[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22928-22929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10440]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Dallas And Ellis Counties, Texas
AGENCY: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Federal Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of TxDOT, is issuing this notice to advise
the public that an EIS will be prepared for a proposed transportation
project to construct a six-lane new location frontage road system
between United States 67 (US 67) and Interstate 35 East (IH 35E)
through Dallas and Ellis Counties, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlos Swonke, Division Director,
TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division, 125 East 11th Street, Austin,
Texas 78701; Phone (512) 416-2734; email: [email protected].
TxDOT's normal business hours are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (central time),
Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental review, consultation, and
other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for
this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to
23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16,
2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.
TxDOT will prepare an EIS for the proposed construction of a six-
lane new location frontage road system for the portion of the proposed
Loop 9 Southeast roadway system between United States 67 (US 67) and
Interstate 35 East (IH 35E) through Dallas and Ellis Counties, Texas,
which is known as ``Segment A.'' The project is approximately 9.4-miles
in length and would pass through the communities of Cedar Hill,
Midlothian, Ovilla, Glenn Heights, and Red Oak. The new location
frontage road system would include an eastbound and westbound frontage
road facility, each consisting of three 12 foot (ft.) lanes, an 8-ft
inside shoulder, and an 8 ft. outside shoulder for bicycle
accommodations within the rural section of the proposed roadway. The
proposed project ROW would include a median (358 to 512 ft. wide) that
would accommodate the future construction of an ultimate access-
controlled mainlane facility. Construction of the ultimate access-
controlled mainlane facility would be based on projected traffic and
funding and would require additional environmental analysis prior to
construction.
The EIS will evaluate a range of build alternatives and a no-build
alternative. Possible build alternatives include the three alternatives
developed to date to be considered and evaluated in the EIS. In
general, from Tar Road to approximately 0.9 miles east of S. Joe Wilson
Road, a distance of approximately 2.8 miles, three build alternatives
are being considered. East and west of these limits, each alternative
shares a common alignment to the project termini.
Alternative 1 (2.78 miles), the northernmost alternative, diverges
from the common alignment at Tar Road heading east, then immediately
turns northeast before crossing S. Joe Wilson Road and converging back
with the common alignment.
Alternative 2 (2.76 miles), the central most alternative, diverges
from the common alignment at Tar Road heading east, then immediately
turns northeast; however, this alignment follows a straighter path
between Tar Road and S. Joe Wilson Road. After S. Joe Wilson Road, the
alternative continues in a northeast direction before converging back
with the common alignment.
Alternative 3 (2.84 miles), the southernmost alternative, diverges
from the common alignment at Tar Road and
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keeps east for a distance of 0.8 miles centered on existing Knight
Street. At the end of Knight Street, the alternative shifts northeast
before crossing S. Joe Wilson Road and converging back with the common
alignment.
TxDOT will issue a single Final Environmental Impact Statement and
Record of Decision document pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), unless
TxDOT determines statutory criteria or practicability considerations
preclude issuance of a combined document.
In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139, cooperating agencies,
participating agencies, and the public will be given an opportunity for
continued input on project development. A public scoping meeting is
planned for Summer 2019. An agency scoping meeting will also be held
with participating and cooperating agencies. The agency and public
scoping meetings will provide an opportunity for the participating/
cooperating agencies and public to review and comment on the draft
coordination plan and schedule, the project purpose and need, the range
of alternatives, and methodologies and level of detail for analyzing
alternatives. In addition to the agency and public scoping meetings, a
public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of the time
and place of the meetings and hearing.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction.)
Issued on: May 14, 2019.
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-10440 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
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