Final Environmental Assessment US 377 Relief Route CSJs: 0080-11-001 and 0080-12-001 City of Cresson, Hood and Johnson Counties, Texas Fort Worth District Date: August 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 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 A. Need and Purpose for the Proposed Project .............................................................................. 2 1. Need .......................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 4 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING FACILITY ........................................................................................ 5 A. Existing Facility Design / Conditions ........................................................................................... 5 B. Land Use ....................................................................................................................................... 5 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY .................................................................................... 5 A. No-Build Alternative ..................................................................................................................... 6 B. Conceptual Alternatives ............................................................................................................... 6 C. Preferred (Build) Alternative ........................................................................................................ 7 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ............................................................................................................. 8 A. Community Impacts Assessment ................................................................................................ 8 1. Regional and Community Growth ........................................................................................... 8 2. Right of Way Requirements, Relocations, and Displacements .......................................... 10 3. Community Cohesion ............................................................................................................ 11 4. Environmental Justice ........................................................................................................... 12 5. Public Facilities and Services ............................................................................................... 16 6. Detours .................................................................................................................................. 17 7. Utility Relocations / Adjustments ......................................................................................... 17 B. Natural Resources .................................................................................................................... 18 1. Description of Natural Regions and Vegetation Type ......................................................... 18 2. Vegetation Description and Impacts .................................................................................... 19 3. Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................. 23 4. Migratory Birds ...................................................................................................................... 30 5. Farmland Issues .................................................................................................................... 30 6. Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 31 7. Texas Parks and Wildlife Coordination ................................................................................ 35 C. Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................................. 35 D. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 38 E. Noise .......................................................................................................................................... 47 F. Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 51 1. Archeology ............................................................................................................................. 52 2. Standing Structures .............................................................................................................. 53 G. Section 4(f) Properties .............................................................................................................. 54 H. Items of Special Nature ............................................................................................................ 54 I. Indirect Effects .............................................................................................................................. 55 J. Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 69 V. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................................................. 81 VI. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS, ISSUES AND COMMITMENTS ...................................................... 82 VII. RECOMMENDATION FOR ALTERNATIVE SELECTION AND A FONSI ........................................... 87 US 377 Cresson Mobility Project i August 2017 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Accidents Reported on US 377 and SH 171 ............................................................................... 3 Table 2: Population Data ............................................................................................................................. 4 Table 3: Population and Employment Trends and Forecasts ................................................................... 9 Table 4: Project Area Population That Speaks English “Less Than Very Well” ..................................... 12 Table 5: Demographic Data for Proposed Project Area .......................................................................... 14 Table 6: Income Data for the Proposed Project Area ............................................................................. 15 Table 7: Vegetation Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 20 Table 8: Federal and State Listed Threatened/Endangered/Species of Concern in Hood and Johnson Counties ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 Table 9: Waters of the U.S. ....................................................................................................................... 33 Table 10: Natural Gas Wells in Proposed Project Area .......................................................................... 35 Table 11: Federal and State Environmental Database Search ............................................................. 37 Table 12: Congestion Management Process Strategies ........................................................................ 39 Table 13: Noise Abatement Criteria......................................................................................................... 48 Table 14: Traffic Noise Levels dB(A) Leq ................................................................................................. 50 Table 15: Level of Effort Required for Indirect Impacts Analysis ........................................................... 55 Table 16: Population Growth Rate and Forecast .................................................................................... 58 Table 17: Existing Land Uses within the AOI ........................................................................................... 59 Table 18: 2007 US 377 Weekday Average Traffic Counts ..................................................................... 66 Table 19: Resources Considered for the Cumulative Impacts Analysis ................................................ 70 Table 20: Resource Study Area for Affected Resources ......................................................................... 72 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Project Location Map Figure 2: USGS Topographic Map Figure 3: Aerial Map Figure 4: Plan View Figure 5: Typical Sections Figure 6: Hazardous Materials Map Figure 7: Indirect Effects Area of Influence Map Figure 8: Cumulative Impacts Natural Resources Resource Study Area Map Figure 9: Cumulative Impacts Air Quality Resource Study Area Map LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A: EA Classification Memo Appendix B: Project Area Photographs Appendix C: Coordination Letters Appendix D: Wetland Data Forms Appendix E: TIP/MTP Pages US 377 Cresson Mobility Project ii August 2017 I. INTRODUCTION This Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates the social, economic,