Public hearing set for IH-30 Improvement Project

NOTICE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND PUBLIC HEARING

INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 30 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

FROM: BASS PRO DRIVE TO: WEST OF FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD (FM) 2642
CSJs: 0009-11-238, 0009-12-215, 0009-12-219 and 0009-12-220
Dallas and Rockwall Counties, Texas

(January 9, 2019) The Texas Department of Transportation {TxDOT) is proposing improvements to IH 30 from Bass Pro Drive in Dallas County to west of Farm-to-Market
(FM) 2642 in Rockwall County, Texas. Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code, Title 43, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter E, §2.107 and §2.108, this notice advises the public that the draft environmental assessment and technical reports are available for public review and that TxDOT will be conducting a public hearing on the proposed project. The public hearing will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2019 in the Royse City High School Campus Cafeteria, located at 700 South FM 2642, Royse City, Texas 75189. Displays will be available for viewing at an Open House at 6:00 p.m. with the formal public hearing starting at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to present the planned improvements and to receive public comment on the proposed project.

Proposed improvements to IH 30 would reconstruct and/or widen this highway from Bass Pro Drive in Dallas County to west of FM 2642 in Rockwall County, approximately 17 miles through the Cities of Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Mobile City, Fate, and Royse City. Beginning at Bass Pro to Horizon, the proposed improvements would widen this existing section of the roadway to accommodate adding shoulders along the existing 4 mainlanes (currently 3 lanes and one auxiliary lane in each direction). From Dalrock Road to SH 205, the proposed improvements would reconstruct and widen this section from six mainlanes (3 lanes in each direction) to eight mainlanes (4 lanes in each direction), and would reconstruct the four discontinuous frontage roads (2 lanes in each direction) to six-lane continuous frontage roads {3 lanes in each direction), to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations crossing Lake Ray Hubbard. From SH 205 to West of FM 2642 (Hunt County Line), the proposed improvements would reconstruct and widen this section from four mainlanes (2 lanes in each direction) to six mainlanes (3 lanes in each direction), and would reconstruct the existing four lane frontage roads (two lanes in each direction). Other improvements for this project include the reconstruction of interchanges at Horizon Road, FM 548, and FM 35, construction of new interchanges at Ben Payne Road/ Rochelle Road, Blackland Road, and Floyd Road (future Outer Loop), and associated ramp modifications. The existing facility has a typical right-of-way (ROW) width of 300-454 feet, with the maximum width at interchanges reaching about 700 feet. The improvements would require an additional 10-60 feet of proposed new ROW at various locations, with the greatest amount of new ROW occurring at the Sabine and Sabine Creek Tributary bridges. Approximately 34.60 acres of new right-of-way (ROW), 12.07 acres of temporary easements, and 1.17 acres of permanent easements would be required to accommodate the proposed improvements, widening, ramps, and bridge structures. The new ROW required includes 19.41 acres of Lake Ray Hubbard ROW. Although additional right-of-way is required, no residential or non-residential structures would be displaced.

Information concerning services and benefits available to affected property owners and information about the tentative schedule for right-of-way acquisition may be obtained from the district office at the address listed below. Noise abatements are proposed at two locations within the project corridor.

The proposed project is needed due to traffic congestion that limits mobility and to provide for future growth within the project corridor. The purpose of the proposed project is to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility in the project corridor. Portions of the proposed project area and construction work would occur in the FEMA designated 100-year floodplains adjacent to the project, therefore, coordination with Dallas Water Utilities (DWU), and the local FEMA floodplain administrator would be required. The hydraulic design for this project would be in accordance with current FHWA and TxDOT design policies. Waters of the United States, including Lake Ray Hubbard would be permanently filled and authorized under a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) Section 404 Nationwide Permit 25 and Nationwide Permit 14. Anticipated impacts to Waters of the United States are due to placement of bridge columns, culvert extensions, and roadway fill. Permanent fills have been minimized and avoided to the greatest extent possible and all permanent fills would comply with the conditions of Section 401 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed project would obtain required stormwater permits and utilize Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce stormwater impacts.

Environmental documentation, including maps showing the project location and design, tentative construction schedules, and other information will be displayed at the public hearing. Environmental documentation will also be available for inspection Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the TxDOT Dallas District Office located at 4777 East Highway 80, Mesquite, Texas 75150. This information also will be available for inspection at the hearing. A copy of the approved schematic and of this hearing notice is available online at www.keepitmovingdallas.com under Upcoming Public Hearing/Meeting.

Verbal and written comments are requested and will be received at the public hearing. Written comments may be submitted either in person at the public hearing, by mail to the TxDOT Dallas District Office, Attention: Mr. Jason Estridge P.E., 4777 E. Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150-6643, or by email addressed to Jason.Estridge@txdot.gov in order to become part of the official hearing record. Written comments must be received or postmarked on or before Friday, February 15, 2019 to be included in the documentation of the public hearing.

The public hearing will be conducted in English. Persons interested in attending the hearing who have special communication or accommodation needs, such as the need for an interpreter, are encouraged to contact the TxDOT Dallas District Public Information Office at (214) 320-4480. Requests should be made at least two days prior to the public hearing. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate these needs. If you have general questions
or concerns regarding the proposed project or the hearing, you may contact the TxDOT IH 30 Improvements Project Manager, Mr. Jason Estridge, P.E. at 214-320-6158 ore- mail at Jason.Estridge@txdot.gov.

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 16, 2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.

Submitted press release for publication in Blue Ribbon News.

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