[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 50504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19541]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Dallas and Ellis Counties, 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 prepared for a proposed 
transportation project in Dallas and Ellis Counties, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick Bauer, P.E., District 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 300 East 8th Street, Room 
826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-536-5950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Dallas County Department 
of Public Works, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
on the proposal to build Loop 9, a new location highway, from S.H. 360 
to I.H. 20 in Southern Dallas and Northern Ellis Counties.
    The study corridor is approximately 40 miles in length. From a 
regional and local perspective, there is a demand for additional east-
west transportation capacity and access throughout the limits of the 
corridor. Over the last 30 years, this area has experienced tremendous 
growth and has more than quadrupled in population.
    As directed by the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21), the Major Investment Study (MIS) will be integrated 
with the EIS. The Loop 9 facility is included in the Mobility 2025 
Update: the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the Dallas-Fort 
Worth region, as a new location staged parkway calling for the 
preservation of right-of-way through this corridor. 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 other 
potential options. It will also include extensive and continuous public 
involvement to address the long-term mobility needs of both the region 
and local communities. The environmental study will include the 
determination of the number of lanes (four to six are anticipated), 
roadway configuration, and operational characteristics. It will also 
include a discussion of the effects on the social, economic, and 
natural environments and of other known and reasonably foreseeable 
agency actions proposed within the Loop 9 study 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 for the summer of 2002. 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 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.)


    Issued on: July 25, 2002.
Patrick A. Bauer,
District Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 02-19541 Filed 8-1-02; 8:45 am]
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