Austin Infrastructure Projects Trace Roots to Long-Term Planning Efforts

Austin is advancing more than $20 billion in megaprojects that include a $7.1 billion Project Connect light rail system and a $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express highway expansion. These efforts build on earlier decisions about mobility and growth that shaped the timeline now visible on city streets and at major sites.

Project Connect Bus Routes Mark Recent Milestone

Four new CapMetro Rapid bus routes launched on June 7, 2026, as part of the Project Connect initiative. The same program includes plans for nearly 10 miles of light rail through central Austin with construction scheduled to begin next year. This bus expansion follows prior route studies and funding approvals that positioned the city to add service before the light rail phase starts.

I-35 and Airport Work Extend Multi-Year Timelines

Construction on the I-35 Capital Express Central project began in 2024 and is expected to continue into the early 2030s. The work will lower the highway below ground and remove upper decks over Lady Bird Lake. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport the Journey with AUS program targets completion in 2030 after adding 32 new gates and capacity for 10 million more passengers annually.

Medical and Convention Center Plans Add to Total Investment

The University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center are constructing two specialized hospitals in a $2.5 billion venture expected to open by 2030. This work proceeds alongside the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center. Together these projects contribute to the overall megaproject total that city records list above $20 billion.

The projects reached their current stage after successive rounds of voter approvals, state coordination and federal reviews that aligned funding and design work. Construction activity on several fronts continues through the remainder of the decade.