacement of those using I-35 for shelter with an out-of-the-box solution that benefits the entire Austin community.
America's Transportation Awards 