[Federal Register: August 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 48008-48009]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au08-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Travis County, TX
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2), the
FHWA and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this
notice to advise the public that a limited-scope supplemental
environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be prepared for a
transportation project in Travis County, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, District
Engineer, District A, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas
Division, 300 East 8th Street, Rm 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone
512-536-5950.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with TxDOT will
prepare a limited-scope SEIS for the proposed improvement of U.S. 290
from Ranch-to-Market Road (RM) 1826 to east of Williamson Creek, in
Travis County, Texas. The limited scope SEIS will also include
improvements to SH 71 from
[[Page 48009]]
Silvermine Drive to U.S. 290 in Travis County. The proposed
improvements were originally considered in a Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) covering improvements to U.S. 290/SH 71 from RM 1826
to Farm to Market (FM) 973. A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued by
FHWA on August 22, 1988. The mid-section of the original project
limits, between east of Williamson Creek and Riverside Drive, has been
constructed. Since the issuance of the U.S. 290/SH 71 ROD, the proposed
design concept for the current project has changed as a result of
changes in adjacent land use, State and federal listing of the Barton
Springs salamander as endangered, changes in funding mechanisms to
include tolling, a proposed shift in the alignment, and public input.
The original FEIS will be supplemented to evaluate the changes in
potential impacts from the proposed improvements. The proposed project
limits of the U.S. 290/SH 71 limited scope SEIS would extend beyond the
limits of the original FEIS to allow for a transition back to existing
U.S. 290 west of Scenic Brook Drive and along SH 71 at Silvermine
Drive. The proposed project limits, including transitional area, cover
approximately 3.6 miles along U.S. 290 and 1.2 miles along SH 71.
The project is listed in the Capital Area Metro Planning
Organization (CAMPO) Mobility 2030 Plan, as amended, (the long-range
transportation plan) as a six-lane tolled freeway west of Scenic Brook
to east of Williamson Creek. The proposed action would include
continuous non-tolled frontage roads with two to three lanes in each
direction. The need for the proposed project, as stated in the 1988
FEIS, stems from congestion and low travel speeds caused by rapid
population growth in the Austin metropolitan area. Crash data have also
indicated safety concerns as a primary need for this project.
Additionally, the economic growth of the U.S. 290/SH 71 corridor is
dependent on the ability of the roadway network to accommodate both
local trips created by recent nearby development as well as regional
through traffic. In order to address these needs, the purpose of the
proposed project is to increase traffic flow capacities and improve
mobility in the roadway corridor while enhancing safety and system
interconnectivity, in compliance with the adopted CAMPO Mobility 2030
Plan.
The SEIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and
operation of the proposed roadway including, but not limited to, the
following: Transportation impacts (construction detours, construction
traffic, and mobility improvement), air quality and noise impacts from
construction equipment and operation of the facilities, water quality
impacts from construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts
to waters of the United States including wetlands from right-of-way
encroachment, impacts to historic and archaeological resources, impacts
to floodplains, and impacts and/or displacements to residents and
businesses, land use, vegetation, wildlife, aesthetic and visual
resources, socioeconomic resources, and cumulative and indirect
impacts.
Public involvement is a critical component of the project
development process and will occur throughout the planning and study
phases. A public scoping meeting is planned, but has not yet been
scheduled. The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to solicit
public comments on the proposed action as part of the National
Environmental Policy Act process. Opportunities for public involvement
would also exist during public meetings and public review of the draft
SEIS.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have interest in this proposal. To ensure that the full range
of issues related to this proposed action is addressed and all
significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are invited
from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this
proposed action and the SEIS should be directed to FHWA at the address
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway, Planning, and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Issued on August 6, 2008.
Salvador Deocampo,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E8-18956 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
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