03.b - 2100 Barton Springs Rd - public comment — original pdf

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March 2, 2026 RE: Barton Springs Bridge Project Dear Chair Heimsath, Vice Chair Evans, and Members of the Historic Landmark Commission Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. We write today to express our concerns over the procedural handling of the Barton Springs Bridge Project, which seeks to demolish a National Register-listed bridge, despite a limited public engagement process and irregularities in the City’s review of demolitions of historic structures. As Austin’s only citywide nonprofit for historic places, we’re deeply concerned by the precedent this may set for future projects involving city-owned historic sites. In the spring of 2023, the Department of Public Works (DPW) held a month-and-a-half-long engagement period for the Barton Springs Road Bridge that proposed replacement as the preferred option and presented rehabilitation as infeasible. In response, Preservation Austin sent a letter to DPW requesting that a qualified engineer with expertise in historic bridges assess the bridge's condition before a final determination was made (see attached). During this brief window, DPW neither sought Preservation Austin’s input nor responded to our letter. In December 2023, City Council voted on consent to approve the bridge’s replacement, effectively authorizing its demolition with limited public input and no historic review by the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC). Now, Capital Delivery Services is requesting that the HLC provide input on the design of the potential replacement to access federal funding for the project, having overlooked the HLC’s code-mandated obligation to review the demolition in the first place. Since the City anticipates using federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, two important laws apply, requiring the City to meaningfully consider alternatives to replacement. The National Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106 review requires that the City and TxDOT work with consulting parties to consider the project’s effects on historic resources and consider alternatives that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate damage to said resources. The City must also consider Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, which prohibits approval of a transportation project that uses a historic site unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative and all possible planning to minimize harm has occurred. 4(f) is a substantive constraint, not a box-checking exercise that takes place at the end of an internal City review process. None of these municipal or federal regulations guarantees that the bridge will be preserved, but they were enacted specifically to ensure the community has a meaningful voice in such decision-making. That process includes a sincere evaluation of options, not demolition as a foregone conclusion. The Barton Springs Bridge is an iconic, historic work of infrastructure familiar and beloved to locals and visitors alike. Ensuring its safety is of paramount importance, and we respect that preservation ultimately may not be feasible. But we call on the City to follow its own processes to make certain that all options, preservation or otherwise, are seriously considered. Precedents like the Montopolis Bridge and the Lamar/Pfluger Bridges show how a preservation-minded approach can facilitate accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, achieve transportation goals, and create a vibrant experience of the natural and built environment. The Barton Springs Bridge is one of the most prominent features of our city’s largest and most vaunted urban park. Austinites deserve a thoughtful, transparent process that honors our history, protects public safety, and enhances the experience of the bridge and park for all of us to enjoy. Thank you for your consideration and your service to the City of Austin. Sincerely, Miriam Conner, President CC: Paulinda Lanham, Capital Delivery Services Mayor Kirk Watson Councilmember Natasha Harpper-Madison Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes Councilmember Jose Velasquez Councilmember Chito Vela Councilmember Ryan Alter Councilmember Krista Laine Councilmember Mike Siegel Councilmember Paige Ellis Councilmember Zo Qadri Councilmember Marc Duchen April 3, 2023 Richard Mendoza Director, City of Austin Public Works Re: Barton Springs Road Bridge Project Dear Mr. Mendoza, Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. We write today to share our feedback about the Barton Springs Road Bridge Project proposal that seeks to provide mobility enhancements to the bridge to improve circulation for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. The Barton Springs Road Bridge was constructed in 1926 and was expanded in 1946 to its current configuration, servicing over 20,000 vehicles per day. Architecturally, the bridge is characterized by its open spandrel concrete construction and features deco influenced detailing on the railings. Since its erection, the bridge has served as a landmark of Austin’s largest urban park and was listed as a contributor to the Zilker Park National Register District in 1997. As presented by Public Works staff, the current preferred option for this project would be to replace the historic bridge. Before a final determination is made on the best option for this project, we ask that Public Works seeks a second opinion from a qualified engineer with expertise in historic preservation on the bridge’s potential for rehabilitation. Historic buildings and infrastructure have unique material and structural needs that require specialized training to fully assess and remedy. Given the historic and cultural significance of this bridge to the Zilker Park area and the city as a whole, we believe that the most comprehensive assessment of its condition should be made before it is replaced wholesale. Thank you for your service to our city, Linda Y. Jackson, President