Draft Environmental Assessment FM 2001 Improvement Project, Austin District From I-35 to SH 21 CSJ: 1776-02-018 Hays and Caldwell Counties, Texas January 2017 The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT [This page left blank intentionally] FM 2001 Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Proposed Project Limits ................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Description of Existing Facility ....................................................................................... 2 2 PURPOSE AND NEED .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Purpose of the Proposed Action ....................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Improve Safety .......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 System Linkage ......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.3 Improve Mobility ...................................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 6 2.3 Need for the Proposed Action .......................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Increasing Congestion and Discontinuous Roadway Cause Unreliable Operations 7 2.3.2 Geometric Deficiencies Cause Safety Concerns....................................................... 8 3 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 9 3.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Existing Facility ............................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Preliminary Alternatives ................................................................................................ 10 3.3.1 Alternative A ........................................................................................................... 10 3.3.2 Alternative B ........................................................................................................... 15 3.3.3 Alternative C ........................................................................................................... 15 3.3.4 Alternative D ........................................................................................................... 15 3.3.5 No-Build Alternative .............................................................................................. 16 3.4 Public Response to Preliminary Alternatives ................................................................. 16 3.5 Reasonable Alternatives ................................................................................................. 16 3.6 Recommended Alternative ............................................................................................. 25 3.6.1 Selection of the Recommended Alternative ........................................................... 25 3.6.2 Proposed Facility .................................................................................................... 26 CSJ: 1776-02-018 i January 2017 FM 2001 Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment 4 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............. 27 4.1 Resources Eliminated from Further Study ..................................................................... 27 4.1.1 Section 4(f)/6(f) and Chapter 26 Properties ............................................................ 27 4.1.2 Airway-Highway Clearance.................................................................................... 27 4.1.3 U.S. Coast Guard Permits ....................................................................................... 27 4.1.4 Coastal Coordination .............................................................................................. 28 4.1.5 Essential Fish Habitat ............................................................................................. 28 4.1.6 Wild and Scenic Rivers ........................................................................................... 28 4.2 Land Use ........................................................................................................................ 28 4.2.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 28 4.2.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 39 4.3 Geology, Soils, and Farmlands ...................................................................................... 40 4.3.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 40 4.3.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 51 4.4 Utilities/Emergency Services ......................................................................................... 51 4.4.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 51 4.4.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 51 4.5 Socioeconomic Resources .............................................................................................. 52 4.5.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 52 4.5.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 63 4.6 Air Quality...................................................................................................................... 66 4.6.1 Project Conformity.................................................................................................. 66 4.6.2 Carbon Monoxide Traffic Air Quality Analysis ..................................................... 66 4.6.3 Mobile Source Air Toxics ....................................................................................... 67 4.6.4 Congestion Management Process ........................................................................... 72 4.6.5 Construction Emissions .......................................................................................... 72 4.7 Traffic Noise Analysis ................................................................................................... 73 4.7.1 Background Information ......................................................................................... 73 4.7.2 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 74 CSJ: 1776-02-018 ii January 2017 FM 2001 Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment 4.7.3 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 75 4.8 Water Resources ............................................................................................................. 84 4.8.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 84 4.8.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 93 4.9 Ecological Resources ................................................................................................... 109 4.9.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................... 109 4.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 129 4.10 Archeological Resources .......................................................................................... 134 4.10.1 Regulatory Framework ......................................................................................... 134 4.10.2 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................... 134 4.10.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 138 4.11 Historical Resources ................................................................................................. 138 4.11.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................... 138 4.11.2 Potential Impacts to Historic Properties ............................................................... 140 4.12 Hazardous Materials/Waste .....................................................................................