[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38260-38261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18292]



[[Page 38260]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bexar County, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 Texas Administrative Code 
Sec.  2.5 (e)(2), the Federal Highway Administration, Texas Department 
of Transportation (TxDOT) and Alamo Regional Mobility Authority are 
issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed improvements to Loop 1604 
in San Antonio, Texas, within Bexar County limits to enhance mobility 
and improve safety from FM 1957 to IH 35 North, a distance of 
approximately 32.35 miles in Bexar County Texas. Areas within the city 
of San Antonio are included in the project study area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, District 
Engineer, District A, Federal Highway Administration, Texas Division, 
300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701. Phone: 512-536-
5950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration in 
cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Alamo 
Regional Mobility Authority will prepare an EIS for transportation 
improvements to Loop 1604 from FM 1957 to IH 35 North, a distance of 
approximately 32.35 miles. The current Loop 1604 facility consists of a 
four-lane divided, partial access-controlled roadway from FM 1957 to 
State Highway (SH) 16 and a four-lane expressway with full access-
controlled through travel lanes and parallel partially access-
controlled lanes that interface among the through travel lanes, local 
land use, and connecting roadways from SH 16 to IH 35 North. Growth, 
development, and traffic congestion continue to increase along Loop 
1604 from FM 1957 to IH 35 North. The project is needed as Loop 1604 
does not currently meet present and future growth, development, and 
traffic demands creating inefficiencies in facility safety, mobility, 
and operation. The proposed purpose of the project is to improve safety 
within the Loop 1604 corridor, enhance mobility and operational 
efficiency, and to deliver and implement the benefits in an expeditious 
manner.
    The currently proposed project, as included in the San Antonio-
Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization's Mobility 2030 Plan, 
is an added capacity project to add frontage roads and additional main 
lanes as follows: From SH 151 to 1.2 miles south of SH 16, expand to a 
6 lane toll expressway with non-toll frontage roads and from 1.2 miles 
south of SH 16 to IH 35, expand the expressway lanes from 4 to 6 or 8 
lanes with the new lanes being toll lanes. The Loop 1604 EIS will 
evaluate build and no-build alternatives, including those in the 
Mobility 2030 Plan. In addition to the build and no-build alternatives, 
Transportation System Management (TSM), Transportation Demand 
Management (TDM), transit, and tolled and non-tolled alternatives will 
also be considered. The EIS will study potential impacts from 
construction and routine operation of the proposed roadway including, 
but not limited to, the following: transportation impacts (construction 
detours, construction traffic, mobility improvements), air and noise 
impacts from construction equipment and operation of the facilities, 
water quality impacts from construction area and roadway storm water 
runoff, impacts to waters of the United States, impacts to historic and 
archeological resources, impacts to floodplain, socio-economic 
resources (including Environmental Justice and Limited English 
Proficiency population), indirect and cumulative impacts, land use, 
vegetation, wildlife, impacts to and/or potential displacement of 
residences and businesses, and aesthetic and visual resources.
    Anticipated federal permits, pending selection of alternatives and 
field surveys may include, but are not limited to, the following: 
Section 106 (National Historic Preservation Act), Section 401/404 
(Clean Water Act), and Section 7 (Endangered Species Act). A Project 
Coordination Plan will be provided in accordance with Public Law 109-
59, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Title VI, Section 6002, Efficient 
Environmental Reviews for Project Decision Making, August 10, 2005, to 
facilitate and document the lead agencies; structure interaction with 
the public and other agencies and to inform the public and other 
agencies of how the coordination will be accomplished. The Project 
Coordination Plan will promote early and continuous involvement from 
stakeholders, agencies, and the public as well as describe the proposed 
project, the roles of the agencies and the public, the project need and 
purpose, schedule, level of detail for alternatives analysis, 
methodologies to be used in the environmental analysis, and the 
proposed process for coordination and communication.
    This Project Coordination Plan is designed to be part of a flexible 
and adaptable process. The Project Coordination Plan will be available 
for public review, inputs, and comments at public meetings, including 
scoping meetings and hearings held, in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through the evaluation process, and 
upon request at the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority's office. 
Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. Chapter 1, Subchapter 1, Section 139 of SAFETEA-
LU, cooperating agencies, participating agencies, and the public will 
be given an opportunity for input in the development of the project. 
The first of a series of public scoping meetings, conducted in an open 
house format, is planned to be held in the fall of 2009. This 
preliminary scoping meeting will be the first in a series of meetings 
to solicit public comments throughout the planning process on the 
proposed action as part of the NEPA process.
    The scoping meetings will provide opportunities for participating 
agencies, cooperating agencies, and the public to be involved in 
defining the need and purpose for the proposed project and to assist in 
determining the range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS and 
alternative evaluation methodologies. As part of the scoping process, 
correspondence describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
to be considered during the scoping process will be sent to the 
appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to organizations 
and individuals who have previously expressed or are known to have an 
interest in the project. Public scoping meetings and public hearings 
will be held during appropriate phases of the project development 
process. Public notices will be given stating the date, time, and 
location of each. The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to a public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided. A proposed schedule for 
completion of the environmental review process is not available at this 
time;

[[Page 38261]]

however, it will become accessible for public review at a future date.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

     Issued on: July 27, 2009.
Salvador Deocampo,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E9-18292 Filed 7-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P