Environmental Impact Statement: Dallas And Ellis Counties, Texas

Michael T. Leary
Federal Highway Administration
20 May 2019

[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: 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 
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

[[Page 22929]]

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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P