[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