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Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway Projects in Texas Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Highway Administration Byline: Michael T. Leary Date: 8 July 2024 Subjects: American Government  , Roads & Highways
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56001-56004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14836]
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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.
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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 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 December 5, 2024. 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: Patrick Lee, Environmental Affairs
Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701; telephone: (512) 416-2358; email:
Patrick.Lee@txdot.gov. TxDOT's normal business hours are 8:00
[[Page 56002]]
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 9,
2019, 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 the local TxDOT office at the
address or telephone number provided for each project below.
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. Loop 286 from Stillhouse Road to US 82 E, Lamar County, Texas.
The project will reconstruct the existing four-lane section of Loop 286
as a four-lane undivided freeway facility with frontage roads for a
length of approximately 2.8 miles. The project includes construction of
two 12-foot-wide main lanes in each direction, two 12-foot-wide
frontage road lanes in each direction, ramps on either side of the
improved roadway where access is needed in the vicinity of major
intersections, a 12-foot-wide auxiliary main lane in each direction
where needed due to ramp deceleration/acceleration spacing
requirements, and right- or left-turn lanes at major intersections
including FM 195, North Collegiate Drive, and Pine Mill Road. The
project includes the construction of a 10-foot shared use path along
the westbound (north side) of Loop 286 and five-foot sidewalks with a
five-foot buffer along eastbound (south) Loop 286 and six-foot
sidewalks where a five-foot buffer is not feasible. The project will
also improve the existing grade-separated interchange at FM 195;
construct a new grade-separated interchange at North Collegiate Drive;
improve drainage including a combination of open ditches, curb and
gutter, and storm sewer; and improve traffic control at FM 195, North
Collegiate Drive, and Pine Mill Road intersections. 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 March 8, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion Determination and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting the TxDOT Paris District
Office at 1365 N Main Street, Paris, TX 75460; telephone: (903) 737-
9213.
2. Loop 286 from SH 19 to approximately 0.5 mile south of US 271,
Lamar County, Texas. The project will reconstruct the existing two-lane
to three-lane rural section of Loop 286 to a five-lane undivided
highway. The completed roadway will consist of two 12-foot-wide travel
lanes and 10-foot-wide outside shoulders in each direction with one 16-
foot-wide center median two-way left-turn lane. From approximately 300
feet east of FM 905, the roadway will transition to a four-lane highway
divided by a grassy median with two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and 10-
foot-wide outside shoulders in each direction to match the existing
Loop 286 lane configuration at the east end of the project termini. The
westbound travel lanes will have 4-foot-wide inside shoulders and the
eastbound travel lanes will have 6-foot-wide inside shoulders.
Intersection improvements will provide up to two additional 12-foot-
wide right- or left-turn lanes at South Collegiate Drive, FM 1507, and
FM 905. Drainage improvements will include a combination of open
ditches, curb and gutter, and storm sewer. A 12-foot-wide shared use
path will be constructed along the north side of Loop 286 from SH 19 to
FM 905. The project length is approximately 3.8 miles. 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 April 4, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion Determination and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting the TxDOT Paris District
Office at 1365 N Main Street, Paris, TX 75460; telephone: (903) 737-
9213.
3. Sean Haggerty Drive from Nathan Bay Drive to Dryer Street, El
Paso County, Texas. The project will reconstruct Sean Haggerty Drive to
provide two travel lanes in each direction separated by a median and a
bridge over the Greenbelt levee. Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
will also be added. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the
laws
[[Page 56003]]
under which such actions were taken are described in the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on April 11, 2024, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and
other documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting
the TxDOT El Paso District Office at 13301 Gateway West, El Paso, Texas
79928; telephone: (915) 790-4341.
4. Mile 10 North Road, from Mile 6 W (Westgate Drive) to FM 1015,
Hidalgo County, Texas. The improvements will widen Mile 10 N Road from
a two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided urban road for
approximately three miles, improve the existing roadway intersections,
and improve drainage. Mile 10 N Road from Mile 6 W (Westgate Dr.) to
Mile 4 Road, a length of two miles, will be widened to an urban roadway
consisting of four 12-foot-wide travel lanes, a 12-foot-wide continuous
left-turn lane, a six-foot-wide sidewalk, and a 12-foot-wide shared-use
path lane. Drainage will be handled by a storm drain system. From Mile
4 Road to FM 1015, a length of one mile, Mile 10 North Road is within
the 100-year floodplain as identified by FEMA; therefore, the roadway
would be elevated to allow one travel lane in each direction to remain
open during a 100-yr storm event. For these limits Mile 10 North Road
would have roadside ditches in addition to the storm drain system. A
12-foot-wide right turn lane would be provided along Mile 10 North Road
at major intersections and at schools. Outfalls for drainage are
planned. 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 April 16, 2024, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting the
TxDOT Pharr District Office at 600 West Interstate 2, Pharr, Texas
78577; telephone: (956) 702-6102.
5. FM 521 from CR 56 to SH 6, Fort Bend County, Texas. The project
will widen FM 521 between CR 56 and SH 6 from a two-lane undivided
roadway to a four-lane roadway with raised medians and bicycle and
pedestrian accommodations. The project is approximately five 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 issued on April 17, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The Categorical Exclusion determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting the
TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas
77007; telephone: (713) 802-5076.
6. US 377 from Holmes Drive to FM 167, Hood County, Texas. The
project will extend along US 377 from Holmes Drive to 3,000 feet north
of FM 167 in the City of Granbury, Texas, over a distance of
approximately nine miles. The project will reconstruct and widen US 377
from a four-lane divided highway to a six-lane divided highway with a
raised median. Frontage roads will also be provided along US 377. A new
grade-separated interchange will be constructed at Business 377. 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, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting the
TxDOT Fort Worth District Office at 2501 S W Loop 820, Fort Worth,
Texas 76133: telephone: (817) 370-6744.
7. US 75 from FM 375 to FM 1417, Grayson County, Texas. The project
will extend for a total of 15.01 miles from approximately 0.29 mile
south of FM 375 to approximately 0.81 mile north of FM 1417. The
project will widen US 75 to three 12-foot-wide travel lanes in each
direction (six lanes total) with 10- to 11-foot-wide inside and outside
shoulders. The existing two-way frontage roads will be converted to
one-way frontage roads. Eight-foot-wide outside shoulders will be added
to the existing one-way frontage roads. Sidewalks will be added
intermittently near Bear Rd, south of LB Kirby Ave., and south of FM
1417. Some cross streets and intersections will also be reconstructed
within the existing US 75 right-of-way, including FM 375, FM 121,
Haning St., and FM 1417. New overpasses will be added between the
frontage roads approximately 0.51 mile south of LB Kirby Ave. and at
Simmons Lp. Access will remain controlled, although some ramps would be
moved from their existing locations. 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, 2024, and
other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting the TxDOT Paris District Office at 1365 N Main
Street, Paris, Texas 75460; telephone: (903) 737-9213.
8. State Highway Spur 298 from US 84 to SL 396 (Valley Mills
Drive), McLennan County, Texas. Two 12-foot main lanes of State Highway
Spur 298 will be expanded to four 12-foot main lanes in each direction,
including 12-foot shoulders and turn lanes to be separated by a grass
median of variable width. The project is 1.4 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 16, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting the
TxDOT Waco District Office at 100 South Loop Drive, Waco, Texas 78704;
telephone: (254) 867-2700.
9. IH 10 from Heights Blvd. to IH 45, Harris County, Texas. The
project will raise the elevation of the existing I-10 main lanes above
the floodplain of White Oak Bayou from Heights Boulevard to I-45 in
Downtown Houston. The project also includes drainage improvements and
amenities for bicyclists and pedestrians. The project will be
approximately 1.8 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 29, 2024, and
other documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting the TxDOT Houston District Office at 7600
Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007; telephone: (713) 802-5000.
10. US 290 at the SH 36 Interchange, from FM 389 to 0.05 miles west
of CR 49 (Windy Acres Road), Washington County, Texas. The project
consists of a modernized direct connect interchange design that will
ultimately replace the existing clover leaf intersection. The proposed
US 290 direct connect interchange will bridge over SH 36 just south of
the current clover leaf intersection. Traffic on US 290 will flow
continuously through the interchange with entrance and exit ramps to
and from SH 36 and tie in west of Westwood Lane. The current clover
leaf intersection will be removed and reconfigured with new ramps to SH
36. In addition, US 290 will be widened to a four-lane divided highway
consisting of two travel lanes in each direction separated by a grassy
median west of the new direct connect. The project length is
approximately 3.25 miles. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and
the
[[Page 56004]]
laws under which such actions were taken are described in the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA), the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) issued on March 5, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the TxDOT project
file are available by contacting the TxDOT Bryan District Office at
2591 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan, Texas 77803; telephone: (979)
778-2165.
11. FM 2185 Extension from Looney Spur Road to FM 3541, Culberson
County, Texas. The project will extend FM 2185 and reconstruct parts of
existing facilities as a ``Super 2'' roadway. A Super 2 roadway is a
two-lane rural highway with periodic passing lanes. The project will
extend for a total of 29.66 miles, starting from approximately 750 feet
south of the intersection with Looney Spur Road and traversing along
Smileys Road for approximately 4.89 miles, branching off onto Weatherby
Road and following Weatherby Road for approximately 9.64 miles before
branching off at the Nevel Road intersection. The project will then
continue for approximately 9.22 miles onto an area that was not
previously used for transportation before connecting to Rustler Springs
Road and will follow Rustler Springs Road for approximately 5.91 miles
before ending at FM 3541, which is approximately 6.19 miles south of RM
652. The Super 2 roadway will consist of one 12-foot-wide travel lane
in each direction with a 12-foot-wide passing lane along alternating
sides of the roadway. Directions of travel will be separated by a 2-
foot-wide, flush at-grade median, and 10-foot-wide shoulders will be
constructed along both sides of the roadway. Drainage will continue to
consist of an open ditch drainage system, with a 6-foot-wide drainage
ditch along alternating sides of the roadway. Twenty-one bridge-class
culverts and 43 non-bridge-class culverts are proposed as part of the
FM 2185 drainage system. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and
the laws under which such actions were taken are described in the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA), the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) issued on March 5, 2024, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the TxDOT project
file are available by contacting the TxDOT El Paso District Office at
13301 Gateway West, El Paso, Texas 79928; telephone: (915) 790-4341.
12. US 80 From FM 460 to Spur 557 and Spur 557 From US 80 to IH 20,
Kaufman County, Texas. The project includes reconstructing US 80, from
FM 460 to Spur 557, and Spur 557, from US 80 to IH 20, from a four-lane
divided highway to a six-lane divided highway. The improvements consist
of three 12-foot-wide travel lanes with typical ten-foot inside
shoulders in each direction divided by a concrete barrier along the
centerline. The improvements will also include one-way continuous two-
lane frontage roads in each direction with ramp improvements that
connect frontage roads to mainlanes with an auxiliary lane. Pedestrian
and bicycle accommodations are proposed to include ten-foot shared use
paths on the outside of the frontage roads in each direction. The
project is approximately 12 miles in length. The actions by TxDOT and
Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are
described in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on April 3, 2024, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the
TxDOT project file are available by contacting the TxDOT Dallas
District Office at 4777 E Highway 80, Mesquite, Texas 75150; telephone:
(214) 320-4480.
13. SL 1853 Madisonville Loop from SH 21 approximately 0.7 miles
east of FM 1452 to SH 21 approximately 0.4 miles west of FM 2346,
Madison County, Texas. The project will provide a limited access, new
location roadway around the south side of the City of Madisonville. It
will include two 12-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction separated
by a 68-foot-wide grassy median. The travel lanes will be bounded by 4-
foot wide inside and 10-foot-wide outside shoulders. Through the Caney
Creek floodplain, the 68-foot-wide grassy median would be replaced by a
concrete median barrier and 10-foot-wide inside shoulders on each side.
Construction will also occur along US 190/SH 21 to provide turning
lanes onto the new roadway, and along Interstate Highway (IH) 45, where
new ramps will provide access to and from the proposed roadway. There
will be grade separations at the crossings of SH 90, SH 75, IH 45, Pee
Dee Lane, and the Caney Creek floodplain. No dedicated bicycle or
pedestrian accommodations would be constructed as part of the proposed
project. Drainage along the new roadway will be provided via open
ditches. The project length is approximately 7.5 miles. The actions by
TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were
taken are described in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), the
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on April 15, 2024, and
other documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting the
TxDOT Bryan District Office at 2591 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan,
Texas 77803; telephone: (979) 778-2165.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-14836 Filed 7-5-24; 8:45 am]
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