PUBLIC HEARING US 69 WIDENING. Phase 1 (IH-10 to LNVA Canal) Phase 2 (LNVA Canal to Tram Road) Jefferson County, Texas

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1 PUBLIC HEARING US 69 WIDENING Phase 1 (IH-10 to LNVA Canal) Phase 2 (LNVA Canal to Tram Road) Jefferson County, Texas CSJs: and Footer Text Thursday, April 26, 2018 Date

2 ELECTED & PUBLIC OFFICIALS DISTRICT & AGENCY STAFF CONSULTANTS 2

3 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. 3

4 Meeting Information Purpose of the Public Hearing: To present the planned improvements and receive comments from the public Options for Commenting: 1) Verbal comments will commence after the presentation 2) Written comments can be placed in the comment box 3) comments to: 4) Mail comments to: Ahmed Gaily, P.E., District Design Engineer TxDOT Beaumont District 8350 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX Deadline for comments: Friday, May 11,

5 Public Hearing Procedures and Agenda Welcome Project Overview Environmental Overview TxDOT Entech WPM TxDOT 4 Public Comments TxDOT 5 Project Schedule and Next Steps TxDOT 6 Adjournment TxDOT 5

6 Project Description US 69: IH-10 to Tram Road We want to improve safety and mobility. Proposed upgrades include: Widen from 4 to 6 lanes in existing right-of-way Widen 6 bridges: Delaware Street, Lucas Drive, SH 105, LNVA Canal, Chinn Lane, Tram Road Add merging lanes between ramps Relocate ramps between Chinn Lane and Tram Road Remove northbound US 69 exit ramp to Delaware Street Replace signs Add new high-mast lighting between Dowlen Road and SH 105 Total Estimated Project Cost: $54,500,000 6

7 Need and Purpose Need o US 69 will not be able to accommodate the traffic expected with predicted population growth. Its capacity will not be sufficient. Average Daily Traffic Projections Location Tram Road to SH ,000 55,100 75,500 SH 105 to I-10 91,600 95, ,100 42% Increase ( ) o High crash rates, especially between IH-10 and Delaware Street, and between Dowlen Road and SH 105 o Existing congestion, especially in the southern half of the study area, will continue to worsen. Purpose o Improve mobility, increase safety, and relieve congestion 7

8 Remove US 69 northbound ramp to Delaware Street WHY NOW? 1. Traffic on highway is getting heavier 2. Too many conflicts or weaving traffic 3. Not enough room to change lanes 4. Cars stopped on the highway from the Delaware traffic signal 5. Lots of accidents today 6. Causes adverse effects on IH-10 Lucas Delaware Minglewood Delaware ALTERNATE ROUTE: (orange arrows) 1. Use IH-10 to 11 th St. exit 2. Avoid the traffic signal by using the turnaround 3. Travel the frontage road to Delaware St. 4. Other alternate routes are also available (yellow arrows) a. 11 th St. northbound b. Lucas Dr. exit Gladys Remove Northbound Exit to Delaware St. 8

9 Roadway Sections Existing Proposed 9

10 Proposed Roadway Design IH-10 to Odom Road Phase 1 Construction Start Sept-Oct 2018 PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATIC (1 of 6) North PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATICS (MULTIPLE) North 10

11 Proposed Roadway Design Odom Rd. to Lawrence Dr. Phase 1 Construction Start Sept-Oct 2018 PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATIC (3 of 6) North Phase 2 Depends on Available Funding PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATIC (4 of 6) North Phase 1 Phase 2 11

12 Proposed Roadway Design Lawrence Dr. to End of Project Phase 2 Depends on Available Funding PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATIC (5 of 6) North PLACEHOLDER FOR SCHEMATIC (6 of 6) North 12

13 Project Planning and Funding The proposed project is consistent with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Metropolitan Planning Organization s Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2040, as amended, and their Transportation Improvement Program. Total Project Estimated Cost: $54,500,000 (with construction mobilization and 20% contingency) Phase 1 (CSJ ): Total Estimated Project Funding: $21,230,000 Funding Source: Federal and State Funds Phase 2 (CSJ ): Total Estimated Project Funding: $15,675,000 Funding Source: Federal and State Funds 13

14 Environmental Overview An Environmental Study was conducted for the proposed project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The study identified and assessed potential impacts to the natural and human environment, including: Air Quality Archeological Resources Non-Archeological Historic Properties Community Impacts Biological Resources Hazardous Materials Traffic Noise Water Resources 14

15 Environmental Overview Agency coordination Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) US Army Corps of Engineers - Galveston Federally-recognized Tribes with interest in TxDOT projects Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Texas Historical Commission (THC) Texas State Preservation Officer (SHPO) 15

16 Environmental Overview Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) No Impact Archeological Resources Research/Databases Archeological Background Study No Impact Non-Archeological Historic Properties National Register of Historic Places no properties listed or eligible No Impact Community Impacts No disproportionately high or adverse impacts to Environmental Justice or Limited English Proficiency populations 16

17 Environmental Overview Biological Resources Threatened and Endangered Species o Eight federally-listed no effect o Nine state-listed, and two species of greatest conservation need Vegetation Types potential impacts o Urban 66 acres o Open Water (LNVA Canal) less than 0.2 acres o Coastal Grassland less than 0.2 acres Hazardous Materials Initial Site Assessment o Regulatory Databases / Site Visit no concerns identified Testing o Lead-based paint present on LNVA Canal bridge; disposal per current regulations o Asbestos containing materials test results not yet available 17

18 Environmental Overview Traffic Noise Traffic Noise Model TNM (FHWA approved) 34 representative receivers modeled; 20 showed a noise increase Greatest noise increase +3 decibels Traffic Noise Workshop to be scheduled with 1 Adjacent Property Owner where abatement is reasonable and feasible Water Resources Construction General Permit is applicable (coordinate with TCEQ) LNVA Canal jurisdictional determination pending; Nationwide Permit #14 will be applicable if USACE has jurisdiction 18

19 Environmental Overview CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION a class of action that normally does not individually or cumulatively have significant environmental impacts. This action does not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area; does not require the relocation of significant numbers of people; does not have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreation, or historic resource; does not involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts; does not have significant impacts on traffic patterns; or does not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, has any significant environmental impact. 19

20 Reviewing Project Information Project information can be viewed Monday through Friday at the TxDOT Beaumont District Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. TxDOT Beaumont District Office 8350 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX

21 Options for Commenting: 1) Verbal comments will commence now 2) Written comments can be placed in the comment box 3) comments to: 4) Mail comments to: Ahmed Gaily, P.E., District Design Engineer TxDOT Beaumont District 8350 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX All comments must be submitted or postmarked by Friday, May 11, 2018, to be included in the public hearing summary report. 21

22 Verbal Comments 22

23 Public Comment Session Submit a Speaker Registration Card Limit your comments to 3 minutes Use microphone and face court reporter State your name and whom you represent (if applicable) Unused time may not be given to another speaker 3:00 2:59 2:58 2:57 2:56 2:55 2:54 2:53 2:52 2:51 2:50 2:49 2:48 2:47 2:46 2:45 2:44 2:43 2:42 2:41 2:40 2:39 2:38 2:37 2:36 2:35 2:34 2:33 2:32 2:31 2:30 2:29 2:28 2:27 2:26 2:25 2:24 2:23 2:22 2:21 2:20 2:19 2:18 2:17 2:16 2:15 2:14 2:13 2:12 2:10 2:09 2:08 2:07 2:06 2:05 2:04 2:03 2:02 2:01 2:00 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:31 1:30 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:01 1:00 0:59 0:58 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 0:29 0:28 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 0:00 2:11 1:11 0:11 23

24 What Happens Next? Public Hearing April 26, 2018 WE ARE HERE Address Comments, Finalize Design May 2018 Phase 2 Depends on Available Funds Phase 1 Project Bid/Contract Award (based on approval) - July 2018 Utility Adjustments August 2018 Phase 1 Construction Starts September 2018 Dates are estimates only; timing is subject to change. Phase 1 Construction Ends Late Mid

25 Adjournment Thank You For Your Participation! Please remember to submit your comments on or before Friday, May 11, 2017, to be included in the public hearing summary report. Written comments can be placed in the comment box comments to: Mail comments to: Ahmed Gaily, P.E., District Design Engineer TxDOT Beaumont District 8350 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX ***Public Hearing Summary will be posted at the website when analysis is complete: 25