[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47819-47820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19664]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Dallas 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 an 
environmental impact statement will be

[[Page 47820]]

prepared for a proposed transportation project in Dallas County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, Acting District 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 300 E. 8th Street, Room 826, 
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-916-5988.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the North Texas Tollway 
Authority (NTTA), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Eastern Extension of the President George Bush Turnpike from SH 
78 to IH 30 within northeast Dallas County. The corridor is 
approximately 10.5 miles in length and crosses Lake Ray Hubbard. From a 
regional and local perspective, there is a great demand for additional 
transportation capacity and access through the corridor. Over the last 
30 years, the area has experienced tremendous growth and has nearly 
tripled in population.
    As directed by TEA-21, the Major Investment Study (MIS) will be 
integrated with the EIS. Previous feasibility studies and Mobility 
2025, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the Dallas-Fort 
Worth region have examined a full range of alternatives and alignments 
within the corridor. The Eastern Extension is included in the MTP as a 
new location 4-lane tollway with controlled access. The environmental 
study will examine viable alternatives and potential transportation 
modes including the No-Build; Transportation Systems Management/
Congestion Management Systems; controlled access freeway; and tollway 
options. it will also include extensive and continuous public 
involvement to address the long-term mobility needs of both the region 
and local community. The environmental study will include the 
determination of the number of lanes (four to six lanes are 
anticipated), roadway configuration, and operational characteristics. 
It will also include a discussion of the effects on the social, 
economic, and environment and of other known and reasonably foreseeable 
agency options proposed with the Eastern Extension Corridor.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed an 
interest or are known to have an interest in this proposal. A public 
scoping meeting is planned to be held in the Fall of 2000. The date 
will be announced locally at a later time. This will be the first in a 
series of meetings to solicit public comments on the proposed action 
during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meetings and the hearing. The Draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment before the public 
hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are 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.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
Salvador Deocampo,
Acting District Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 00-19664 Filed 8-2-00; 8:45 am]
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