Loop 9 Transportation Study

Project Information

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is being developed to establish the transportation need and purpose within the project area; identify and evaluate a range of transportation alternatives that would address the identified project need and purpose; assess the impact of the transportation alternatives compared to a no action alternative, describe the avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation of any adverse environmental impacts; and outline public and agency participation.

The maps found on the website are dated 2009, and depict the alignment alternatives presented at the last public meeting. Shifts from prior alignment alternatives were made to address the change in project design speed (design speed is different than the actual posted speed limit) from 70 m.p.h. to 85 m.p.h. The design speed change required that the curves be reevaluated to ensure that they meet current design criteria. As a result of this evaluation, many of the curves within the alternatives needed to be altered (i.e. flattened-out). This change also affected the potential environmental resources, thus requiring further shifts to avoid or minimize potential resources.

The facility is planned to be constructed on a 450-600-foot right-of-way (ROW). All major interchanges (US 287, US 67, IH 35, IH 45, US 175 and IH 20) may require additional ROW depending on the number of ramps needed to connect main lanes and frontage roads (typical interchange will look like IH 20 and IH 35). At major arterial crossings (Joe Wilson, Cockrell Hill, SH 342, etc.), the ROW will typically flare out in order to accommodate on and off ramps. The design of the road will attempt to minimize ROW to the extent possible. Loop 9 is an individual local study, independent of other ongoing studies in the area and statewide.

The project maps are preliminary schematic maps, for use in the environmental evaluation process. Based on the initial design of each alternative, the Loop 9 study team will investigate some 15-20 environmental items (wetlands, endangered species, historical, etc.). All findings will be documented in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). At any time during the process, an alignment could shift in order to avoid any critical issues or sensitive sites. Therefore, please understand the alignment(s) are preliminary and subject to change.

Following mandatory National Environmental Policy Act standards, both alternatives and a "no-build" option will be evaluated equally and documented in the DEIS. A final, single alternative will not be selected until after the DEIS has been published and a Public Hearing conducted. Local government recommendations alongside information within the DEIS, comments received from federal, state, regional agencies and the public will be considered, and a recommended alternative will be presented in the Final EIS. The FEIS will then be circulated for public and agency comments, and following a waiting period, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) may issue a Record of Decision (ROD).