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