Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway Projects in Texas |
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Michael T. Leary
Federal Highway Administration
13 July 2018
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 135 (Friday, July 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32711-32713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14162]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway
Projects in Texas
AGENCY: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions
by TxDOT and Federal agencies.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal
agencies that are final. The environmental review, consultation, and
other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for
these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT and a
Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by
FHWA and TxDOT. The actions relate to various proposed highway projects
in the State of Texas. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and
approvals for the projects.
DATES: By this notice, TxDOT is advising the public of final agency
actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking judicial review
of TxDOT and Federal agency actions on the highway project will be
barred unless the claim is filed on or before December 10, 2018. If the
Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time
period of less than 150 days for filing such a claim, then that shorter
time period still applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlos Swonke, Environmental Affairs
Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701; telephone: (512) 416-2734; email:
carlos.swonke@txdot.gov. TxDOT's normal business hours are 8:00 a.m.-
5:00 p.m. (central time), Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that TxDOT and
Federal agencies have taken final agency actions by issuing licenses,
permits, and approvals for the highway projects in the State of Texas
that are listed below.
The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which
such actions were taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion (CE)
or Environmental Assessment (EA) issued in connection with the projects
and in other key project documents. The CE or EA, and other key
documents for the listed projects are available by contacting TxDOT at
the address provided above.
This notice applies to all TxDOT and Federal agency decisions as of
the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions
were taken, including but not limited to:
1. General: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C.
4321-4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109].
2. Air: Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q).
3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of
1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]; Landscaping and Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers),
23 U.S.C. 319.
4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and
Section 1536], Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U.S.C. 1361], Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)], Migratory Bird Treaty
Act [16 U.S.C. 703-712].
5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [54 U.S.C. 300101 et
seq.]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C.
470(aa)-11]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [54 U.S.C.
312501 et seq.]; Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013].
6. Social and Economic: Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C.
2000(d)-2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious Freedom Act [42 U.S.C.
1996]; Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) [7 U.S.C. 4201-4209].
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7. Wetlands and Water Resources: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251-
1377 (Section 404, Section 401, Section 319); Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), 16 U.S.C. 4601-4604; Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA), 42 U.S.C. 300(f)-300(j)(6); Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33
U.S.C. 401-406; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 16 U.S.C. 1271-1287;
Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, 16 U.S.C. 3921, 3931; TEA-21 Wetlands
Mitigation, 23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(m), 133(b)(11); Flood Disaster
Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 4001-4128.
8. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988
Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of Cultural
Resources; E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 13287 Preserve America;
E.O. 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments; E.O. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental
Quality; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species. (Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction.)
The projects subject to this notice are:
1. I-610 West Loop Dedicated Bus Lane from I-10 (Northwest Transit
Center) to Post Oak Boulevard, Harris County. The project will consist
of a two-lane structure over the southbound frontage road of I-610,
ultimately crossing to the center of I-610. The total project length is
approximately 1.5 miles with typical 12-foot lanes and 4-foot
shoulders. The project will not require any additional right of way or
displacements. The purpose of the project is to remove bus traffic from
the I-610 West Loop and allow buses to move more efficiently and
predictably between the Northwest Transit Center and the planned
Bellaire/Uptown Transit Center. The actions by TxDOT and Federal
agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are described
in the Categorical Exclusion (CE) Determination approved on October 12,
2017, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The CE
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600 Washington Avenue, Houston,
Texas, 77007, (713) 802-5000.
2. Airport Boulevard, from Hiram Clarke Road to FM 521 (Almeda
Road), Harris County. This project will construct a roadway facility
approximately 2.5 miles in length which will connect existing
fragmented segments of Airport Boulevard through undeveloped/new
location areas to complete a four-lane divided boulevard between Hiram
Clarke Road and FM 521. A four-lane divided roadway with a raised
center median will be constructed to match the first existing boulevard
section of Airport Boulevard from Hiram Clarke Road to Harris County
Flood Control District (HCFCD) Channel No. C146-00-00. Airport
Boulevard will be constructed on new location from HCFCD Channel No.
C146-00-00 through to the intersection with Buffalo Speedway and then
to the intersection with Townwood Drive. The second existing segment of
Airport Boulevard will be widened from a two-lane roadway to a four-
lane boulevard from Townwood Drive to the Waterloo Drive intersection.
East of the Waterloo Drive intersection, Airport Boulevard will
traverse the following residential streets in a northwest-southeast
direction: Woodkerr Street, Lightstar Drive and Ambrose Street. East of
Ambrose Street, Airport Boulevard sill continue to the southeast, on
new location, crossing HCFCD Channel No. C161-00-00 and a wooded
undeveloped area, curve to the northeast through a grassy area between
two existing ponds, and extend through to the intersection with Clover
Lane. From Clover Lane, Airport Boulevard will curve eastward and
continue through an undeveloped wooded area and end at FM 521 (eastern
project terminus). There are also two detention areas proposed for this
project. The purpose of the Airport Boulevard roadway improvement
project is to connect the existing fragmented sections of Airport
Boulevard through undeveloped/new location areas to complete a four-
lane divided boulevard between Hiram Clarke Road and FM 521. The
proposed Airport Boulevard project will offer the traveling public a
west-east alternative to the limited existing west-east travel
corridors in southwest Houston. The area of southwest Houston between
US 90A, Beltway 8 and SH 288 lacks roadway connectivity; the proposed
Airport Boulevard will improve traffic movement and safety in this area
of southwest Houston.
The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which
such actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) approved on July 11, 2017, the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on July 11, 2017, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the
TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the address
provided above or the TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600 Washington
Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77007, (713) 802-5000.
3. FM 521, from Beltway 8 to FM 2234 (McHard Road), Fort Bend and
Harris Counties. The project widens FM 521 to a typical four-lane
divided curb and gutter section with a 16-foot raised median from Riley
Road to FM 2234 and ties to the existing seven-lane section north of
Riley Road, a distance of roughly 0.9 mile. Improvements to the
intersection at FM 521 and FM 2234 provide for a ``jug-handle'' option
that creates two offset ``T'' intersections (one along FM 521 and one
along FM 2234). This eliminates both at-grade railroad crossings with
railroad overpasses on FM 521 and FM 2234 and eliminates the four-
legged intersection at FM 521 and FM 2234. The distance of the
improvements on FM 2234, including the grade separation, extend
approximately 0.8 mile. Improvements also include a mix of 15-foot
outside lanes, six-foot shoulders, and five to six-foot sidewalks to
accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. The purpose of the project is
to expand capacity to enhance mobility, improve safety, improve
railroad/local traffic crossings, and accommodate population and
economic growth, while minimizing impacts to the natural and social
environment.
The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which
such actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) approved on March 22, 2017, the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on March 22, 2017, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the
address provided above or the TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600
Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77007, (713) 802-5000.
4. FM 1960, from BF 1960-A to Atascocita Shores Drive, Harris
County. Although the eastern logical terminus of the project is
Atascocita Shores Drive, the project extends approximately 0.10 mile
further and ties into the western end of the Lake Houston Bridge. The
improved roadway from BF 1960-A to Atascocita Road and from Pinehurst
Trail to Lake Houston will consist of six travel lanes (two 12-foot
lanes, and one 15-foot shared lane in each direction) with one-foot
curb offsets. An 18-foot raised median and two 5-foot sidewalks are
also included. The improved roadway from Woodland Hills Drive to
Atascocita Road will consist of a grade
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separation with a total of ten lanes (four through lanes on the grade
separation and six local access lanes). Eastbound local access lanes
will consist of one 15-foot shared lane, and two 12-foot through lanes
with one-foot curb offsets. Westbound local access lanes will consist
of one 15-foot shared lane, and two 12-foot through lanes, with one-
foot curb offsets. The grade-separated through lanes will consist of
four 12-foot lanes (two in each direction) and four-foot curb offsets.
A six-foot raised median will separate the through lanes on the grade
separation. The grade separation will span Atascocita Road, West Lake
Houston Parkway, and Farmington Road. Two five-foot sidewalks will be
constructed outside the local access lanes on the eastbound and
westbound side. The project length is approximately 6.4 miles. The
purpose of the project is to alleviate traffic congestion, accommodate
future traffic associated with the growth of Harris County, Atascocita,
and the City of Humble, and improve mobility and safety. The actions by
TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were
taken are described in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) approved
on September 29, 2017, the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
issued on September 29, 2017, and other documents in the TxDOT project
file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600 Washington Avenue, Houston,
Texas, 77007, (713) 802-5000.
5. FM 2100, from FM 1960 to South Diamondhead Boulevard, Harris
County. The project will widen the existing two-lane, undivided
facility to a four-lane, divided facility. North of Hare Cook Road, the
improved roadway will have 12-foot travel lanes, two in each direction,
separated by an 18-foot-wide median, and 12-foot outside shoulders.
Five-foot sidewalks will be constructed on both sides of the roadway.
South of Hare Cook Road, the roadway will also have two travel lanes in
each direction; the outer lane will be a 15-foot shared use lane, along
with a 12-foot-wide inner lane. This section of the roadway will also
have a raised median and five-foot sidewalks.
Detention ponds will also be constructed as part of the project.
The project is approximately eight miles long. The purpose of the
project is to facilitate multi-modal mobility in eastern Harris County
by adding additional capacity to FM 2100, as well as sidewalks and
bicycle accommodations. The proposed project will also improve safety
for the travelling public by constructing a raised median.
The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which
such actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) approved on January 20, 2017, the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on January 20, 2017, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the
address provided above or the TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600
Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77007, (713) 802-5000.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).
Issued on: June 26, 2018.
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-14162 Filed 7-12-18; 8:45 am]
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