Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway Projects in Texas |
|---|
|
Michael T. Leary
Federal Highway Administration
7 August 2019
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38720-38722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16397]
[[Page 38720]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 pursuant
to an assignment agreement executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions
relate to various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas.
These 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 projects will be
barred unless the claim is filed on or before the deadline. For the
projects listed below, the deadline is January 4, 2020. 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: 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 pursuant
to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16,
2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.
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), Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) issued in connection with the projects and in other key project
documents. The CE, EA, or EIS 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].
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. FM 2252 from Evans Road to FM 3009, Bexar and Comal Counties.
This project includes widening FM 2252 from a two-lane roadway to a
four-lane roadway with a raised median or a continuous left turn lane
plus bike lanes and sidewalks. The project will replace the existing
bridge over Cibolo Creek and also provide an overpass at the Union
Pacific Railroad crossing. The project is approximately 2.8 miles in
length. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under
which such actions were taken are described in the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on May 6, 2019 and other documents in
the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion determination and
other documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting
TxDOT at the address provided above or the TxDOT San Antonio District
Office at 4615 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78229; telephone (210) 615-
5839.
2. I-410 from SH 16 to Ingram Road, Bexar County. The project
includes additional capacity improvements, frontage road improvements,
interchange improvements and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The
project is approximately 14.9 miles in length. The actions by TxDOT and
Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are
described in the Categorical Exclusion Determination issued on May 8,
2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical
Exclusion determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file
are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT San Antonio District Office at 4615 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX
78229; telephone (210) 615-5839.
3. State Highway (SH) 146 from Farm-to-Market 519 to Loop 197 in
Galveston County, Texas. The 1.4 mile long project will widen SH 146
from two-lanes to four lanes and will replace the SH 146 railroad
bridge over the Texas City Terminal and Union Pacific Railroads with a
four lane bridge. The project will also reconfigure the existing
intersection at SH 146 and SH 3. The actions by
[[Page 38721]]
TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were
taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion Determination approved
on May 16, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion 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 located at 7600 Washington
Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007; telephone (713) 802-5076.
4. US 75 from FM 1417 to FM 120, in Grayson County, Texas. The
purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility on US 75 to
accommodate current and future traffic volumes by reconstructing and
widening the freeway from four to six lanes and removing the Texas
Northeastern Division Railroad bridge crossing US 75 and the Union
Pacific Railroad bridge crossing Texoma Parkway (SH 91). The proposed
project would also include reconfigurations of intersections, ramp
modifications, and improvements to pedestrian facilities along US 75.
The proposed project length is approximately 12.7 miles in length. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion approved
on May 22, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Paris District Office at 1365 N Main St., Paris, Texas, 75460;
telephone (903) 737-9213.
5. FM 549 from SH 205 to SH 276 in Rockwall County, Texas. The
proposed improvements would include widening the existing FM 549 to a
four-lane roadway with a 20-foot center turn lane with median. In
addition to widening, the project would construct a new segment of FM
549 extending from south of FM 1139 to SH 205. The proposed project
would include 12 to 14-foot wide lanes with 2-foot wide shoulders and
5-foot wide sidewalks on both sides of the road. At specific locations,
12-foot wide turn lanes would be added as well and a bridge would be
constructed for the crossing of Long Branch. The length of the proposed
project is approximately 2.08 miles. The purpose of the FM 549 roadway
widening is to improve safety, mobility, capacity, and to accommodate
future traffic demand in the area. The actions by TxDOT and Federal
agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are described
in, the Categorical Exclusion Determination issued on May 30, 2019, and
other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150;
telephone (214) 320-4480.
6. IH 20 Overpass and Ramps at CR 1250. The construction limits are
from Loop 250 to FM 1788 in Midland County, Texas. The proposed project
consists of the construction of an overpass at the intersection of IH
20 and CR 1250, reconstruction of the IH 20 at CR 1250 frontage road
intersection, eastbound and westbound U-turns, removal of ramps east of
FM 1788, and addition of eight new ramps (four entrance and four exit)
west of Loop 250. The frontage road improvements will include full
reconstruction with curbs and gutters, as well as drainage improvements
at both FM 1788 and Loop 250. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies
and the laws under which such actions were taken are described in the
Categorical Exclusion Determination approved on June 11, 2019, and
other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Odessa District Office at 3901 East Highway 80, Odessa, Texas
79761; telephone (432) 498-4746.
7. Farm-to-Market (FM) 2100 from Huffman-Cleveland Road (North) to
FM 1960 in Harris County, Texas. The 4.5 mile long project will
reconstruct and widen the existing roadway from two lanes to four lanes
with a raised median. The project would also include sidewalks, a storm
sewer drainage system and detention ponds. The actions by TxDOT and
Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are
described in the Categorical Exclusion Determination approved on June
12, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical
Exclusion 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 located at 7600 Washington Avenue,
Houston, Texas 77007; telephone (713) 802-5076.
8. US 75 at Ridgeview Drive in Collin County, Texas. The proposed
project would reconstruct the Ridgeview interchange at US 75. The
proposed US 75 at Ridgeview Drive would consist of four to five 11-foot
to 12-foot wide general-purpose lanes in each direction with 10-foot
wide outside shoulders and 13-foot to 16-foot wide inside shoulders
separated. Auxiliary lanes would be 12 feet wide. The US 75 general
purpose lanes would cross over Ridgeview Drive. There are frontage road
lanes in each direction and would consist of one 14-foot wide outside
shared-use lane and one to two 12-foot wide inside lanes with curb and
gutter. There would be two frontage road bypass lanes in each direction
including bridge replacement at Ridgeview Drive. The length of the
proposed project is approximately 1.2 miles. The purpose of the
proposed project is to address safety and mobility issues in the
project area. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws
under which such actions were taken are described in, the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on June 20, 2019, and other documents in
the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and
other documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting
TxDOT at the address provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office
at 4777 E Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone (214) 320-4480.
9. FM 545 from FM 2933 to Business State Highway 78D (BS-78D) in
Collin County, Texas. The proposed project would include widening FM
545 to accommodate twelve-foot travel lanes with ten foot shoulders and
the improvement of four curves by shifting the center line of each
curve to improve safety. The length of the proposed project is
approximately 7.4 miles. The purpose of the proposed project is to
improve safety and meet current design standards. The actions by TxDOT
and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken
are described in, the Categorical Exclusion Determination issued on
June 27, 2019, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion Determination and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided
above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E Highway 80,
Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone (214) 320-4480.
10. US 287 from IH 45 to Intersection of US 287 and CR 2040 in
Navarro County, Texas. The proposed project involves the full
reconstruction of the existing rural roadway to a four-lane divided
highway with sidewalk. The proposed roadway would consist generally of
4 lanes with curb & gutter, plus an 18-foot flush median. The length of
the proposed project is approximately 5.77 miles. The purpose of the
proposed project is to meet local and regional future travel demand by
[[Page 38722]]
upgrading the transportation infrastructure to meet current design
standards for interstates, bridges, and frontage roads, and to improve
the operation of the roadway by correcting access conflicts. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in, the Categorical Exclusion
Determination issued on July 10, 2019, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT
at the address provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at
4777 E Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone (214) 320-4480.
11. FM 148 from South of FM 3039 to US 175 in Kaufman County,
Texas. The proposed project would construct a new location rural
roadway connecting FM 148 with US 175. The proposed roadway would
consist of two 12-foot wide travel lanes (one in each direction) with
8-foot wide shoulders and turn lanes. Approximately 3,850 feet of US
175 would be reconstructed to create an overpass crossing of the FM 148
bypass. The length of the proposed project is approximately 1.6 miles.
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve operations along FM
148, improve mobility and access between FM 148 and US 175, and
accommodate future traffic demand on the corridor in a manner
compatible with local and regional thoroughfare plans. 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 26, 2019, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on
June 3, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA and
other documents are available by contacting TxDOT at the address
provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E Highway
80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone: (214) 320-4480.
12. IH 35E from US 77 South to US 77 North in Ellis County, Texas.
The proposed project would reconstruct and widen the existing frontage
roads, convert all two-way frontage roads to one-way operations and
make all of the frontage roads continuous along the entire project
limits. The length of the proposed project is approximately 11 miles.
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility on IH 35E
within the city of Waxahachie in Ellis County, Texas. 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 June 26, 2019, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on
June 26, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA and
other documents are available by contacting TxDOT at the address
provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E Highway
80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone: (214) 320-4480.
13. SH 71 at FM 1209, Bastrop County, Texas. This project includes
constructing new frontage roads, a grade separation over FM 1209 and
shared use paths. The project is approximately 2.5 miles in length. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in the Final EA approved on June 25,
2019, the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on June 25,
2019, 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 Austin District Office
at 7901 North I-35, Austin, Texas, 78753; telephone (512) 832-7000.
14. FM 548 from North of US 80 to SH 205 in Kaufman and Rockwall
Counties, Texas. There are two segments to the proposed project.
Segment 1 would involve the expansion from a two-lane roadway to a six-
lane divided urban minor arterial from US 80 to Windmill Farms
Boulevard. Segment 2 would involve the expansion from a two-lane rural
roadway to a four-lane divided urban arterial (six-lane ultimate) from
Windmill Farms Boulevard to SH 205. The length of the proposed project
is approximately 7.84 miles. The purpose of the proposed project is to
bring the roadway up to current design standards and to reduce
congestion and improve mobility within the project limits. 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 3, 2019, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
issued on July 3, 2019 and other documents in the TxDOT project file.
The EA and other documents are available by contacting TxDOT at the
address provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E
Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone: (214) 320-4480.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).
Issued on: July 26, 2019.
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-16397 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P