Action
Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement(s).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), intend to prepare one or more Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate highway and transit improvements in the North-Hardy Corridor of the Houston metropolitan area. The EIS(s) will be prepared following completion of studies of potential transportation improvements in the North-Hardy Corridor of the Houston metropolitan area. The planning studies will conclude with the selection of a Locally preferred Investment Strategy (LPIS) that may identify both transit and highway improvements to be implemented in the corridor. Transit and highway improvements selected for implementation will be evaluated in the EIS. If the selected investments are in proximity to each other (i.e. within the same right- of-way) it is likely that a single EIS will be prepared. If the selected investments are in different locations, two EIS will be prepared. If the selected investments are in different locations, two EIS documents may be prepared. The decision about the number of EIS documents to be prepared will be determined at the conclusion of the planning studies. The EIS(s) will evaluate the potential impacts of the selected investment strategy (the Build Alternative) and a No Build Alternative. The sequence of events for the planning and development for this project include the following major milestones: <bullet> Scoping Process--early opportunity for public input to the study scope and project alternatives. Scoping will be accomplished with a series of public meetings and through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies. <bullet> Planning Studies--evaluation of proposed improvement alternatives, early consideration of environmental factors, concluding with the selection of a LPIS. A decision on the number of EIS documents to be prepared will occur at the conclusion of the planning studies. <bullet> Conceptual Engineering and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)--conceptual definition of the alternatives to be evaluated including their physical features and potential impacts, consideration of mitigation measures, preparation and circulation of the Draft EIS(s) comment period, and preparation of the Final EIS(s). <bullet> Preliminary Engineering and Final EIS--detailed definition of the proposed alternative's physical features, assessment of potential impacts, development of selected mitigation measures, responses to comments offered during the Draft EIS(s) comment period, and preparation of the Final EIS(s).