[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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