Environmental Impact Statement; Nueces and Kleberg Counties, Texas, 73179-73181 [2024-20185]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73179-73181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20185]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Nueces and Kleberg Counties, 
Texas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Federal notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: FHWA, on behalf of TxDOT, is issuing this notice to advise the 
public that an EIS will be prepared for the proposed Regional Parkway-
North Padre Island transportation project (CSJ 0916-00-259) located in 
the City of Corpus Christi in Nueces and Kleberg counties, Texas. The 
proposed project would explore alternatives including potential route 
options for a proposed new crossing of the Laguna Madre and an option 
for improving the existing State Highway (SH) 358/Park Road (PR) 22 
corridor, from the Corpus Christi mainland to North Padre Island.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Victor Vourcos, P.E., TxDOT 
Project Manager, by mail at TxDOT Corpus Christi District Office, c/o 
Victor Vourcos, 1701 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas 78416, 
by phone at 361-808-2378, and by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 9, 2019, 
and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.
    The purpose of the project is to improve the resiliency of the 
existing transportation network by improving access to emergency 
services, medical facilities, and critical infrastructure especially in 
times of emergency response, hurricane evacuation, and incident 
management; facilitate regional

[[Page 73180]]

mobility, connectivity, and system linkages; address operational and 
safety issues in the study area; and improve mobility and provide 
travel options especially during peak-season travel demand.
    The proposed project is needed due to lack of resiliency in the 
existing transportation network; limited routes for traffic traveling 
to/from Corpus Christi and the Islands, especially during emergencies, 
incidents, and hurricane evacuations; operational and safety issues in 
the existing SH 358/PR 22 corridor; and seasonal congestion in the SH 
358/PR 22 corridor and other major east-west routes, especially during 
peak-season travel demand.
    The proposed Regional Parkway-North Padre Island Project (CSJ 0916-
00-259) would potentially construct a new crossing of the Laguna Madre 
or improve the existing SH 358/PR 22 alignment, from the Corpus Christi 
mainland to North Padre Island, in Nueces and Kleberg counties, Texas. 
The study area for the evaluation of the potential new location roadway 
alternatives begins at SH 286, crosses the Laguna Madre, and ends at PR 
22, on North Padre Island. On North Padre Island, the study area 
extends south approximately 4 miles southwest of the Nueces/Kleberg 
County line, ending at the boundary of the Padre Island National 
Seashore. The study area for the evaluation of potential improvements 
of existing SH 358 and PR 22 encompasses a 1,000-foot-wide buffer from 
the intersection at SH 286 to SH 361 on North Padre Island.
    The EIS will evaluate a range of build alternatives and a no-build 
alternative. The five possible build alternatives have been labeled 
Green, Purple, Orange, Blue, and Pink alternatives.
    The Green Alternative would upgrade existing SH 358 along the 
alignment from SH 286 to Naval Air Station (NAS) Drive and the existing 
alignment of PR 22 from NAS Drive to SH 361 for approximately 16 miles, 
which could include a parallel structure over the Laguna Madre.
    The Purple Alternative would upgrade and expand existing Yorktown 
Boulevard with connection on new location to SH 286, with the addition 
of a second causeway over the Laguna Madre connecting to PR 22 on North 
Padre Island. The Purple Alternative would be approximately 16 miles in 
length.
    The Orange Alternative would consist of a new location roadway 
approximately 15 miles in length, originating at the intersection of SH 
286 and County Road (CR) 18 in Nueces County.
    The Orange Alternative would include a second crossing over the 
Laguna Madre and upgrade existing Sea Pines Drive, terminating at PR 22 
on North Padre Island in Nueces County.
    The Blue Alternative would consist of a new location roadway 
approximately 14 miles in length, originating at the intersection of SH 
286 and CR 14 in Nueces County with a second crossing over the Laguna 
Madre and terminates at PR 22 on North Padre Island in Kleberg County.
    The Pink Alternative consists of a new location roadway 
approximately 13 miles in length, originating at the intersection of SH 
286 and Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 70 in Nueces County.
    The Pink Alternative alignment includes a second crossing over the 
Laguna Madre and terminates at PR 22 on North Padre Island in Kleberg 
County.
    The alternatives to be presented in the EIS are a result of 
previous transportation planning studies conducted throughout the last 
30 years which have identified the need for transportation improvements 
within the Regional Parkway study area.
    Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the proposed 
improvements would vary depending on the selection of the recommended 
alternative. The recommended alternative may result in impacts to 
communities and resources including: potential residential and business 
displacements, including low-income and minority residents; wildlife/
habitat (threatened and endangered species); wetlands and waters of the 
U.S.; coastal resources, floodplain/floodway encroachment; section 4(f) 
of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act and chapter 26 of the 
Parks and Wildlife Code (park and recreational lands, wildlife and 
waterfowl refuges, and historic sites); visual environment; 
transportation (construction detours, construction traffic, and 
mobility); air quality and noise from construction equipment and 
operation of the roadway; hazardous materials sites; land use and 
farmland; cultural resources; and induced growth and cumulative 
impacts.
    The proposed action may require issuance of an Individual or 
Nationwide Permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, a Permit 
under section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, a Bridge Permit under 
section 9 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, section 401 Water Quality 
Certification, Section 402/Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System 
Permit, Texas Antiquities Code Permit; conformance with Executive 
Orders (E.O.s) on Environmental Justice (E.O. 12898), Limited English 
Proficiency (E.O. 13166), Wetlands (E.O. 11990), Floodplain Management 
(E.O. 11988), Invasive Species (E.O. 13112); compliance with section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, section 4(f) of the DOT Act (49 
U.S.C. 303), section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Act (16 
U.S.C. 4601), title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act of 1982, and other applicable Federal and State 
regulations.
    TxDOT anticipates issuing the Draft EIS for public and agency 
review in March 2026 and completing the study process with a combined 
Final EIS and Record of Decision by September 2026.
    The following entities have been invited to be cooperating agencies 
for this EIS: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of the 
Navy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Railroad 
Administration, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Park Service, 
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, Kiowa Tribe, 
Mescalero Apache Tribe, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Tonkawa Tribe 
of Oklahoma.
    The following entities have been invited to be participating 
agencies for this EIS: Railroad Commission of Texas, Texas Coastal 
Coordination Advisory Committee, Texas Commission on Environmental 
Quality, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Texas 
Division of Emergency Management, Texas General Land Office, Texas 
Historical Commission/State Historic Preservation Office, Texas Parks 
and Wildlife Department, City of Corpus Christi, City of Corpus Christi 
Historic Preservation Office, City of Port Aransas, Coastal Bend 
Council of Governments, Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning 
Organization, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation, 
Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority, Kleberg County, Kleberg 
County Historical Commission, Nueces County, Nueces County Historical 
Commission, Historic Bridge Foundation, and Kenedy

[[Page 73181]]

County Groundwater Conservation District.
    TxDOT will issue a single Final Environmental Impact Statement and 
Record of Decision document pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), unless 
TxDOT determines statutory criteria or practicability considerations 
preclude issuance of a combined document.
    In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139, cooperating agencies, 
participating agencies, and the public will be given an opportunity for 
continued input on project development. An in-person public scoping 
meeting is planned for Oct. 3, 2024, from 3 to 7 p.m. CT at Mansion 
Royal, 8001 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas 78412. A virtual 
option will go live at 3 p.m. CT on Oct. 3, 2024 at www.txdot.gov, 
keyword search ``Regional Parkway''. Additional information on both 
options will be provided at the previously indicated TxDOT website. The 
public scoping meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to 
review and comment on the draft coordination plan and schedule, the 
project purpose and need, the range of alternatives, and methodologies 
and level of detail for analyzing alternatives. It will also allow the 
public an opportunity to provide input on any expected environmental 
impacts, anticipated permits or other authorizations, and any 
significant issues that should be analyzed in depth in the EIS. In 
addition to the public scoping meeting, a public hearing will be held 
after the draft EIS is prepared. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the meeting and hearing.
    The public scoping meeting will be conducted in English, with 
Spanish materials available online and in person. If you need an 
interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary 
language or have difficulty communicating effectively in English, one 
will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, 
special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need 
interpretation or translation services or you are a person with a 
disability who requires an accommodation to attend and participate in 
the public meeting, please contact Rickey Dailey, TxDOT Corpus Christi 
District, at [email protected] or please call 361-808-2544 no 
later than 4 p.m. CT, Sept. 30, 2024. Please be aware that advance 
notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time 
for TxDOT to arrange.
    The public is requested to provide comments on alternatives or 
impacts and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect 
to this proposed project. Comments may be provided in writing by mail 
to TxDOT Corpus Christi District Office, c/o Victor Vourcos, 1701 S. 
Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas 78416, or by email to 
[email protected]. Comments must be received on or before Oct. 
18, 2024.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction.)

Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-20185 Filed 9-6-24; 8:45 am]
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