Texas Department of Transporation notice of availability

The Texas Department of Transportation Notice of availability of the Trans Texas Corridor - Northeast Texas to Mexico Element (I69/TTC) Tier One Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Notice of Public Hearing Pursuant to Title 43, Texas Administrative Code, §§2.5(e)(5) and 2.9, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is advising the public of the availability of a Tier One Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and giving notice of public hearings on the matter. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Tx- DOT signed the I-69 Trans-Texas Corridor (I-69/TTC) (the Northeast Texas to Mexico Element) DEIS on November 13, 2007.

Later in this notice we explain where you may review or get copies of the Tier One DEIS.

In 1991 the US Congress designated a National I-69 Corridor, from Canada to Mexico, including elements within the state of Texas. In 2002, the Texas Department of Transportation (Tx- DOT) unveiled the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), its initiative for accommodating Texas' growing transportation needs. Because I-69 is a TTC system "priority" element and is also a national interstate highway priority corridor, Tx- DOT decided to proceed with a combined I-69/TTC concept.

The I-69/TTC project is being developed to accommodate projected population growth and the demand for additional transportation infrastructure; accommodate expected increases in freight movement; provide transportation modal options, linkages and capacity; sustain economic vitality; and accomplish the goals set forth by state and federal legislation. The purpose of the I- 69/TTC project is to improve the international, interstate, and intrastate movement of goods and people, address anticipated south and east Texas transportation needs for the next 20 to 50 years, and sustain and enhance the economic vitality of Texas.

The I-69/TTC (the Northeast Texas to Mexico Element) is one of four highpriority TTC elements identified in the "Crossroads of the Americas: Trans Texas Corridor Plan". The I-69/Trans- Texas Corridor study area is approximately 650 miles long. As proposed, I- 69/TTC would be a multi-modal transportation facility. The study area generally follows existing US 59 from Texarkana to Laredo, Texas, with connection to the National I-69 Corridor near Shreveport, Louisiana, and potential connections to the Rio Grande Valley following US 77 and US 281.

I-69/TTC would be completed in phases over the next 50 years with alignments prioritized according to Texas' transportation needs. TxDOT will oversee planning, environmental compliance, construction, and ongoing maintenance, although private vendors may be responsible for much of the daily operations.

Three alternatives were considered in the DEIS for the Tier One decision: (1) New Location Corridor; (2) Use of Existing/ Planned Transportation Facilities; and (3) No Action. Assuming the I- 69/TTC project is approved as a whole, the scope of the Tier One approval will include the Existing/Planned Transportation Facilities alternative (i.e. US 59, US 77, US 281, SH 44, and other transportation facilities identified for improvement). This is because the scope of the Tier One decision is to investigate and document the Purpose and Need, goals, and objectives of the I- 69/TTC project. Issues that are connected with use of the Existing/Planned Transportation Facilities are not yet ready for decision making. Those issues would be the subject of detailed development and evaluation in any Tier Two decision making process. If the EIS for the Tier One decision receives final approval it would show the approved study areas, but it would not authorize construction-related activities. The study areas would then be used in environmental documents in the Tier Two process. The alternatives evaluated in Tier Two (specific proposed alignments for a transportation project) would lie within the boundaries of the approved study areas. (Tier Two studies would also consider the No Action alternative.)

The New Location Corridor Alternative consisted of 75 Reasonable Corridors and seven Reasonable Connector Corridors which were evaluated and compared in the Tier One DEIS. As a result of these evaluations, a Recommended Preferred Alternative (New Location Corridor Alternative) was identified. The Recommended Preferred New Location Corridor provides the best opportunity to meet the purpose and need and avoid or minimize the potential for environmental effects. If approved by the Federal Highway Administration at the conclusion of Tier One studies, the Recommended Preferred New Location Corridor and existing/ planned transportation facilities would collectively serve as the study area for developing Tier Two alignment-level alternatives for a future I-69/TTC facility.

The Tier One DEIS is available for public review at TxDOT district and area offices, public libraries in the study area, and online at www.keeptexasmoving. com. For a complete listing of locations to view the Tier One DEIS, visit the website or call toll-free at (866) 554- 6989. Copies (paper or CD) can be obtained for the actual cost of reproduction and shipping. To order a copy, call toll-free at (866) 554-6989, or send a request via the web on the project comments page at www.keeptexasmoving.com.

The TxDOT offices at which you may review the Tier One DEIS include: Atlanta District 701 East Main St. Atlanta 75551 903-799-1220 Beaumont District 8350 Eastex Fwy. Beaumont 77708 409-892-7311 Bryan District 1300 North Texas Ave. Bryan 77803 979-778-9710 Corpus Christi District 1701 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi 78469 361-808-2224 Houston District 7600 Washington Ave. Houston 77007 713-802-5001 Laredo District 1817 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo 78043 956-712-7405 Lufkin District 1805 North Timberland Dr. Lufkin 75901 936-634-4433 Pharr District 600 W US Expwy. 83 Pharr 78577 956-702-6101 Tyler District 2709 West Front St. Tyler 75702 903-510-9220 Yoakum District 403 Huck St. Yoakum 77995 361-293-4332

TxDOT will conduct a series of public hearings between February 4 - March 3, 2008 on the I-69/TTC Tier One DEIS. The purpose of the public hearings is to present the I-69/TTC Tier One DEIS and Recommended Preferred Alternative to the public and to receive public comment.

All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearings to provide comments and learn more about I- 69/TTC. Doors will open to the public at 5:00 p.m. An open house will be held between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for viewing maps of the Reasonable Corridors, the Reasonable Connector Corridors, and the Recommended Preferred Alternative. The I-69/TTC Tier One DEIS will also be available for review. The public hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation, followed by public testimony. If requested at least five days in advance, TxDOT will make provisions for persons with special communication or physical needs related to a hearing.

Verbal and written comments from the public regarding the Tier One DEIS are requested. Comments will be accepted at the public hearings or may be submitted in writing before or after the hearings. Written statements may be sent through the project website (www.keeptexasmoving.com) or mailed to: Mr. Ed Pensock Jr., P.E., Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 14428, Austin, Texas, 78761. To be included in the official record of the I-69/TTC Tier One DEIS Public Hearings, all comments must be submitted or postmarked by Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Obtener información en Español. Llamada gratis: (866) 554-6989.

Public hearings in this area will be held at the following locations: CENTER 2/04/2008 Center High School Commons 658 Roughrider Dr. Center TX 75935 LIVINGSTON 2/06/2008 Livingston High School 1 Lions Ave. Livingston, TX 77351 DIBOLL 2/11/2008 Lottie & Arthur Temple Civic Center 601 Dennis St. Diboll, TX 75941 LUFKIN 2/12/2008 Lufkin Pitser Garrison Civic Center 601 N. 2nd St. Lufkin, TX 75901 NACOGDOCHES 2/14/2008 Fredonia Hotel Convention Center 200 N. Fredonia St Nacogdoches, TX 75961 Visit www.keeptexasmoving.com for a complete list of hearings.