97-28867. Environmental Impact Statement: Travis and Williamson Counties, TX  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 59023-59024]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-28867]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Federal Highway Administration
    
    
    Environmental Impact Statement: Travis and Williamson Counties, 
    TX
    
    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) will be prepared for a proposed 
    highway project in Travis and Williamson Counties, Texas.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway Administration, 826 Federal Office 
    Building, 300 E. 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701, and Ms. Dianna Noble, 
    P.E., Director, Environmental Affairs Division, Texas Department of 
    Transportation, 125 E. 11th St., Austin, Texas 78701.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
    Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is considering an upgrade to the 
    existing road network in Travis and Williamson Counties. Under this 
    proposed action State Highway 45 (SH 45) would be constructed within a 
    corridor beginning FM 685 north of Pflugerville, Texas, and running 
    west to a terminus with U.S. Highway 183, a distance of approximately 
    14 miles. 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. The proposed SH 45 
    would extend west from FM 685 along a new location right-of-way to 
    Louis Henna Boulevard. The proposed roadway would follow Louis Henna 
    Boulevard to its interchange with IH 35, briefly follow FM 1325 west 
    from its intersection with IH 35, and then utilize new right-of-way 
    location to connect with RM 620 west of Round Rock, Texas. The SH 45 
    roadway would follow RM 620 to its western terminus at U.S. Highway 
    183. Ultimate facility design is anticipated to be a six-lane roadway 
    with frontage roads and overpasses at major thoroughfares and direct 
    connection ramps at IH 35, Loop 1 and SH 130.
        An EIS will be prepared for this project pursuant to 23 CFR part 
    771 and 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508. The corridor being considered 
    for SH 45 closely parallels a needed transportation corridor identified 
    by the Austin Transportation Study. Two preliminary Draft EIS's were 
    prepared in 1990 as part of the SH 45 planning process.
    
    [[Page 59024]]
    
    These previous studies identified the need for a new location, multiple 
    lane roadway with full control of access; however, these DEIS's were 
    never finalized. Much of the relevant information developed for these 
    studies will be utilized during the project development process for 
    proposed SH 45.
        Major considerations in the EIS will include an analysis of the 
    costs of 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 materials sites. Multiple alignment 
    alternatives will be studied for the new location sections. At the 
    present stage of the EIS process, no preferred alternative has been 
    selected.
        A public meeting was held on September 23, 1997, at the Cedar 
    Valley Middle School in Round Rock, Texas. In addition, a public 
    hearing will be held after the Draft EIS has been completed and made 
    available to the agencies and public. Other public involvement 
    opportunities include a newsletter to be sent periodically to update 
    the public on the EIS progress and the dates, times, and locations of 
    public meetings and hearings; and news releases to be prepared at 
    appropriate times during the EIS process to inform the public about the 
    EIS status and relevant dates, time, and locations of public meetings 
    and hearings. In addition, at appropriate times over the course of the 
    EIS process, presentations will be made to the Round Rock City Council, 
    Williamson County Commissioner's Court, numerous resource protection 
    agency personnel, and the Austin Transportation Study, which serves as 
    the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization.
        To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
    action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
    and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
    questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
    directed to the FHWA or TxDOT at the address 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)
    
        Issued on: October 21, 1997.
    John Mack,
    Acting District Engineer Austin, Texas.
    [FR Doc. 97-28867 Filed 10-30-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/31/1997
Department:
Federal Highway Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of intent.
Document Number:
97-28867
Pages:
59023-59024 (2 pages)
PDF File:
97-28867.pdf