TxDOT gets caught in DECEPTION on 281 toll project
In what amounts to a total victory for the grassroots, TxDOT has to ask the court for a 60 day delay in the 281 lawsuit so they can beg the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NOT to yank their environmental clearance for the 281 toll project. Through the discovery process of our lawsuit, the Judge required TxDOT to hand over the complete administrative record for 281, including all the stuff from when the improvements were funded with gas taxes that would keep 281 a FREEway. It's been discovered that TxDOT withheld key documents not only from the public and our attorneys, but also the feds!
There are a heap of emails that show TxDOT tried to "fix" the environmental work for 281 to pre-determine a "Finding of No Significant Impact" (or FONSI) BEFORE the study even began. They rigged it! That is a DIRECT VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW! TxDOT then hired a company, HNTB, to do the so-called "independent" environmental study even though HNTB has a MAJOR conflict of interest, in that, the tolling authority (ARMA) also hired HNTB to do the preliminary engineering for all their toll projects! So HNTB had a vested interest in a "Finding of No Significant Impact" (or FONSI).
Then, it's also been discovered that TxDOT purposely withheld a key study from a geologist they hired that stated the potential harmful effects of the toll road on the Edwards Aquifer. Such a study didn't conclude what TxDOT wanted it to in order to get clearance from the feds, so they intentionally hid the report and failed to submit it to the FHWA who uses that crucial information in their decision on whether or not to give federal approval for the project.
!
TxDOT, thanks to our lawsuit, now has to submit these documents to the feds who will completely re-consider their previous approval of the 281 toll road. It's likely the feds will yank their environmental clearance for the toll road in light of this deception by TxDOT. If they don't, the court is likely to do it for them. So TxDOT is in total damage control mode and released a statement about their motion for a 60 stay in our lawsuit that tries to minimize what the documents reveal and, of course, blames us for the delay instead of their own incompetence and deception. As usual, they seem to think they can wiggle out of their corruption without consequences simply by supplementing the record. They were FORCED to come clean through a lawsuit brought by concerned citizens, not by them being forthcoming.
Read more on T.U.R.F.
Showing posts with label FONSI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FONSI. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
FHWA grants environmental clearance for projects in the Dallas area
TxDOT - May 8, 2006
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for several projects in the Dallas area. Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human environment.
Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on I-35E in Denton County, SH 121 and US 75 in Collin County and FM 982 in Collin County.
Located between FM 2181 and US 380, I-35E will widen from four mainlanes and a two-lane frontage road to eight mainlanes and three-lane frontage roads in each direction. The 11-mile project allows for a future reversible managed HOV lane in the median. The cost of the project is more than $357 million.
Located in McKinney, Allen and Fairview, the SH 121 project includes reconstructing an interchange at SH 121 and US 75. The location of the proposed interchange is SH 121 from Hardin Boulevard to SH 5 and US 75 from Ridgeview Road and Eldorado Parkway. The cost of the proposed project is approximately $102 million.
Proposed construction for FM 982 is located between US 380 and FM 546. The 5.4-mile project includes adding shoulders to the existing two-lane highway. The cost of the project is an estimated $15 million.
NEWS RELEASE
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for several projects in the Dallas area. Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human environment.
Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on I-35E in Denton County, SH 121 and US 75 in Collin County and FM 982 in Collin County.
Located between FM 2181 and US 380, I-35E will widen from four mainlanes and a two-lane frontage road to eight mainlanes and three-lane frontage roads in each direction. The 11-mile project allows for a future reversible managed HOV lane in the median. The cost of the project is more than $357 million.
Located in McKinney, Allen and Fairview, the SH 121 project includes reconstructing an interchange at SH 121 and US 75. The location of the proposed interchange is SH 121 from Hardin Boulevard to SH 5 and US 75 from Ridgeview Road and Eldorado Parkway. The cost of the proposed project is approximately $102 million.
Proposed construction for FM 982 is located between US 380 and FM 546. The 5.4-mile project includes adding shoulders to the existing two-lane highway. The cost of the project is an estimated $15 million.
NEWS RELEASE
SH 114 Improvements Cleared Environmentally
TxDOT - June 7, 2007
Planned improvements to State Highway 114 (SH 114) from 0.22 miles west of County Line Road to 0.45 miles west of FM 156, in the city of Fort Worth, has received environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The clearance allows the state to advance the project into final engineering and to begin property acquisition negotiations which would offer motorists a vital transportation improvement to a congested roadway in Denton County.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) obtained a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) from the FHWA on May 24, 2007.
The approved FONSI was based on an Environmental Assessment submitted by TxDOT that was independently evaluated by the FHWA and determined to “adequately and accurately discuss the environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project.’’
“This is a major milestone in the development of this roadway,’’ said William L. Hale, TxDOT’s Dallas District Engineer. “We now look forward to finalizing negotiations with our local partners to make this project a reality.”
SH 114 is proposed to be widened from a two-lane, undivided rural road to a four-lane, divided facility that follows the existing alignment.
Additional improvements would include the construction of two bridges and nine drainage culverts for an overall estimated cost of more than $30 million.
The project is 4.56 miles long and is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2009.
NEWS RELEASE
Planned improvements to State Highway 114 (SH 114) from 0.22 miles west of County Line Road to 0.45 miles west of FM 156, in the city of Fort Worth, has received environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The clearance allows the state to advance the project into final engineering and to begin property acquisition negotiations which would offer motorists a vital transportation improvement to a congested roadway in Denton County.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) obtained a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) from the FHWA on May 24, 2007.
The approved FONSI was based on an Environmental Assessment submitted by TxDOT that was independently evaluated by the FHWA and determined to “adequately and accurately discuss the environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project.’’
“This is a major milestone in the development of this roadway,’’ said William L. Hale, TxDOT’s Dallas District Engineer. “We now look forward to finalizing negotiations with our local partners to make this project a reality.”
SH 114 is proposed to be widened from a two-lane, undivided rural road to a four-lane, divided facility that follows the existing alignment.
Additional improvements would include the construction of two bridges and nine drainage culverts for an overall estimated cost of more than $30 million.
The project is 4.56 miles long and is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2009.
NEWS RELEASE
Feds Approve Three Projects in Denton and Collin Counties
FMTxDOT - June 12, 2007
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for roadway projects on FM 407, FM 2934 and FM 2478 (Custer Road) in Denton and Collin Counties.
Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human or natural environment.
Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on FM 407 in Denton County from west of Briarhill Boulevard to the intersection of FM 407 and FM 1830; FM 2934 in Denton County from FM 423 to the Dallas Parkway; and FM 2478 in Collin County from Stonebridge Drive to US 380.
Plans for FM 407 include converting the existing two-lane, undivided, rural roadway into a four-lane, divided, urban roadway with curb and gutter. Left-turn lanes would be placed at various intersections along the project. The six-mile project is an estimated $36.7 million and could begin later this summer.
Work on FM 2934 will consist of widening the existing roadway to a six-lane urban thoroughfare with curb and gutter, and an enclosed storm drain system. Turn lanes would also be added at selected intersections. The 2.7 mile project is more than $18 million. Construction is also tentatively scheduled for later this summer.
Finally, the Custer Road project will include reconstructing the existing roadway as a four-lane curb and gutter, divided roadway. Other proposed work includes raising the median for future expansion to a six-lane divided facility. The 3.4 mile project costs an estimated $18.8 million. The start date for this project is subject to available funding
NEWS RELEASE
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for roadway projects on FM 407, FM 2934 and FM 2478 (Custer Road) in Denton and Collin Counties.
Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human or natural environment.
Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on FM 407 in Denton County from west of Briarhill Boulevard to the intersection of FM 407 and FM 1830; FM 2934 in Denton County from FM 423 to the Dallas Parkway; and FM 2478 in Collin County from Stonebridge Drive to US 380.
Plans for FM 407 include converting the existing two-lane, undivided, rural roadway into a four-lane, divided, urban roadway with curb and gutter. Left-turn lanes would be placed at various intersections along the project. The six-mile project is an estimated $36.7 million and could begin later this summer.
Work on FM 2934 will consist of widening the existing roadway to a six-lane urban thoroughfare with curb and gutter, and an enclosed storm drain system. Turn lanes would also be added at selected intersections. The 2.7 mile project is more than $18 million. Construction is also tentatively scheduled for later this summer.
Finally, the Custer Road project will include reconstructing the existing roadway as a four-lane curb and gutter, divided roadway. Other proposed work includes raising the median for future expansion to a six-lane divided facility. The 3.4 mile project costs an estimated $18.8 million. The start date for this project is subject to available funding
NEWS RELEASE
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