[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53121-53122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26481]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Travis and Williamson Counties, 
Texas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

[[Page 53122]]

and Major Investment Study (MIS) will be prepared for a proposed new 
location highway/tollway project in Travis and Williamson Counties, 
Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Walter C. Waidelich, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 
Room 850, Federal Building, 300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. 
Stacey Benningfield, Texas Turnpike Authority Division, Texas 
Department of Transportation, 125 E. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-
2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Turnpike 
Authority Division (TTA) of the Texas Department of Transportation, 
will prepare a joint EIS/MIS for a proposed project to relieve traffic 
congestion in northern Travis and southern Williamson Counties, Texas.

    The proposed action is to extend Loop 1 north from its current 
terminus at Farm-to-Market Road 734 (Parmer Lane). The proposed Loop 1 
north extension would generally follow Farm-to-Market Road 1325 or one 
of three corridors on undeveloped land to the west of existing Farm-to-
Market Road 1325. Ultimately, all alternatives intersect with the 
proposed State Highway 45. The length of the proposed Loop 1 extension 
is approximately 6.44 kilometers (4 miles) but will varies depending on 
the selected alternative.
    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. Ongoing regional high-occupancy 
vehicle (HOV) 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 Loop 1 project. Ultimate facility 
design is anticipated to be a four to six lane roadway. Frontage roads, 
overpasses and direct connection ramps will be constructed at varying 
locations, depending on the final alignment and design.
    The MIS portion of the study will analyze the various mobility 
alternatives in the Loop 1 corridor as described above. Information on 
the costs, benefits and impacts of the alternatives will lead to 
decisions by FHWA, TTA, 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. 
Major considerations in the EIS will include an analysis of the costs 
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. 
In-depth studies will be conducted before and after a preferred 
alternative is chosen to avoid and/or minimize impacts to human, 
cultural and ecological resources. These studies will be coordinated 
through appropriate local, state and federal agencies.
    As currently envisioned the proposed Loop 1 extension will be a 
controlled access toll road; thus, in conjunction with the EIS and 
selection of a preferred alternative, the TTA will conduct a toll 
feasibility study to evaluate the viability of developing the selected 
alternative as a toll road and financing it, in whole or 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, will be evaluated for 
how well they meet the stated purpose and need for the proposed 
project. Any impacts owing to the toll road designation will be 
discussed in the environmental impact statement.
    The draft EIS for the Loop 1 north extension will address a build 
alternative including multiple alternative alignments. Alternatives to 
the proposed action, which will also be discussed in the EIS, will 
include (1) taking no action, or the ``no build'' alternative, and (2) 
improving existing roadways in the project area.
    Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the proposed 
Loop 1 extension will vary according to the alternative alignment 
utilized. Generally, impacts would include the following: 
transportation impacts (construction detours, construction traffic, and 
mobility improvement); air and noise impacts from construction and 
operation of the roadway; water quality impacts from construction 
activities and roadway stormwater runoff; impacts to waters of the 
United States, including wetlands, from right-of-way encroachment; and 
impacts to residences and businesses.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
interest in the proposal. A public meeting for the Loop 1 extension 
project was held on December 2, 1997, at Summitt Elementary School in 
Austin, Texas. At the meeting, public comments on the proposed action 
and alternatives were requested.
    In continuation of the scoping process for the proposed Loop 1 
extension, an additional public meeting has been scheduled. The purpose 
of the meeting is to receive comments on the proposed project. The 
meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 1998, at Summitt 
Elementary School, 12207 Brigadoon Lane, Austin, Texas. From 6:00 to 
7:00 pm, displays showing the preliminary alternative corridors will be 
available for review. During this period, staff of the TTA will be 
available to answer questions. A formal presentation of the project 
will be made at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a public comment 
period. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public 
meeting.
    A public hearing will be held for the Loop 1 north extension 
project subsequent to publication of the Draft EIS. Public notice will 
be given of the time and place of the hearing. The Draft 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 proposed Loop 1 
project are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all parties. Comments or questions 
concerning this proposed action and the 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 regulations 
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. 98-26481 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M