Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District

1. Texas Department of TransportationCorpus Christi District Harbor Bridge Project U.S. 181 (Harbor Bridge)/SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway) Agency Scoping Meeting May 17, 2007

2. Welcome Victor Vourcos, P.E. Harbor Bridge Project Manager Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District Office

3. Today’s Agenda • 1:30 Introductions • 1:45 Presentation • 2:15 Discussion

4. 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

5. Introductions

6. Introductions • TxDOT Team • URS Consultant Team

7. Why Are We Here?

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. Why Are We Here?Revised Project and Study Limits

12. Project History

13. 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 Bridge should 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

14. Harbor Bridge Project History • Harbor Bridge Corridor Alternatives from the Feasibility Study • RED • ORANGE • GREEN • BLUE

15. 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

16. Environmental and Public Involvement Eddie Sutherland Environmental Task Leader URS Corporation

17. 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

18. 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

19. Environmental and Public Involvement

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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 meetingsMay 2007

24. Dave Johnston, P.E. Project ManagerURS Corporation

25. Next Stepsin Harbor Bridge Project

26. 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

27. Next Steps Environmental Documentation (cont.) • Revise Need and Purpose to address revised project and study limits • Address consideration of tolling options including managed lanes

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Proposed Typical Sections Next Steps

32. 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

33. Funding Options

34. 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.

35. 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

36. Project Schedule

37. 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

38. Your Comments

39. 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