[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 32684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16150]


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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 TAC Sec.  2.5(e)(2), the 
FHWA, 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 a proposed 
transportation project on United States Highway (US) 281 from Loop (LP) 
1604 to Borgfeld Road, about 7.5 miles, in Bexar County, Texas. Areas 
within the city of San Antonio are included in the study area.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: US 281 within the project limits is listed 
in the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (SA-
BCMPO) Mobility 2030 Plan (the long-range transportation plan) as a 
six-lane tolled facility; other solutions for improving mobility within 
the US 281 corridor may be identified in future updates and/or 
amendments to the long-range transportation plan. The existing facility 
is a four-to-six-lane non-toll divided arterial with partial access 
controls. The need for improvements to US 281 has resulted from a 
historic and continuing trend in population and employment growth 
within the project corridor and surrounding areas. This growth has 
generated increasing levels of vehicle miles traveled, leading to 
higher levels of traffic congestion, vehicle crashes, and declining 
community quality of life. Without additional transportation 
improvements it is anticipated that this population and employment 
growth will result in increased levels of vehicular traffic, crashes 
and travel delays. Without improvements, accessibility within the 
corridor is anticipated to become increasingly reduced, its 
functionality as part of a regional transportation system would 
decline, and the overall community quality of life would diminish. The 
objectives of US 281 corridor improvements are to improve mobility, 
enhance safety, and improve community quality of life. The EIS will 
develop and evaluate a range of alternatives including ``No-action'' 
(the no-build alternative), Transportation System Management (TSM)/
Transportation Demand Management (TDM), rapid transit and roadway build 
alternatives.
    The EIS will analyze potential direct, indirect and cumulative 
impacts from construction and operation of proposed corridor 
improvements including, but not limited to, the following: 
Transportation impacts; air quality and noise impacts; water quality 
impacts including storm water runoff; impacts to waters of the United 
States including wetlands; impacts to floodplains; impacts to historic 
and archeological resources; impacts to threatened and endangered 
species; socioeconomic impacts including environmental justice 
communities; impacts to and/or potential displacements of land use, 
vegetation, residents and businesses; and impacts to aesthetic and 
visual resources.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the project 
development process and will occur throughout the planning and study 
phases. Letters describing the proposed action including a request for 
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies 
and to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
or are known to have interest in this proposal. Public scoping meetings 
are planned for late summer and fall of 2009. The purpose of the public 
scoping meetings is to identify significant and other relevant issues 
related to US 281 mobility improvements as part of the National 
Environmental Policy Act process. The scoping meetings, pursuant to 
Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU, will provide opportunities for 
participating agencies, cooperating agencies, and the public to be 
involved in review and comment on the draft coordination plan, defining 
the need and purpose for the proposed project, and determining the 
range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS. Additional public 
meetings will be held on dates to be determined at a later time. In 
addition to the public meetings, a public hearing will be held. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Such comments 
or questions concerning this proposed action should be directed to the 
FHWA at the address provided above.

(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 1, 2009.
Achille Alonzi,
Assistant Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-16150 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
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