PUBLIC HEARING LOOP 375 FRONTAGE ROADS RECONFIGURATION FROM FM 76 (NORTH LOOP DRIVE) TO ZARAGOZA PORT OF ENTRY CSJ: EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS

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1 PUBLIC HEARING LOOP 375 FRONTAGE ROADS RECONFIGURATION FROM FM 76 (NORTH LOOP DRIVE) TO ZARAGOZA PORT OF ENTRY CSJ: EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS Del Valle High School July 25, 2018

2 Hearing Information Purpose of the Public Hearing: to solicit feedback from the community regarding proposed enhancements to Loop 375 from North Loop Drive to Zaragoza Port of Entry (POE) Options for Commenting: 1) Verbal comments for the official record will commence after the presentation 2) Written comments can be placed in the comment box 3) comments to: 4) Mail comments to: Blanton & Associates Attn: Loop 375 Frontage Roads 5 Lakeway Centre Court, Suite 200 Austin, TX Deadline for Comments: Thursday, August 9, 2018 ** Public Hearing Report will be posted at when analysis is complete. 2

3 Public Hearing Notice 3

4 Introductions Elected Officials Project Team Members 4

5 Agenda for Tonight s Public Hearing Welcome Project Overview Environmental Overview Intermission Public Comments Adjourn Public Hearing 5

6 Project Location Map 6

7 Purpose and Need Project Purpose The purpose of the project is to improve mobility and reduce congestion on Loop 375 by extending frontage roads across the Union Pacific railroad and reconfiguring ramps. Need The project is needed to address increased traffic congestion from current and anticipated growth in the project area. 7

8 Project Description Extend frontage roads over the Union Pacific railroad just north of SH 20 (Alameda Avenue) and Loop 375 intersection Reconfigure ramps in both the north and southbound directions Project Length: 2.4 miles Permanent Drainage Easements: 6.03 acres Temporary Construction Easements: 2.51 acres No displacements or relocations 8

9 Ramp Layouts Ramps between S. Americas Avenue and Pan American Drive Replace northbound entrance ramp from S. Americas Avenue with a new entrance ramp from S. Americas Avenue braided with an exit ramp to Pan American Drive Replace southbound exit ramp to S. Americas Avenue with a new exit ramp from S. Americas Ave braided with an entrance ramp from Pan American Drive 9

10 Ramp Layouts Ramps between Pan American Drive and Socorro Road Remove northbound exit ramp to Socorro Road and place a new entrance ramp from Pan American Drive Remove southbound entrance ramp from Socorro Road and place a new exit ramp to Pan American Drive 10

11 Ramp Layouts Ramps between Alameda Avenue and North Loop Drive Replace northbound entrance ramp from Alameda Avenue and exit ramp to North Loop Drive with ramps from the frontage road extension Replace southbound exit ramp to Alameda Avenue with a ramp from the frontage road extension 11

12 Existing Typical Sections Loop 375 frontage roads from North Loop to Zaragoza POE Each frontage road consists of three travel lanes with two 14-foot-wide lanes and a 12-foot-wide lane 12

13 Proposed Typical Section near Pan American Drive Loop 375 frontage roads and ramps near Pan American Drive Each frontage road consists of three travel lanes with two 14-foot-wide lanes and a 12-foot-wide lane Ramps would consist of a 14-foot-wide travel lane with 4-foot-wide inside shoulders and 6-foot-wide outside shoulders 13

14 Proposed Typical Section at Union Pacific Railroad Loop 375 frontage roads at the Union Pacific Railroad Southbound: one 12-foot-wide travel lane, one 14-foot-wide shared lane, and a 5-footwide sidewalk Northbound: one 12-foot-wide auxiliary lane, one 12-foot-wide travel lane, one 14- foot-wide shared lane, and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk 14

15 Project Planning and Funding Total Estimated Construction Cost: approximately $31.1 Million Funding Source: Federal and State funds 15

16 Environmental Overview The project was processed as a categorical exclusion (CE) Technical reports evaluated impacts to the human and natural environment Potential habitat for one state-threatened species and three species of greatest conservation need - Coordination with TPWD for New Mexico garter snake No anticipated impacts to archeological resources, community features, traffic noise, or water resources Access would be maintained to adjacent businesses throughout the project area 16

17 Section 4(f) and Chapter 26 Drainage easements and work adjacent to and above NRHPlisted Franklin Canal and other contributing features of the El Paso County Water Improvement District #1 (Water District) De minimis 4(f): project activities would not adversely affect the activities, features, or attributes that make the properties eligible for Section 4(f) of the DOT Act Project would comply with Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code No adverse effects to historic properties are anticipated 17

18 Air Quality Project located in a PM 10 air quality non-attainment area Air quality conformity consultation process was conducted On June 11, 2018, the Consultation Partners determined that the project is not of local air quality concern in accordance with 40 CFR (a) 18

19 Reviewing Project Information Project plans and the environmental documents are available for viewing tonight These documents can also be viewed at the TxDOT El Paso District Office at Gateway West, El Paso, TX until Thursday, August 9,

20 Next Steps Review and consider public hearing comments Finalize design Anticipated environmental clearance Summer 2018 Easement agreements Anticipated construction start

21 Intermission Intermission: A 15-minute intermission will begin Options for Commenting: 1) Verbal comments for the official record will commence after the presentation 2) Written comments can be placed in the comment box 3) comments to: kjohnson@blantonassociates.com 4) Mail comments to: Blanton & Associates Attn: Loop 375 Frontage Roads 5 Lakeway Centre Court, Suite 200 Austin, TX Deadline for Comments: Thursday, August 9, 2018 ** Public Hearing Report will be posted at when analysis is complete. 21

22 Verbal Comments 22

23 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 2:11 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 1:11 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 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 0:00

24 Thank You for Attending Options for Commenting: 1) Verbal comments for the official record will commence after the presentation 2) Written comments can be placed in the comment box 3) comments to: 4) Mail comments to: Blanton & Associates Attn: Loop 375 Frontage Roads 5 Lakeway Centre Court, Suite 200 Austin, TX Deadline for Comments: Thursday, August 9,