[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18941-18942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8439]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bexar County, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Amended notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas Department of 
Transportation (TxDOT) and Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (Alamo 
RMA) issued a notice of intent to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared for proposed 
improvements to Loop 1604 in San Antonio, Texas, within Bexar County 
limits to enhance mobility and improve safety from FM 1957 to IH 35 
North, a distance of approximately 32.35 miles in Bexar County Texas. 
FHWA, TxDOT and Alamo RMA are issuing this amended notice of intent to 
advise the public of changes to the aforementioned EIS for proposed 
Loop 1604 improvements. Specifically, the southwestern limit of the 
proposed improvements is changing from FM 1957 to U.S. Highway 90 for a 
total distance of approximately 37 miles. The change to the limits of 
the proposed improvements is consistent with the updated San Antonio-
Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization Mobility 2035 Plan 
(December 2009) and in response to comments received during the first 
scoping meetings held in October 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, District 
Engineer, District A, Federal Highway Administration, Texas Division, 
300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas, 78701. Phone: 512-536-
5950

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA in cooperation with TxDOT and the Alamo 
RMA issued a Notice of Intent on July 31, 2009, advising the public 
that they would be preparing an EIS for transportation improvements to 
Loop 1604 from FM 1957 to IH 35 North, a distance of approximately 
32.35 miles. Since then, FHWA, TxDOT and the Alamo RMA approved the 
Draft Project Coordination Plan, the Draft Need and

[[Page 18942]]

Purpose, convened two meetings with a Community Advisory Group, held a 
meeting with Participating and Cooperating Agencies and held a series 
of Public Scoping meetings. Based on public input and studies conducted 
to date, FHWA, TxDOT and Alamo RMA now propose to include an additional 
segment from FM 1957 to U.S. 90 in the EIS so that the limits of the 
proposed improvements would be from U.S. 90 to IH 35 North, a total 
distance of approximately 37 miles. The additional segment between FM 
1957 and U.S. 90 is described in the San Antonio-Bexar County 
Metropolitan Planning Organization's Mobility 2035 Plan (adopted 
December 7, 2009) as added capacity improvements consisting of 
expanding the existing facility to a four lane expressway with four 
toll mainlanes and four non-toll outer lanes. The need for improvements 
within the additional segment relate to compromised safety, decreased 
mobility, and operational deficiencies attributed to substantial growth 
in traffic. The purpose of adding the proposed segment is to address 
these needs by upgrading the existing roadway to current design 
standards to improve safety, enhance mobility and improve operational 
efficiency.
    Anticipated Federal permits, pending selection of alternatives and 
field surveys may include, but are not limited to, the following: 
Section 401/404 (Clean Water Act), and Section 7 (Endangered Species 
Act). The Draft Project Coordination Plan will be updated in accordance 
with Public Law 109-59, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Title VI, 
section 6002, Efficient Environmental Reviews for Project Decision 
Making, August 10, 2005, to reflect the change in project limits. The 
Project Coordination Plan will continue to promote early and continuous 
involvement from stakeholders, agencies, and the public as well as 
describe the proposed project, the roles of the agencies and the 
public, the project need and purpose, schedule, level of detail for 
alternatives analysis, methodologies to be used in the environmental 
analysis, and the proposed process for coordination and communication.
    The Revised Project Coordination Plan will be available for public 
review, input, and comments at public meetings, including scoping 
meetings and hearings held in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through the evaluation process, and 
upon request at the Alamo RMA's office. Pursuant to section 6002 of 
SAFETEA-LU, cooperating agencies, participating agencies, and the 
public will be given an opportunity for input in the development of the 
project. The second series of public scoping meetings, conducted in an 
open house format, is planned to be held in April of 2010.

    Issued on: April 7, 2010.
Salvador Deocampo,
District Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 2010-8439 Filed 4-12-10; 8:45 am]
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