The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently awarded HDR the North Central Corridor Alternatives Analysis in Austin, Texas. The goal is selecting a locally preferred alternative for the North Central Corridor to improve transportation in the region.

HDR will provide all planning services required to complete the analysis, including overall project management, public involvement, preliminary engineering, Federal Transit Administration coordination, economic development impacts, land use, environmental, Sustainable Return on Investment, operations and financial planning.

The North Central corridor is centered on IH-35 and extends from downtown Austin north to Georgetown, nearly 30 miles. IH-35 is one of the most congested corridors in the Austin area. Population is expected to grow by 85% and employment by 73% in the corridor by 2035.

The project is funded by an FTA planning grant and will incorporate the Housing and Urban Development-Environmental Protection Agency-Department of Transportation livability principles in the development and evaluation of alternatives.

The project is scheduled to be completed in September 2013.