20260506-004, MoPac South Project — original pdf

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City of Austin Environmental Commission ____________ MoPac South Environmental Study Briefing May 6, 2026 MoPac South • Limits: Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane • Length: Approximately 8 miles • Project Status: Environmental Study, Draft Environmental Assessment published • Recent Activity: – Public Hearing: March 9 to May 3, 2026 • Current Activity: – Review all comments – Prepare Public Hearing Report • Next Steps: – Prepare final Environmental Assessment 2 Public Hearing Overview • Virtual Public Hearing Completed: March 9, 2026 through May 3, 2026 • In-person Public Hearing Completed: March 24, 2026 • Promoted via: Social media, postcards to residents, newspaper ads, media outreach, agency newsletter, variable message sign boards on the corridor • Comment Received Via: – In writing at the in-person Public Hearing – Online – Email – Mail – Voicemail • 79-day review period • 55-day comment period • All comments received will be reviewed and posted with responses as part of the NEPA process. 3 Public Hearing Materials At both the In-person and Virtual Public Hearing, participants viewed: – The Draft Environmental Assessment and accompanying Technical Reports – Information on Project history and the NEPA process – Environmental findings on topics including but not limited to water quality, air quality, cultural resources, and traffic noise. – Preliminary Project schematic and proposed Bike/Pedestrian Improvements – Official Public Hearing Presentation Video – Video fly-through – Information on how to submit comments 4 Environmental Assessment (EA) • The study type and process are determined by TxDOT’s Environmental Affairs Division under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) assignment from the Federal Highway Administration. The preparation of an EA or EIS was discussed and confirmed with TxDOT on several occasions throughout the process, including in early 2026 as we finalized the draft EA.   • TxDOT and FHWA classified the MoPac South environmental document as an Environmental Assessment based on factors including minimal ROW needs for some alternatives being studied, no relocations or displacements required, and consistency with the CAMPO RTP. • There is no difference in the resources studied for an EA or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). • There is no difference in the consultation process for endangered species for an EA or an EIS. • An Environmental Finding of no Significant Impact or a Record of Decision for an EA or EIS, respectively, both consider the measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts. • TxDOT will determine IF there are no significant impacts considering measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts OR if an EIS is necessary because significant impacts were determined. 5 Purpose and Need Developed with input from the Public *Reexamined in 2024 based on the CAMPO 2045 Model Purpose: What are we trying to do? • Provide an opportunity for reliable travel times • Improve operational efficiency • Create a dependable and consistent route for transit • Facilitate reliable emergency response Need: What problems need to be addressed? • Current and forecasted congestion levels are creating unreliable travel times • Emergency response times are impacted by traffic congestion • Forecasted population and employment growth in Travis and Hays counties • Under the No-Build Alternative (Do Nothing), travel delays are expected to increase 6 Public Input 7 Environmental Stewardship Carried forward from 45SW Toll • Water quality  Exceed TCEQ standards  Maximize treatment per City of Austin (COA) Save our Springs water quality approach • Tree and vegetation  All plantings will be native • Design phase  Technical working groups with COA, BSEACD, Travis County: water quality, multimodal transportation, utilities • Construction phase  Independent Environmental Compliance Manager with stop work power MoPac South • Water quality  Total Suspended Solids (TSS) non degradation (remove 100% TSS)  Goal to improve water quality by removing more than 100% TSS • Tree and vegetation  Tree replacement ratios will be equivalent to or better than COA • Parkland  Temporary use during construction only  Maintain access and creating new trail access  Periodic closures planned at night 10 pm to 5 am 8 Environmental Evaluations The CTRMA role is to prepare technical studies and the EA. Oversight agencies (TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division, USFWS, TPWD, Department of Interior) review and issue findings. 9 Water Quality (WQ) Northern section has no existing WQ treatment Southern section has underperforming WQ treatment WQ will be at least as good as existing conditions Goal is to exceed 100% TSS increase during design • Permeable Friction Course Pavement • Vegetative Treatment • Proprietary Treatment Units • Sed/Sand Filtration & Batch Detention 10 Mitigation Commitments: • The Mobility Authority is committed to a minimum water quality standard of treating 100% of TSS annual loading for all new impervious cover exceeding the TCEQ required 80% removal. • A dedicated Environmental Compliance Manager will be on site during construction to ensure compliance with TPDES CGP and SW3P requirements and environmental commitments. • Operate and maintain the corridor without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides except where approved to treat invasive species. • The SW3P will implement the mitigation commitment to: o materials use, storage, containment and disposal. o any sensitive features encountered during construction will be addressed in conformance with TCEQ rules and TxDOT void mitigation protocols. • The Project will ensure compliance with the historical commitment for the MoPac South corridor by: o o o providing permanent BMPs that treat the first ½” of runoff; providing BMPs to function as hazardous material traps in case of spills in the corridor; coordination during design phase with the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Travis County, and the City of Austin. Phase the Project and minimize clearing/grubbing areas, mark avoidance areas, and revegetate with native plant species. • Provide appropriate best management practices (BMP) to minimize construction phase erosion and sedimentation, and regarding Karst Resources 2 of 5 sensitive karst recharge features in the right- of-way would be impacted. Gaines Sink (MPS-4): A new Shared Use Path will be placed in the drainage area of MPS-4: Mitigation Commitments: • Identifying Sensitive Features during environmental study and committing to maintaining drainage areas, providing buffers around them in design, and maintaining them during construction • Committing to protocols for feature discovery and void mitigation during construction The runoff from the developed area will be drained away from MPS-4. Implements will be added that discourage access to MPS-4. • TxDOT Void Mitigation Details protocols comply with the Optional Enhanced Measures • During construction, proposed Project activities would be Solution Cavity (MPS-7): The proposed roadway encroaches into the surface drainage area: The runoff from the developed area will be directed away from MPS-7. The surface area will be maintained at 0.09 acres by placing a vegetated earth berm to redirect an equal acreage of undeveloped area to MPS-7. guided by an Environmental Compliance Management Plan (ECMP), which would include protocols designed to avoid environmental impacts. As part of the ECMP, an Environmental Compliance Manager (ECM) would be on site to monitor construction activities and BMP performance. The ECM would have the authority to stop work and call for a trained hydrogeologist to review voids and provide direction in compliance with the Optional Enhanced Measures; and enact adaptive management actions, including work stoppage and BMP maintenance and repair, as situations warrant. 11 Biological Resources Conservative approach to estimate number of impacted salamanders: similar to acknowledge conservative approach of the BSEACD and COA Habitat Conservation Plans Most of corridor is a widening in areas of fill for the existing roadway Pre-coordination is continuing with TxDOT and USFWS Environmental finding cannot be issued until consultation with USFWS is concluded and a biological opinion (BO) is issued. The USFWS is responsible for issuing a BO which contains measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts. Mitigation Commitments: • All WQ mitigations are foundational for biological resources • Provide pre-construction awareness and reporting training • Provide an on-call construction monitor for all ground- disturbing activities, geotechnical boreholes, karst voids, and surveys • Disturbed and undeveloped areas are to be revegetated according to regulations • Conservation measures included in the Project as described in the draft EA will benefit salamanders, springs, recharge features, and karst invertebrates • • The final EA will contain conservation and mitigation measures developed through formal consultation with United States Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Parks and Wildlife Department BMPs will be implemented *Reexamined based on 2024 CAMPO RTP 12 Protected Lands There are no permanent uses or easements, or constructive uses to parklands or historic properties protected under Section 4(f), Section 6(f), or Chapter 26. The analysis are reviewed by TxDOT, TPWD, and Department of Interior. Nine park/trail facilities will have temporary occupancy use during Project construction. 13 Mitigation Commitments: • Include temporary BMPs to control erosion during construction and delineate areas not to be disturbed • Prepare and execute public involvement communication plans for closures and detour routes for trail and park users during construction • Planned closures nighttime (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) • Replace and reconstruct the park fence with replica materials and patterns. The Mobility Authority will coordinate with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department to ensure the appropriate type of fence is provided as replacement • Provide migratory bird nesting and bat habitat surveys prior to clearing and grubbing activities • Restore and revegetate all areas disturbed by construction activities • Lighting for night work would be downward shielded, low temperature, and use amber-colored lights, while maintaining safety for construction workers • Replace trees at a rate equal to the City of Austin regulations. The MA will share the tree survey with the COA PARD and collaborate on ways to avoid removal, protect and preserve trees. Alternatives Considered No Build (“Do Nothing”) *Reexamined in 2024 based on the CAMPO 2045 Model Reexamined based on 2024 CAMPO RTP Add General Purpose Lane(s) in each direction Add High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane(s) in each direction Add Transit Only Lane(s) in each direction Add Express Lane(s) in each direction Transportation Systems Management (TSM)/ Transportation Demand Management (TDM) 14 Evaluation Criteria 15 *Criteria was developed collaboratively with stakeholders and using input gathered from Open Houses #1 and #2. Build Alternative Why Express Lane(s): 16 Operational Configurations Considered *Reexamined in 2024 based on the CAMPO 2045 Model 1A. One Express Lane with Downtown Direct Connection Not recommended based on: 2A. Two Express Lanes with Downtown Direct Connection 1B. One Express Lane without Downtown Direct Connection 2B. Two Express Lanes without Downtown Direct Connection 3. Partner Proposal Option 17 • Public preference for no elevated lanes over Lady Bird Lake • Public concerns about connectivity so close to Austin High School • Operation efficiency and safety reduced due to merging • Collector distributors require wider bridges and additional right-of-way through Zilker Park • Public preferences for less right-of-way Build Alternative Two Express Lanes Up to two express lanes in each direction between Cesar Chavez Street and Slaughter Lane, connecting with the existing MoPac Express Lane at Cesar Chavez Street. Southbound Northbound Existing single express lane A single express lane Single lane becomes two lanes near Barton Skyway Single lane becomes two lanes north of Davis Lane Two lanes return to a single lane after the Davis Lane exit Two lanes return to a single lane after the Cesar Chavez/5th St/ Enfield Exit near Barton Skyway 18 Recommended Build Alternative Why 2C: Two Express Lanes with Elevated Ramps near Barton Skyway 19 Project Benefits CAPMETRO AND CARTS TRAVEL FREE OF CHARGE Travel Time Savings: • General purpose lane users can save 5 minutes in each direction ==> more than 40 hours a year • Express lane users can 14 minutes in each direction ==> more than 110 hours a year 20 ​ Non-Tolled Improvements Adding water quality to segments of the corridor that do not currently have any treatment CapMetro and CARTS travel free of charge Additional 8 miles of SUP to deliver more than 16 miles of a continuous, ADA-compliant bike and pedestrian facility Sixth Street and Cesar Chavez Street entrance ramps to southbound MoPac Widens existing bridge over Lady Bird Lake to five non-tolled general-purpose lanes in both directions South-to-north non-signalized U-turn at Barton Skyway Southbound non-tolled bypass lanes for Bee Cave Road and Barton Skyway entrance to southbound MoPac to bypass signals Repaved general-purpose lanes throughout corridor Shift the southbound Bee Cave Road exit ramp further north to allow for safer weaving for westbound Bee Cave Road traffic Ramp reversal north of Loop 360 northbound frontage road to reduce congestion at northbound Loop 360 intersection Ramp operational improvements on the northbound frontage road north of William Cannon 21 Next Steps Review and respond to Public Hearing comments Consider Project adjustments Submit Final Environmental Assessment to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) TxDOT to issue environmental finding 22 TxDOT to Issue Environmental Finding FONSI Design Phase: • Technical Working Groups • Noise Wall Workshops with Property Owners OR 45SW Toll process included BSEACD, Travis County, and City of Austin working through TWGs during design phase 23 EIS Required Thank You