City and TxDOT brief council on I‑35 “cap and stitch” options; May decision deadline could lock future options

Assistant City Manager Mike Rogers and Richard Mendoza, director of Transportation and Public Works, briefed council on the city’s I‑35 Cap and Stitch program and the financial and scheduling choices the council faces as TxDOT finalizes major freeway construction plans.

Lede: Staff told council that TxDOT requires a city funding commitment by May 31 for phase‑1 roadway elements at specific locations if the city wants those sections “future‑proofed” for overhead deck construction; staff said delaying a decision or relying on later change orders could substantially increase costs.

What staff presented

- Locations and phasing: staff described eight potential cap or stitch locations stretching from Holly Street in the south through downtown to a northern cap near the Red Line crossing. The city’s plan breaks construction into phases: phases 1 and 2 are roadway and structural elements required to later support decks; later phases add amenities on top of any deck built.

- Timeline and deadlines: TxDOT asked the city to identify which phase‑1 roadway locations it wants included in TxDOT’s 2026 letting by a May 31 commitment. Staff said the city can still pursue deck elements later by change order,…