Tuesday's Internet Edition, July 08, 2008.
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Inset shows enlarged view of Lee County. |
After the completion of Tier I of the environmental studies, authorities at the Trans-Texas project (TTC-35) have identified four corridors that go across the state from Mexico to Oklahoma. Three of the four corridors proposed go through Lee County. Each of the proposed paths is four to ten miles wide. One goes through the eastern portion of the county, then travels through the City of Giddings. A wider track goes through the west side of Highway 77, traveling through the county. A third proposed path catches the far west corner of Lee County.
Continuing the Texas Department of Transportation’s series of meeting to get public input, TxDOT is holding a public meeting regarding the project on Wednesday, March 9, in Giddings at the American Legion Hall on South Hwy 77 starting at 5 pm and ending at 8 pm. County Judge Evan Gonzales was instrumental in getting this meeting set up in Lee County.
Residents will be given an opportunity to find out more information about the proposed corridors, how the project may affect their lives, and give feedback to TxDOT authorities at this meeting.
Governor Rick Perry unveiled the 30 to 50 year Trans-Texas project in January 2002. Citing increased traffic congestion, reduced transportation safety, poor air quality, and limited economic opportunities throughout the state, the Governor made the case for a transportation system that he envisions meets the needs for tomorrow. He outlined his vision for a new transportation system that includes roads, rail and utilities.
TxDOT is using a tiered environmental approach to help them study the impact of the project. The process of a tiered environmental study is similar to a traditional environmental study. The initial study is called Tier One and focuses on the entire project (from end to end), whereas the additional studies in Tier Two are focused on smaller sections of the larger, overall project. As the environmental process moves from Tier One to Tier Two, the study area will be narrowed resulting in a final route for the project.
For example, the initial study for the Oklahoma to Mexico/Gulf Coast element begins with an area 800 miles long and includes 77 counties. Upon completion of the initial study, the project size could be narrowed to approximately 10 miles wide. The next step is to begin the additional studies in Tier Two using the refined study area to determine a final route for the project. Completion of Tier Two studies will authorize construction.
Initially, several environmental and engineering factors were taken into account: national and state parks, wildlife refuges, military bases, critical habitat for endangered species, urbanized areas, lakes and reservoirs. The locations of these “constraints” were identified on a base map then, using a computerized program, paths were found around the constraint areas. This method served to identify desirable (shortest, flattest) paths while also minimizing environmental impacts.
After additional public input and environmental analysis, the corridor alternatives were further refined. As currently identified, the corridor alternatives range in width from four to 10-miles wide. The four-mile wide corridors are those that follow existing road and rail lines. In refining the corridor alternatives, efforts were made to further minimize impact to the environmental factors.
The March 9 meeting will be held in open-house fashion, allowing citizens to review the preliminary corridor alternatives; learn about TTC-35 and the environmental study; ask questions; provide input; and submit comments for the record.