[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]
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