Environmental Impact Statement: Travis and Williamson Counties, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement: Travis and Williamson Counties,

Texas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

[[Page 53122]]

and Major Investment Study (MIS) will be prepared for a proposed new

location highway/tollway project in Travis and Williamson Counties,

Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Walter C. Waidelich, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration,

Room 850, Federal Building, 300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.

Stacey Benningfield, Texas Turnpike Authority Division, Texas

Department of Transportation, 125 E. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-

2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Turnpike

Authority Division (TTA) of the Texas Department of Transportation,

will prepare a joint EIS/MIS for a proposed project to relieve traffic

congestion in northern Travis and southern Williamson Counties, Texas.

The proposed action is to extend Loop 1 north from its current

terminus at Farm-to-Market Road 734 (Parmer Lane). The proposed Loop 1

north extension would generally follow Farm-to-Market Road 1325 or one

of three corridors on undeveloped land to the west of existing Farm-to-

Market Road 1325. Ultimately, all alternatives intersect with the

proposed State Highway 45. The length of the proposed Loop 1 extension

is approximately 6.44 kilometers (4 miles) but will varies depending on

the selected alternative.

Improvements to be considered in this project include constructing

a roadway on new or existing locations and/or improving alternative

transportation modes in the community. Ongoing regional high-occupancy

vehicle (HOV) studies as well as the combination of a fixed guideway

facility (light rail) and/or commuter rail facility will be considered

for integration with the proposed Loop 1 project. Ultimate facility

design is anticipated to be a four to six lane roadway. Frontage roads,

overpasses and direct connection ramps will be constructed at varying

locations, depending on the final alignment and design.

The MIS portion of the study will analyze the various mobility

alternatives in the Loop 1 corridor as described above. Information on

the costs, benefits and impacts of the alternatives will lead to

decisions by FHWA, TTA, the Texas Department of Transportation and the

Austin Transportation Study (the metropolitan planning organization for

the Austin-area) on the design concept and scope of the investment.

Major considerations in the EIS will include an analysis of the costs

of the right-of-way, the numbers and types of relocations necessary,

engineering constraints and limitations due to topography, and

potential environmental impacts involving land use, socioeconomic

conditions, water resources, air quality, noise, traffic ecological/

cultural resources and hazardous material sites. At the present stage

of the planning process, no preferred alternative has been selected.

In-depth studies will be conducted before and after a preferred

alternative is chosen to avoid and/or minimize impacts to human,

cultural and ecological resources. These studies will be coordinated

through appropriate local, state and federal agencies.

As currently envisioned the proposed Loop 1 extension will be a

controlled access toll road; thus, in conjunction with the EIS and

selection of a preferred alternative, the TTA will conduct a toll

feasibility study to evaluate the viability of developing the selected

alternative as a toll road and financing it, in whole or part, through

the issuance of revenue bonds. The toll road designation will not

influence the selection of a preferred alternative. Proposed

alternatives, including alternative alignments, will be evaluated for

how well they meet the stated purpose and need for the proposed

project. Any impacts owing to the toll road designation will be

discussed in the environmental impact statement.

The draft EIS for the Loop 1 north extension will address a build

alternative including multiple alternative alignments. Alternatives to

the proposed action, which will also be discussed in the EIS, will

include (1) taking no action, or the ``no build'' alternative, and (2)

improving existing roadways in the project area.

Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the proposed

Loop 1 extension will vary according to the alternative alignment

utilized. Generally, impacts would include the following:

transportation impacts (construction detours, construction traffic, and

mobility improvement); air and noise impacts from construction and

operation of the roadway; water quality impacts from construction

activities and roadway stormwater runoff; impacts to waters of the

United States, including wetlands, from right-of-way encroachment; and

impacts to residences and businesses.

Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have

been sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to

private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed

interest in the proposal. A public meeting for the Loop 1 extension

project was held on December 2, 1997, at Summitt Elementary School in

Austin, Texas. At the meeting, public comments on the proposed action

and alternatives were requested.

In continuation of the scoping process for the proposed Loop 1

extension, an additional public meeting has been scheduled. The purpose

of the meeting is to receive comments on the proposed project. The

meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 1998, at Summitt

Elementary School, 12207 Brigadoon Lane, Austin, Texas. From 6:00 to

7:00 pm, displays showing the preliminary alternative corridors will be

available for review. During this period, staff of the TTA will be

available to answer questions. A formal presentation of the project

will be made at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a public comment

period. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public

meeting.

A public hearing will be held for the Loop 1 north extension

project subsequent to publication of the Draft EIS. Public notice will

be given of the time and place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will be

available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public

hearing.

To ensure that the full range of issues related to proposed Loop 1

project are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments

and suggestions are invited from all parties. Comments or questions

concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the

FHWA or TTA at the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,

Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental

consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this

program.)

Walter C. Waidelich,

District Engineer Austin, Texas.

[FR Doc. 98-26481 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]

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