CSJ#: 0353-03-059, 0353-03-079, 0364-01-072, 0364-01-112, 0364-01-113, 0364-01-115 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1 I. NEED AND PURPOSE FOR PROPOSED PROJECT ...................................................................5 II. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING FACILITIES....................................................................................7 A. Existing Facilities..............................................................................................................................7 B. Existing Land Use ..........................................................................................................................13 III. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED FACILITIES ..............................................................................14 A. Proposed Facilities.........................................................................................................................14 B. Anticipated Land Use.....................................................................................................................23 IV. ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................24 A. Study Process ................................................................................................................................24 B. Alternatives Considered.................................................................................................................25 C. Alternatives Evaluation...................................................................................................................27 D. Preferred Alternative ......................................................................................................................27 V. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.................................................................................29 A. Social and Economic Issues ..........................................................................................................29 1. Economic and Business Impacts...................................................................................................29 2. Land Use Changes........................................................................................................................30 3. Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................31 4. Environmental Justice ...................................................................................................................31 5. Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Risks.......................................................................38 6. Pedestrian Safety ..........................................................................................................................38 7. Mobility and Access Effects...........................................................................................................39 8. Airway/Highway Clearance ...........................................................................................................39 9. Public Facilities and Services........................................................................................................39 10. Other Community Impacts............................................................................................................40 11. Construction Impacts & Construction Phase Effects....................................................................42 B. Displacements................................................................................................................................42 C. Detours...........................................................................................................................................44 D. Utility Relocations, Adjustments.....................................................................................................45 E. Natural Resources .........................................................................................................................45 1. Vegetation .....................................................................................................................................45 2. Wildlife ...........................................................................................................................................51 3. Threatened and Endangered Species ..........................................................................................51 4. Migratory Birds ..............................................................................................................................56 5. Farmland .......................................................................................................................................56 6. Water Quality.................................................................................................................................56 7. Natural Resources and Energy Supply .........................................................................................63 F. Hazardous Materials ......................................................................................................................64 G. Air Quality Assessment..................................................................................................................65 1. Ozone and Carbon Monoxide .......................................................................................................66 2. Congestion Management Process ................................................................................................67 3. Mobile Source Air Toxics...............................................................................................................69 H. Noise ..............................................................................................................................................71 I. Cultural Resources.........................................................................................................................75 1. Archeology.....................................................................................................................................76 2. Standing Structures.......................................................................................................................77 J. Section 4(f) Properties ...................................................................................................................78 VI. INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS..........................................................................................79 A. Indirect Impacts..............................................................................................................................79 Environmental Assessment – DFW Connector – April 2009 i CSJ#: 0353-03-059, 0353-03-079, 0364-01-072, 0364-01-112, 0364-01-113, 0364-01-115 Table of Contents B. Cumulative Impacts........................................................................................................................89 VII. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................117 A. Identification & Rationale for the Preferred Alternative................................................................117 1. Proposed Action ..........................................................................................................................117 2. Support Rationale........................................................................................................................117 3. Summary of Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Commitments ........................................118 4. Recommendation for Alternative Selection and for a FONSI......................................................123 VIII. REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................124 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Cross Reference to Environmental Resource Categories Assessed by FAA ....................3 Table 1.1 2005, 2006 and 2007 Crash Data for DFW Connector.......................................................6 Table 2.1 Description Of Existing Project Facilities ..........................................................................12 Table 2.2 Land Use In The Cities Of Grapevine And Southlake (2000)...........................................13 Table 3.1 Proposed Improvements In The Metropolitan Transportation Plan ..................................21 Table 3.2 Population And Employment Growth For The Cities Of Grapevine And Southlake And Tarrant County, 2000 - 2030.............................................................................................23 Table 5.1 Project Area Population and Race/Ethnicity, 2000 ...........................................................32 Table 5.2 Block Level Population and Race/Ethnicity, 2000 ............................................................33 Table 5.3 Project Area Median Household Income and Poverty Levels ..........................................34 Table 5.4 Limited English Proficiency, 2000.....................................................................................37 Table 5.5 Commercial Building Displacements ................................................................................43