I-35 Texas Corridor Study: A Path to 2050

Study overview

TxDOT works to deliver a safe, reliable and integrated transportation system. The Interstate
35 (I-35) Texas Corridor Study was initiated by the TxDOT - Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) Division as a long term, comprehensive analysis of the I-35 Texas Corridor from an intermodal and multimodal approach. The Mainstreet of Texas, I-35 supports Texas’ growing population, employment, economy and quality of life, with nearly half of Texas’ population living and working along the corridor. The study includes the entire I-35 Texas Corridor from the Oklahoma State line to the Mexico international border for approximately 590 miles. I-35 stretches across Texas with approximately four to 10 main lanes in addition to frontage roads in the urban and metropolitan areas with discontinuous frontage roads in the rural areas.

I-35 is one of the most significant corridors within Texas and is critical to maintaining a regional, state-wide, national and international transportation system that is safe, efficient and responsive to growth.

Building upon current investments, the I-35 Texas Corridor Study will identify existing gaps and evolving multimodal transportation needs and opportunities. Through data-informed analysis and collaborative stakeholder engagement, the study will develop prioritized solutions including projects, policies, programs or regional planning studies that address challenges, intermodal coordination and emerging technologies across urban, rural and border areas for the next 25 years.

I-35 Texas Corridor Study area map

I-35 Texas Corridor Study map showing route from North Texas (north of Dallas) running to Laredo in South Texas. — The I-35 Texas Corridor Study area from Oklahoma to Mexico. The map shows three working group regions labeled North, Central and South. Cities of note located within these regions are Laredo, Eagle Pass and San Antonio (South), Austin and Waco (Central), and Dallas and Fort Worth (North). The cities are marked on the map with circle icons. Border crossings between Texas and Mexico are marked with triangles. Squares along the coast of Texas and Mexico represent seaports. There are dashed lines marking the location of future interstate highways (I-14, I-27 and I-69) throughout the region and the state in general.

Key considerations

The study will consider the following key elements to identify and prioritize proposed improvements along the corridor:

Safety
Connectivity
Mobility and Reliability
Asset Preservation
Operations and Emerging Technologies

Freight
Cost and Funding
Resiliency
Multimodal
Intermodal

Study approach

TxDOT will conduct technical analyses and engage local elected officials, regional organizations, state and federal agencies, industry and business representatives, advocacy groups, members of the public and other stakeholders throughout the study process from Spring 2025 to Fall 2026. The study will be conducted in phases with four rounds of stakeholder engagement meetings. The phases will evaluate and assess existing conditions and needs, develop strategies and a prioritization framework, identify and prioritize future improvements and develop an implementation plan, as shown in the schedule.

N/A — A graphic that depicts the schedule for the I-35 Texas Corridor Study, which began in the Spring of 2025 and continues through the Fall of 2026. It lists four rounds of stakeholder engagement, including: Introductory Meetings and Assessment of Existing Conditions and Needs, Identification of Proposed Multimodal Improvements and Prioritization Considerations, Evaluation and Prioritization of Multimodal Improvements, and Development of the Corridor Improvement Strategy and Implementation Plan. There are six different activities shown in the graphic: TxDOT Coordination (Summer 2025 and Winter/Spring, Summer and Fall 2026), Steering Committee (Fall 2025 and Spring, Summer and Fall 2026), Segment Working Groups (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall 2026), Industry Groups (Fall 2025), Public Survey (Spring 2026) and Binational Workshops (Winter and Summer 2026).

Email TxDOT

TxDOT Stassney Headquarters
6230 East Stassney Lane
Austin, TX 78744

Stakeholder and public engagement

Input collected from public and private stakeholders throughout the study will be important
to help TxDOT identify transportation needs and prioritize improvements to safety, connectivity and mobility along the I-35 corridor.

Key stakeholders include:

TxDOT district and division representatives.
A steering committee.
Three segment working groups
- North – Oklahoma State line to the Johnson and Ellis/Hill County line.
- Central – Johnson and Ellis/Hill County line to Hays/Comal County line.
- South – Hays/Comal County line to the Mexico international border.
Binational Workshops.
Local, state and federal agencies.
Local elected officials.
Industry groups - the energy sector industry, trucking, freight, rail, military groups and economic development organizations.
Ports of entry, inland ports and seaports.
Advocacy groups.
Members of the public.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input through a survey conducted during the
development of the study.

Fact sheet

Title

Fact sheet

I-35 Texas Corridor Study Stakeholder Engagement, includes TxDOT, 35 steering committee, the public, workshops and the private sector. — Communication flow for the study: TxDOT will work in collaboration with the following stakeholders: two-way communications between TxDOT and the Corridor Study Steering Committee, communications from the North, Central and South Working Groups to the Steering Committee, and involvement with the private sector, Binational U.S./Mexico Workshop and the public.