[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17471-17473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9284]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller 
Counties, Texas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 17472]]

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway expansion project in Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller Counties, 
Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Mack, P.E., District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 
Room 826, Federal Office Building, 300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 
78701, Telephone (512) 916-5516, or James G. Darden, P.E., Project 
Development, Houston District, Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. 
Box 1386, Houston, Texas 77251-1386, Telephone (713) 802-5241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation, (TxDOT), will prepare an EIS for a 
proposed expansion of the Interstate 10 West Katy Freeway (IH-10 Katy 
Freeway), from the Houston's central business district, extending along 
the IH-10 Katy Freeway to the Brazos River approximately 65.98 
kilometers (41 miles). The study area includes major parallel arterials 
and the TxDOT right-of-way through Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller 
Counties (recently purchased from Union Pacific Railroad formerly known 
as the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad). Cities and towns affected in 
this region include Houston, Brookshire, Hedwig Village, Bunker Hill 
Village, Hilshire Village, Hunters Creek Village, Katy, Piney Point 
Village, and Spring Valley.
    A comprehensive transportation study of the 40 mile corridor along 
the IH-10 Katy Freeway between downtown Houston and the Brazos River, 
referred to as a Katy Freeway Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS) 
identified several strategies to meet the existing and future travel 
needs within the corridor. These strategies range from a No-Build and 
Transportation System Management (TSM) approach to a major emphasis on 
high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and transit, as well as the single 
occupancy vehicle (SOV). Combinations of these approaches were also 
evaluated. As a result of these evaluations, a preferred alternative 
for meeting the corridor's transportation needs was then selected. 
Strategies, approaches, and alternatives will be discussed in the Draft 
EIS. Other topics to be discussed (in detail) in the Draft EIS include 
land use; traffic and transportation; economic development; 
displacement and relocation; neighborhood quality and cohesion; access 
to community facilities; safety and security; geology and soils; 
hazardous materials; noise; visual and aesthetics; water resources; 
biological resources and endangered and threatened species; wetlands; 
air quality; and cultural resources.
    Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the IH-10 Katy 
Freeway corridor will vary in accordance with the preferred alternative 
alignment. Generally, impacts would include construction detours, 
construction traffic, mobility improvement and evacuation route 
improvements, air and noise impacts from construction equipment and 
roadway operations, water impacts from construction areas and roadway 
storm water runoff, impacts to waters of the United States, and impacts 
to residents and businesses based on potential relocations.
    In March 1995, the TxDOT Houston District initiated the Katy 
Freeway Corridor MIS study. This study followed guidelines designed by 
the Federal government for major investments in transportation, as 
outlined in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 
1991. This study involved the development of key elements of a MIS 
encompassing the IH-10 Katy Freeway, major arterials, and the adjacent 
parallel Union Pacific ROW which has been purchased by the State. The 
Katy Freeway Corridor MIS was a cooperative effort between TxDOT and an 
interagency committee with representatives from the Houston-Galveston 
Area Council, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the 
Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), the FHWA, the Federal Transit 
Administration, and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 
The purpose of this MIS was to evaluate the transportation needs of the 
corridor and provide an opportunity for TxDOT and participating 
agencies to identify the most reasonable, effective, and efficient 
transportation option for addressing these needs. Goals and objectives 
were developed with the assistance of over 150 community and business 
representatives who participated in a round of public meetings held in 
July of 1995.
    As a result of the July 1995 public meetings, a set of twenty-two 
alternative transportation improvement concepts were developed to 
address the problems and needs of the corridor. These twenty-two 
concepts included transportation modes such as highway, bus, and rail. 
The twenty-two initial concepts were then screened based on the goals 
and objectives for the MIS study, resulting in eleven corridor-wide 
conceptual alternatives. These eleven alternatives were presented for 
review and comment at a second round of public meetings in November of 
1995.
    Using the input from the second round of public meetings, the 
corridor-wide conceptual alternatives were again screened to a short 
list of seven alternatives to be carried forward for further analysis. 
Each alternative was evaluated based on travel forecasts, environmental 
impacts, capital costs, and financial feasibility. These alternatives 
are described as follows:
    Alternative I: No-Build--This alternative includes improvements 
that are already committed to and expected to be in place by the year 
2020, including additional arterial enhancement, reversible HOV 
connection from IH-10 east of Studemont into downtown, HOV direct 
connection between the Northwest Transit Center and the IH-10 Katy 
Freeway at the Interstate 610 West Loop (IH-610 West Loop), and 
localized intersection improvements. Transit service would be increased 
according to METRO 2020 plans, including a new transit center between 
Shepherd and Durham near the IH-10 Katy Freeway. The capacity of the 
No-Build alternative is the same as the current IH-10 Katy Freeway.
    Alternative II: TSM/Transportation Demand Management (TDM)--The 
TSM/TDM alternative is designed to improve mobility in the corridor 
without major capital investment. The alternative is designed to 
improve the operating flow in the corridor rather than increase 
capacity. The TSM/TDM alternative includes the No-Build improvements 
plus synchronized traffic signals, ramp meterings, park and pool 
facilities, geometric improvements, motorist information systems, and 
other low-cost enhancements. Transit service would be further 
increased, including an expanded and relocated Kingsland Park & Ride 
lot and a new transit center at Memorial City Mall.
    Alternative III-1: Moderate SOV, Moderate HOV--This alternative 
includes all No-Build and TSM/TDM improvements. From downtown to IH-610 
West Loop, no SOV lanes are added; however, a two-lane, two-way HOV 
facility is added. From IH-610 West Loop to Katy, one SOV lane in each 
direction is added to provide a total of eight SOV lanes. The existing 
reversible HOV lane is upgraded and extended to provide a two-lane, 
two-way HOV facility to Katy. From Katy to Brookshire no additional SOV 
or HOV lanes are provided. From Brookshire to the Brazos River, one SOV 
lane in each direction is added, for a total of six SOV lanes. Transit 
service would benefit from increased speeds in both directions with the 
HOV lane improvements. The West

[[Page 17473]]

Belt Park & Ride lot would be expanded and relocated.
    Alternative IV-2: Major SOV, Moderate HOV--This alternative 
includes all No-build and TSM/TDM improvements. From downtown to IH-610 
West Loop, no SOV lanes are added but a two-lane, two-way HOV facility 
is added. From IH-610 West Loop to Katy, two SOV lanes in each 
direction are added to provide a total of ten SOV lanes. The existing 
reversible HOV lane is upgraded and extended to provide a two-lane, 
two-way HOV facility all the way to Katy. From Katy to Brookshire no 
additional SOV or HOV lanes are provided. From Brookshire to the Brazos 
River, one SOV lane in each direction is added, for a total of six SOV 
lanes. Transit service would benefit from increased speeds in both 
directions with the HOV lane improvements. The West Belt Park & Ride 
lot would be expanded and relocated.
    Alternative V-2: Moderate SOV, Special Use Lane--This alternative 
includes all No-Build and TSM/TDM improvements. From downtown to IH-610 
West Loop, no SOV lanes are added but a two-lane, two-way HOV facility 
is added. From IH-610 West Loop to Katy, one SOV lane in each direction 
is added to provide a total of eight SOV lanes. The existing reversible 
HOV lane is upgraded to provide a four-lane, two-way HOV/Special Use 
facility between IH-610 West Loop and State Highway 6 (SH 6). The 
special use lanes could be express lanes with an option of a toll 
charged for use. A two-lane, two-way HOV facility would be added 
between SH 6 and Katy. From Brookshire to the Brazos River, one SOV 
lane in each direction is added, for a total of six SOV lanes. Transit 
service would benefit from increased speeds in both directions with the 
HOV lane improvements. The West Belt Park & Ride lot would be expanded 
and relocated.
    Alternative V-3: Low SOV, Fixed-Guideway--This alternative includes 
all No-Build and TSM improvements. From downtown to Brookshire, no SOV 
lanes are added. From Brookshire to the Brazos River, one SOV lane in 
each direction is added, for a total of six SOV lanes. A fixed-guideway 
system would be constructed from downtown to Katy. The fixed-guideway 
would allow service on three to four car trains on double tracks with 
grade separations at major arterials. Service would operate 
approximately every ten minutes in both directions during peak periods. 
The fixed-guideway system would provide connections to buses at each of 
the eleven stations, including the Northwest Transit Center for service 
to the Uptown/Post Oak and the terminus station at the north end of 
downtown for service to downtown.
    Alternative VI-1: Major SOV, Special Use Lane--This alternative 
includes all No-Build and TSM improvements. From downtown to IH-610 
West Loop, no SOV lanes are added but a two-lane, two-way HOV facility 
is added. From IH-610 West Loop to Katy, two SOV lanes in each 
direction are added to provide a total of ten SOV lanes. The existing 
reversible HOV lane is upgraded to provide a four-lane, two-way HOV/
Special Use facility between IH-610 West Loop and SH 6. The special use 
lanes could be express lanes with an option of a toll charged for use. 
A two-lane, two-way HOV facility would be added between SH 6 and Katy. 
From Brookshire to the Brazos River, one SOV lane in each direction is 
added, for a total of six SOV lanes. Transit service would benefit from 
increased speeds in both directions with the HOV lane improvements. The 
West Belt Park & Ride lot would be expanded and relocated.
    A detailed evaluation of the seven alternatives was presented to 
the public during a round of open house meetings in January of 1997 for 
input and feedback. The meetings were held January 27, 28, 29, and 30, 
1997 at the following locations: Monday, January 27 at the City of 
Houston West End Multi Service Center, 170 Heights Boulevard, Houston, 
Texas; Tuesday, January 28 at the Brookshire Convention Center, 4027 
Fifth Street, Brookshire, Texas; Wednesday, January 29 at the Spring 
Branch Community Center, 1721 Pech, Houston, Texas; and Thursday, 
January 30 at the Holiday Inn Select, 14703 Park Row, Houston, Texas.
    Based on the detailed analysis of the seven alternatives and public 
input and feedback, it was determined that Alternative V-2: Moderate 
SOV, Special Use Lane, was selected as the locally preferred 
(recommended) alternative. In order to select the recommended 
alternative, the seven alternatives, including the No-Build Alternative 
and the TSM/TDM Alternative, were evaluated for their engineering 
feasibility, potential environmental and community impacts, financial 
feasibility, and their ability to meet the goals and objectives of the 
community.
    The preferred alternative was then presented to the public during a 
final round of public meetings in July of 1997. The public meetings 
were held July 8, 9, and 10 at the following locations: Tuesday, July 8 
at West Memorial Jr. High School Cafeteria, 22311 Provincial Blvd., 
Houston, Texas; Wednesday, July 9 at the Memorial Senior High School 
Cafetorium, Echo Lane at IH-10, Houston, Texas; and the First Baptist 
Church Fellowship Center, 7401 Katy Freeway at Post Oak Blvd., Houston, 
Texas. Each meeting format was set up as a combination open-house/
public forum format. The first two hours of each meeting was an open-
house where information was available regarding the locally preferred 
alternative and the decision-making process. Members of the study team 
were present during the open-house to answer questions and record 
comments. Immediately following the open-house, a short presentation 
was given. The floor was then opened for public comments. Members of 
the study team were also available after the public forum for 
additional questions or comments.
    A summary of the public input and feedback regarding the final 
rounds of public meetings was presented to the Transportation Policy 
Committee of the MPO for review and concurrence in October 1997.
    Letters describing the proposed action soliciting comments will be 
sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. A Public Scoping meeting will be 
held at a later date to request public comments on the proposed action 
and the preferred alternative. A public hearing will also be held at a 
later date, with copies of the Draft EIS 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 EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA 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: March 23, 1998.
John Mack, P.E.,
District Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 98-9284 Filed 4-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M