texas department of transportation corpus christi district
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Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District. Harbor Bridge Project U.S. 181 (Harbor Bridge)/SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway) Agency Scoping Meeting May 17, 2007. Welcome. Victor Vourcos, P.E. Harbor Bridge Project Manager Texas Department of Transportation - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Texas Department of Transportation
Corpus Christi District
Harbor Bridge Project
U.S. 181 (Harbor Bridge)/SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway)
Agency Scoping Meeting
May 17, 2007
Welcome
Victor Vourcos, P.E.
Harbor Bridge Project Manager
Texas Department of Transportation
Corpus Christi District Office
Today’s Agenda
• 1:30 Introductions
• 1:45 Presentation
• 2:15 Discussion
Today’s Presentation
• Introductions
• Why are We Here?
• Project History
• Environmental and Public Involvement
• Next Steps for Project
• Funding Options for Project
• Project Schedule
• Discussion
Introductions
Introductions
• TxDOT Team
• URS Consultant Team
Why Are We Here?
Why Are We Here?
• Provide an update on current status of Harbor Bridge project
• Explain changes in the project limits
• Describe status of environmental and public involvement processes
• Listen to your comments and answer your questions
Why Are We Here?
FHWA Decision in late 2006
• FHWA directed TxDOT to extend limits of project to include improvements to SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway)
• Extension includes improvements to IH 37 from Crosstown Expressway to Nueces Bay Blvd.
• Extended limits allow for consideration of tolling strategies south to SH 358 (South Padre Island Drive)
Why Are We Here?
Project Construction Limits and Study Limits Extended
• Project Construction Limits – Area where construction would occur and may include additional right of way
• Study Limits – Area that may be affected by changes in traffic and access to abutting property; no construction would occur and no right-of-way would be acquired.
• No specific alignments have been selected – No specific right-of-way footprint identified
Why Are We Here?Revised Project and Study Limits
Project History
Harbor Bridge Project History
Summary of Project Phases
Phase I Feasibility Study Completed in June 2003
Phase II Schematic and Environmental Documentation
Current phase for the Harbor Bridgeshould be completed in 2009
Phase III Right-of-way map preparation and ROW acquisition for the preferred alternative
Estimated completion: 2011
Phase IV Secure funding and construct project
Harbor Bridge Project History
Harbor Bridge Corridor Alternatives from the Feasibility Study
• RED
• ORANGE
• GREEN
• BLUE
Harbor Bridge Project History
• Red and Orange Corridors recommended for further evaluation in EIS
• TXDOT and FHWA determined that Green and Blue Corridors need not be evaluated in detail during the EIS process (June 1, 2005)
• However, ALL corridor alternatives, including the No-Build, to be discussed during the EIS process
Environmental and Public Involvement
Eddie Sutherland
Environmental Task Leader
URS Corporation
Environmental and Public Involvement
Need for the Project
• Safety: – Steep vertical grades/lack of
shoulders
– Sharp curves on bridge approaches
• Maintenance: – Steel structure over salt water
– Built about 50 years ago
– Experiencing high and increasing maintenance costs
• Mobility: – Need for better access to bridge
by motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists
Environmental and Public Involvement
Need for the Project
• Harbor Bridge/SH 286 improvements needed to address: – Connectivity to local streets
• Navigation: – Need for higher/wider clearances for ships entering Port of Corpus
Christi
Environmental and Public Involvement
Environmental and Public Involvement
Environmental Documentation
• Published Revised Notice of Intent published in Federal (3/20/07) and Texas (4/6/07) Registers
• Revised socio-economic environment draft section for extended limits
• Submitted draft Historic Resources Survey Report for original project limits
• Coordinated with the City of Corpus Christi concerning project effects on parks for original project limits
Environmental and Public Involvement
Environmental Documentation (cont.)
• Prepared environmental constraint maps of adjacent corridor
• Completed environmental justice tech memo for original project limits
• Completed some baseline chapters of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental and Public Involvement
Public Involvement Activities
• Agency and Public Scoping Meetings June 2005
• CAC #1 (Corpus Christi and Portland) Sept 2005
• Newsletter #1 Sept 2005
• Project Web site goes live Feb 2006
• CAC #2 (Corpus Christi and Portland) Mar 2006
• Newsletter #2 Apr 2006
• Public Meeting Apr 2006
Environmental and Public Involvement
Public Involvement Activities (cont.)
• Meetings with neighborhood groups adjacent to
SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway):
– April 24, 2007 – Kelsey Memorial United Methodist Church
– April 25, 2007 – Boys and Girls Club
• Newsletter #3 May 2007
• Agency and public scoping meetings May 2007
Dave Johnston, P.E.
Project ManagerURS Corporation
Next Stepsin Harbor Bridge Project
Next Steps
• Environmental Documentation
• Revise Need and Purpose to address revised project and study limits
– Identify need for SH 286 Roadway Improvements
• Safety concerns
• Upgrade to current design standards
• Connectivity to local roads
• Poor Level of Service
• Increasing traffic demand
Next Steps
Environmental Documentation (cont.)
• Revise Need and Purpose to address revised project and study limits
– Address consideration of tolling options including managed lanes
Next Steps
Environmental Documentation (cont.)
• Address New Project (Construction) Limits– Complete development of affected environment section
for DEIS
– Begin environmental consequences section of DEIS
– Continue coordination with City of Corpus Christi on impacts to parks and city facilities
– Expand assessment of historic properties
– Expand assessment of relocations and effects on low income and minority groups
– Assess toll-related socioeconomic issues
Next Steps
Environmental Documentation (cont.)
• Address New Study Limits
– Complete the development of affected environment section for DEIS
– Assess toll-related socioeconomic issues
– Assess access changes to neighborhoods
– Assess traffic noise
Next Steps
Schematic Development
• Set final typical cross-sections to accommodate future travel demand (red and orange corridors)
• Set right-of-way footprints – allows for determination of displacements, relocations and effects on other resources
Next Steps
Proposed Typical Sections
Next Steps
Public Involvement Activities
• Additional meetings of Citizens’ Advisory Committees in 2007 and future years
• Public meeting in fall 2007
• Newsletter
• Website with continuously updated information
• Neighborhood meetings as requested
• Public hearing in 2008
Funding Options
Funding Options
• TxDOT must find new sources of funding, for example:– Using one or more “managed” lanes with toll– Managed lane separated in some way from other lanes
of traffic. – Managed lane allows traffic to flow more quickly and/or
to generate money needed for highway/bridge construction and maintenance.
Funding Options (cont.)
• However, managed lanes with tolling only used for added capacity--drivers will always have a choice of whether to drive on tolled lanes versus “free” lanes
• A variety of funding sources in addition to tolling will be considered
Project Schedule
Project Schedule
• Complete Revised Need and Purpose – June 2007
• Revise schematics for new project limits – Fall 2007
• Hold Public Meeting – Fall 2007
• Complete draft EIS – Fall 2008
• Hold Public Hearing – 2008
• Complete final EIS/Record of Decision – 2009
• Acquire right-of way – 2009 – 2011
• Construction – Depends on availability of funding
Your Comments
Contact information
Victor Vourcos, P.E.
TxDOT Project Manager
TxDOT Corpus Christi District
1701 S. Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9907
Phone: 361-808-2378
www.harborbridgeproject.com