Feds
approve US 290 impact statement; TxDOT sets public meetings for July
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has
just received from the federal government approval of its Environmental
Impact Statement for the US 290 corridor reconstruction projects.
Special thanks to TxDOT and Melissa Deaver of my290.com for providing
the following information in response to our questions about the public
meetings and other matters.
Why does TxDOT conduct public meetings on road
projects?
TxDOT holds public meetings on transportation projects to educate,
inform and seek comments from the public on transportation issues. They
seek to provide a forum for all citizens who wish to give input and make
sure that all ideas are given fair consideration.
TxDOT is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
process, governed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The
Draft EIS (DEIS) is now available, with public hearings scheduled for
July 16, 17 and 24 (see below for details on public hearings and
locations where the DEIS is available). Public involvement is an
important part of the NEPA process through public meetings and public
hearings. NEPA requires that a Public Hearing be held to solicit public
comments on the DEIS.
How is the public notified of public meetings?
TxDOT employs multiple methods to notify the public of meetings and
hearings, to make sure that everyone who has an interest in the project
has an opportunity to attend. For the upcoming DEIS Public Hearing,
notices are being published in the Federal Register, Texas Register,
Houston Chronicle legal notices and community newspapers. Newsletters
will be mailed to a list of property owners, businesses, schools,
churches and civic clubs in the area as well as individuals that have
attended past meetings on the project and people that have requested to
be added to the list through my290.com.
How many public meetings will TxDOT have for the US 290 Corridor
project?
The July Public Hearing constitutes the fourth round of public
meetings and hearings held as part of the corridor's EIS process. There
were also numerous rounds of public meetings and stakeholder meetings
held during the Major Investment Study (MIS) phase. There will be
another series of public meetings in the fall of 2007, where TxDOT will
show how the changes that resulted from public comments have been
incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Do current plans include an exit ramp, with signage, on the 610
West Loop northbound for both Minimax and West 18th Streets?
The current preliminary schematic drawings illustrate proposed exit
ramps from IH 610 northbound just prior to West 12th Street and just
prior to West 18th Street. The exit at West 12th Street provides options
to access Hempstead Highway and Minimax via West 12th Street or continue
over the proposed continuous frontage road bridge at the Union Pacific
Railroad (UPRR) and Hempstead Highway towards West 18th Street.
Additionally, there will be an exit from the northbound express lanes IH
10 to US 290 to the IH 610 northbound frontage road bridge over the UPRR
and Hempstead Highway providing access to West 18th Street.
