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Environmental Impact Statement: El Paso County, Texas Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Highway Administration Byline: Michael T. Leary Date: 3 November 2022 Subjects: American Government  , The Environment, Roads & Highways
Topic: Interstate Highway System |
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66355-66357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23917]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: El Paso County, 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: 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 study the effects of the project on Interstate Highway 10
(I-10), known as the Downtown 10 project. The limits of the proposed
project are from Executive
[[Page 66356]]
Center Boulevard (Blvd.) to State Loop (SL) 478 (Copia Street) in El
Paso County, Texas. The proposed project is approximately 5.7 miles in
length.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hugo Hernandez, TxDOT Project Manager,
13301 Gateway Boulevard West, El Paso, TX, 79928-5410, (915) 790-4243,
Downtown10@txdot.gov.
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 9, 2019
and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.
Purpose and Need
The Downtown 10 project is needed because of:
Traffic congestion and mobility issues
Concerns surrounding incident management
Failure to meet current design standards
By providing a long-term transportation solution for the City of El
Paso, El Paso County, and the region, the purpose of the proposed
project is to:
Improve mobility and long-term congestion management
Improve incident management
Bring the facility up to current design standards
Proposed Action
The proposed project would improve I-10 from Executive Center Blvd.
and SL 478 (Copia Street), a distance of approximately 5.7 miles.
Traveling through downtown El Paso, the proposed improvements may
include widening and reconstruction of the mainlanes, continuous
frontage roads, retaining walls, bridges, ramps, and cross streets to
overcome deterioration of pavement and bridges to include bicycle and
pedestrian facilities.
Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate a range of build alternatives and a no-build
alternative.
Provided below is background information on alternative analyses
conducted to date. From 2017 through 2019, the TxDOT Reimagine I-10
Corridor Study (study) included extensive public outreach and high-
level engineering/environmental evaluations of future needs for the I-
10 corridor. The study resulted in a recommended study alternative for
the entire 55-mile-long corridor. As a result, the Downtown 10 project
(Segment 2 of the study) was initiated, and the first Public Meeting
was held virtually from June 25 through July 15, 2020. The Public
Meeting showed the recommended study alternative and requested
additional public and stakeholder input in order to create more
detailed conceptual alternatives. After Public Meeting #1, TxDOT
utilized detailed engineering and environmental constraint criteria and
the public/stakeholder feedback to identify 18 build alternatives,
which were narrowed to nine conceptual build alternatives. The
constraint criteria included mobility, design, multimodal, and
environmental considerations.
The conceptual alternatives were then screened to three viable
build alternatives (Alternatives D, G, and H). This process was
presented in Public Meeting #2 (held virtually from February 24 through
March 16, 2021) for additional public feedback and further study. The
no-build alternative has and will be carried through the process as a
baseline condition. Possible build alternatives include the following:
Alternative D
Alternative D proposes reconstruction and widening of the existing
I-10 facility. From Executive Center Boulevard to University Drive,
Alternative D shifts the I-10 alignment to the north/east. From
University Drive to Campbell Street, Alternative D follows the existing
alignment. From Campbell Street to Ange Street, Alternative D shifts
the I-10 alignment to the north. From Ange Street to Piedras Street,
Alternative D shifts the I-10 alignment to the south. From Piedras
Street to SL 478 (Copia Street), Alternative D follows the existing
alignment. Alternative D proposes new eastbound and westbound non-
tolled managed lanes called adaptive lanes, an additional eastbound and
westbound general purpose lane, a bicycle and pedestrian bridge at
Prospect Street, the addition of an eastbound one-way collector roadway
between Kansas Street and Piedras Street, a shared use path from
Executive Center Boulevard to University Drive and from Santa Fe Street
to SL 478 (Copia Street), and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
along cross street bridges. Additional capacity, operational, and
bicycle and pedestrian accommodations would be considered for this
alternative.
Alternative G
Alternative G proposes reconstruction and widening of the existing
I-10 facility. From Executive Center Boulevard to Yandell Drive,
Alternative G shifts the I-10 alignment to the north/east. From Yandell
Drive to Santa Fe Street Alternative G follows the existing alignment.
From Santa Fe Street to Ange Street, Alternative G shifts the I-10
alignment to the north. From Ange Street to Piedras Street, Alternative
G shifts the I-10 alignment to the south. From Piedras Street to SL 478
(Copia Street), Alternative G follows the existing alignment.
Alternative G proposes new eastbound and westbound non-tolled managed
lanes called adaptive lanes, an additional eastbound and westbound
general purpose lane, the addition of one-way collector roadways
(eastbound and westbound) between Executive Center Boulevard and Santa
Fe Street, the addition of an eastbound one-way collector roadway
between Kansas Street and Piedras Street, a shared use path from
Executive Center Boulevard to SL 478 (Copia Street), bi-directional
cycle tracks from Santa Fe Street to Stanton Street, and bicycle and
pedestrian accommodations along cross street bridges. Additional
capacity, operational, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations would
be considered for this alternative.
Alternative H
Alternative H proposes reconstruction and widening of the existing
I-10 facility. From Executive Center Boulevard to Yandell Drive,
Alternative H shifts the I-10 alignment to the north/east. From Yandell
Drive to Santa Fe Street, Alternative H follows the existing alignment.
From Santa Fe Street to Ange Street, Alternative H shifts the I-10
alignment to the north. From Ange Street to Piedras Street Alternative
H shifts the I-10 alignment to the south. From Piedras Street to SL 478
(Copia Street), Alternative H follows the existing alignment.
Alternative H proposes new eastbound and westbound non-tolled managed
lanes called adaptive lanes, an additional eastbound and westbound
general purpose lane, the addition of one-way collector roadways
(eastbound and westbound) between Executive Center Boulevard and Santa
Fe Street, the addition of an eastbound one-way collector roadway
between Kansas Street and Piedras Street, eastbound and westbound
collector-distributor connectors between Campbell Street and SL 478
(Copia Street), a shared use path from Executive Center Boulevard to SL
478 (Copia Street), bi-directional cycle tracks from Santa Fe Street to
Stanton Street, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations along cross
street bridges. Additional capacity, operational, and bicycle and
pedestrian accommodations would be considered for this alternative.
[[Page 66357]]
Potential Project Impacts
Section 106 and Section 4(f) Historic Properties. The proposed
build alternatives will be evaluated for potential adverse impacts to
historic properties (i.e., properties that are eligible for or listed
in the National Register of Historic Places) within the study area.
Environmental Justice (EJ). The proposed build alternatives will be
evaluated for potential adverse impacts to EJ communities due to
anticipated relocations as well as other impacts such as access, noise,
and visual aesthetics. Additional analysis and public involvement will
be conducted during the National Environmental Policy Act process to
assess if the project would result in any disproportionately high and
adverse effects on low-income and minority communities.
Air Quality. The project is located in the El Paso Moderate
Nonattainment area for Particulate Matter (PM) 10, Attainment/
Maintenance Area for Carbon Monoxide (CO), and the 2015 Marginal
Nonattainment area for Ozone (O3). As such, the proposed build
alternatives will be evaluated for potential adverse impacts to air
quality and will be subject to a project level conformity
determination.
The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts and benefits to the
resources/communities identified above as well as the following other
subject areas: Limited English Proficiency communities, land use,
right-of-way, social and community resources, traffic noise, wildlife
and threatened and endangered species, water resources, hazardous
materials sites, and visual resources.
It is anticipated that the following would be required: Texas
Antiquities Code permit and concurrence, Section 106 historic/
archeological resources concurrence, Section 4(f) evaluation approval,
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Nationwide Permit(s), and conformity
determination under the Clean Air Act.
Tentative Schedule
Agency Scoping Meeting: November 30, 2022
Public Scoping Meeting: November 30, 2022
In addition to the public scoping meeting, a public hearing will be
held after the Draft EIS is prepared. Public notice will be given of
the time and place of the hearing. After the public hearing and end of
Draft EIS comment period, issuance of the Final EIS/Record of Decision
is anticipated. If a build alternative is selected, all permits and
authorization decisions would occur before construction. TxDOT will
issue a single Final EIS 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. An in-person public scoping
meeting is planned for Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 7
p.m. MT at the El Paso Convention Center (Juarez Room) One Civic Center
Plaza, El Paso, Texas, 79901. A virtual option will go live at 4 p.m.
MT on November 30, 2022. Additional information on both options will be
provided at https://www.txdot.gov/ by searching for ``El Paso Downtown
10--Virtual Public Scoping Meeting with In-Person Option''.
The public scoping meeting will provide an opportunity for the
public to review and comment on the draft coordination plan and
schedule, the project's purpose and need, the range of alternatives,
and methodologies and level of detail for analyzing alternatives. It
will also allow the public an opportunity to provide input on any
expected environmental impacts, anticipated permits or other
authorizations, and any significant issues that should be analyzed in
depth in the EIS. In addition to the public scoping meeting, a public
hearing will be held after the draft EIS is prepared. Public notice
will be given of the time and place of the hearing.
The public meeting will be conducted in English. If you need an
interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary
language or you have difficulty communicating effectively in English,
one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need
assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs.
If you need interpretation or translation services or you are a person
with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend and
participate in the public meeting, please contact Lauren Macias-
Cervantes, Public Information Officer, El Paso District, at
Lauren.MaciasCervantes@txdot.gov or please call (915) 790-4341 no later
than 4 p.m. MT, Monday, November 21, 2022. Please be aware that advance
notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time
for TxDOT to arrange.
The public is requested to identify in writing potential
alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to this proposed
project. Such information may be provided in writing by mail to the
TxDOT El Paso District Office, Attn: Downtown 10/Hugo Hernandez, 13301
Gateway Boulevard West, El Paso, Texas 79928-5410. Electronic comments
may also be submitted by email to Downtown10@txdot.gov or through the
virtual site. Additionally, members of the public may also call (915)
209-0027 and leave recorded comments. Comments must be received by
January 11, 2023.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction.)
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-23917 Filed 11-2-22; 8:45 am]
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