[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 213 (Wednesday, November 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59620-59621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29526]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Williamson County, 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 a
Major Investment Study (MIS) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be prepared for a proposed U.S. Highway 183 corridor improvement
project in Williamson County, Texas. The study corridor includes the
existing U.S. Highway 183 alignment and the general area located east
of existing U.S. Highway 183. The study limits extend from
approximately Lakeline Boulevard, located north of RM 620 and south of
the City of Cedar Park, to north of the City of Leander, south of the
San Gabriel River.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Walter C. Waidelich, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration,
Room 826, Federal Building, 300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
Stacey Benningfield, Texas Turnpike Authority, Texas Department of
Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-2483.
[[Page 59621]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas
Turnpike Authority Division (TTA) of the Texas Department of
Transportation, will prepare a joint MIS/EIS for a proposed project to
relieve traffic congestion on U.S. Highway 183 and within the Cities of
Cedar Park and Leander and adjacent portions of Williamson County,
Texas. Alternatives to be considered for this project include upgrading
the existing U.S. Highway 183 or constructing a traffic reliever route,
known as U.S. Highway 183A, on new location. If ultimately selected as
the recommended action, U.S. Highway 183A would be located parallel and
northeast of existing U.S. Highway 183, beginning at Lakeline
Boulevard, south of Cedar Park, Texas, and running north to a terminus
with existing U.S. Highway 183 north of Leander, Texas. If constructed,
the ultimate facility design for U.S. Highway 183A is anticipated to be
a six-lane controlled access roadway with intermittent frontage roads
and overpasses at major thoroughfares. The total length of U.S. Highway
183A would be approximately ten and one-half miles.
Other improvements to be considered within the U.S. Highway 183
corridor include implementing Transportation System Management (TSM)
and/or Travel Demand Management (TDM) improvements for U.S. Highway
183. The TSM alternative would involve implementing only those
activities which maximize the efficiency of existing U.S. Highway 183,
such as improved traffic signal timing, more efficient accident
removal, or the addition of turn lanes. TDM improvements could include
strategies such as flex time, telecommuting, or other control measures
to reduce travel time. Ongoing regional high occupancy vehicle (HOV)
studies, toll road 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 U.S. Highway 183A.
The MIS portion of the study will analyze the various mobility
alternatives in the U.S. Highway 183 corridor as described above.
Information on the costs, benefits, and impact of the alternatives will
lead to decisions by TTA, FHWA, 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.
For all alternatives being considered, the DEIS will include an
analysis of the cost 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. More in-depth studies will be conducted after a
preferred alternative is chosen to avoid and/or minimize impacts to
human, cultural and ecological resources. All studies will be
coordinated through appropriate local, state and federal agencies.
If construction of U.S. Highway 183A is ultimately selected as the
preferred alternative, the TTA will conduct a toll feasibility study to
evaluate the viability of developing U.S. Highway 183A as a toll road
and financing it, in whole or in 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 for U.S. Highway 183A, will be evaluated for how well they
meet the established purpose and need for the proposed project. Any
impacts owing to the toll road designation will be discussed in the
environmental impact statement.
An initial public meeting for the proposed U.S. 183 project was
held in 1990. However, the project progression was slowed shortly after
that meeting due to resource and budget shortfalls. In 1995, the
project was revived and another public meeting was held on May 22,
1996. At the meeting, mobility concerns within the U.S. Highway 183
corridor were raised and a proposed corridor for U.S. Highway 183A was
shown. A Major Investment Study public initiation meeting was held on
May 12, 1998, in Cedar Park, Texas, that provided more information on
the modal alternatives for the corridor, alternative alignments being
considered for the corridor and some of the potential impacts
associated with each alternative.
In continuation of the scoping process for the proposed project, on
November 10, 1998, the TTA will conduct another public meeting to
discuss the proposed improvements within the U.S. Highway 183 corridor.
The purpose of the public meeting will be to receive comments on the
proposed project and possible alignments for the U.S. 183A alternative.
The meeting will be held in the gymnasium of Giddens Elementary School,
1500 Timberwood Drive, Cedar Park, Texas 78613. From 6 to 7 p.m.,
displays showing the project corridor and possible alignments for the
U.S. Highway 183A alternative will be available for review. During this
time, TTA staff will be available to answer questions. At 7 p.m. there
will be a formal project presentation followed by a public comment
period. All interested citizens are invited to attend this meeting.
A public hearing will be held after publication of the Draft MIS/
EIS. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the hearing.
The Draft MIS/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 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 MIS/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 regulation
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. 98-29526 Filed 11-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
