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Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District U.S. 181 (Harbor Bridge) Environmental Documentation and Schematic Development Citizens Advisory Committee March 7-8, 2006 Slide 2 Welcome Slide 3 Tonights Agenda Introductions Project status and schedule New approaches to transportation project funding Public input process for design guidelines for new bridge Alternative alignments for new bridge Preparation for public meeting Slide 4 Project Status Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Schematic Development Public Involvement Slide 5 EIS Conducted field survey of historic resources in January 2006 Began draft park land impact evaluation (T.C. Ayers Park) The red and orange corridor will be studied in detail Ready to begin impact evaluation of proposed alignments Slide 6 Schematic Development Continued to develop alternative alignments TxDOT prepared review comments on four alternatives. Met Jan 23 with the City of Corpus Christi, MPO, and the Port of Corpus Christi Slide 7 Public Involvement Developed project website: www.harborbridgereplacement.com Planned CAC meetings Held stakeholder meetings Slide 8 Need for New Approach to Transportation Project Funding Slide 9 Transportation Funding Issues Who pays? How much do we pay? Why do we have a problem with transportation funding? What does the future hold? Slide 10 Who Pays? Federal government TxDOT Both None of the above Slide 11 Who Pays? You pay Slide 12 How Much Do We Pay? State gas tax - $0.20/gal of gas consumed Federal gas tax - $0.184/gal of gas consumed Slide 13 Is the State Gas Tax Spent Just on Highway Construction? Federal gas tax 90% returned to Texas State gas tax 60% spent on highways Slide 14 Public Schools 24 ($695.1 million) TxDOT 59 ($1.702 billion) Other 4 ($120.9 million) DPS 13 ($376 million) How the state fuel tax is spent? Slide 15 Why Do We Have a Problem with Transportation Funding? Recent studies indicate that: Passenger cars used 209 gallons less in 2002 than 1970. Trucks used 220 gallons less in 2002 than 1970. However, we drive twice as many miles today than 25 years ago. Slide 16 Why Do We Have a Problem with Transportation Funding? 19802003% Increase Population14 million22 million57% Vehicles11.7 million18.9 million61% Lanes miles175,000189,000 8% Slide 17 State Gas Tax Trends $0.30 $0.25 $0.216 $0.20 $0.15 $0.10 $0.075 $0.05 $0.024 $0.00 19632003 Purchasing Power in 2003 Source: Edward J. Regan, Moving Off the Gas Tax: Implications for the Toll Industry, August 2004, Tollways. Slide 18 What Does the Future Hold? More fuel efficient vehicles By 2010, fuel consumption reduced another 30 to 40% Slide 19 What Does the Future Hold? (cont.) Great for the environment Great for conservation Great for reducing our reliance on foreign oil Slide 20 What Does the Future Hold? (cont.) But not so great for transportation funding. particularly if we continue to rely on the gas tax Slide 21 What Does the Future Hold? (cont.) Texas population is projected to be 36 million in 2025an increase of 64% Slide 22 What Does the Future Hold? (cont.) SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER? Slide 23 What Does the Future Hold? (cont.) Short term now until about 2020 Long term After 2020 Slide 24 Long Term Direct User Fees: Pilot Program currently underway by Oregon DOT Participants do not pay a gas tax Instead, participants pay a user fee based on distance traveled Vehicles and pumps equipped with GPS technology Slide 25 Short Term Expansion of toll roads Tax on highly fuel efficient vehicles Increased investment from the private sector in the funding of highways Indexing the gas tax to inflation Slide 26 Bridge Design Alternatives Slide 27 Two Corridors for Further Study Slide 28 Main Span and Navigation Clearance 1642 800 Channel 200 Proposed Red Corridor Alignment Slide 29 Main Span and Navigation Clearance 860 300 Channel 200 Proposed Orange Corridor Alignment Slide 30 Potential Span Lengths Red Alignment = 1642 ft. Orange Alignment = 860 ft. Slide 31 Bridge Type vs. Span Length Segmental Truss Arch Cable Stayed 0 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 Steel Box Suspension 200 600 200 600 500 1,200 500 1,200 600 1,600 1,500 Span in Feet Source: FHWA Slide 32 Truss Bridges Slide 33 Harbor Bridge, Corpus Christi Slide 34 Trois River Bridge, Quebec Slide 35 Taylor-Southgate, Cincinnati, OH Slide 36 Arch Bridges Slide 37 Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, WI Slide 38 Freemont Bridge, Portland, OR Slide 39 Roosevelt Lake Bridge, NV Slide 40 Suspension Bridges Slide 41 William Preston Lane Bridge over Chesapeake Bay Slide 42 Carquinez Bridge, CA Slide 43 New Tacoma Narrows Bridge Slide 44 Suspension Bridge Construction Slide 45 Slide 46 Cable Stayed Bridges Slide 47 Fred Hartman Bridge, Baytown, Texas Slide 48 Kap Shui Mun Bridge, Hong Kong Slide 49 Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Boston, Mass. Slide 50 Pomeroy-Mason Bridge, Ohio Slide 51 Cable Stayed Bridge Construction Slide 52 Slide 53 Comparative Tower Heights 404 One Shoreline Plaza South Tower Slide 54 Aesthetic Design Parameters Slide 55 Bridge Location Slide 56 Regional Context Slide 57 Historic and Local Context Slide 58 What structures and buildings do you consider emblematic of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge Region? What features of the existing Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge do you think are valuable/attractive? Should the new Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge stand out or blend in with the surroundings? Which views of the new bridge are important: Drivers view from bridge when crossing The view from the shoreline Other views What visual elements of the new bridge would be important to you? Bridge Design Guidelines Slide 59 What structures and buildings do you consider emblematic of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge Region? Slide 60 What features of the existing Harbor Bridge do you think are valuable/attractive or could be improved? Slide 61 Slide 62 Should the new bridge stand out or blend in with the surroundings? Slide 63 Which views of the new bridge are important: Drivers view from new bridge when crossing? The view from the shoreline? Other views? Slide 64 Harbor Bridge Replacement A beautiful, cost-effective, community landmark Slide 65 Alternative Alignments Slide 66 Study Limits for Harbor Bridge Replacement Beach St. Morgan Ave. Broadway St. Nueces Bay Blvd. IH 37 SH 286 US 181 Slide 67 Existing Interchanges and Alignments SH 286 (Crosstown Expy.) @ Morgan St./19 th St. Morgan St. 19th St. Slide 68 Existing Interchanges and Alignments SH 286 (Crosstown Expy.) @ Agnes St. & Laredo St. Agnes St. Laredo St. Slide 69 Existing Interchanges and Alignments SH 286 (Crosstown Expy.) @ Comanche St. & Lipan St. @ Leopard St. @ IH 37 Leopard St. Lipan St. Comanche St. Slide 70 Existing Interchanges and Alignments IH 37 @ Nueces Bay Blvd./ Buddy Lawrence Dr. Nueces Bay Blvd. Buddy Lawrence Dr. Slide 71 Existing Interchanges and Alignments IH 37 @ Port Ave. & Brownlee Blvd. Port Ave. Brownlee Blvd. Slide 72 Existing Interchanges and Alignments IH 37 @ US 181 Staples St. US 181 Buffalo St. Slide 73 Existing Interchanges and Alignments US 181 @ Burleson St./Breakers Ave. @ Beach Ave. Beach Ave. Burleson St./Breakers Ave. Slide 74 Feasibility Study Results Establish need and purpose for the project Identify environmental constraints Identify corridors for further study Slide 75 Two Corridors for Further Study Slide 76 Factors to be Considered Current access Design criteria Environmental constraints Projected traffic Slide 77 Proposed Red Corridor Alignment Slide 78 Proposed Orange Corridor Alignment Slide 79 Existing Access Slide 80 Proposed Access Slide 81 Existing SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 SH 286 Slide 82 Proposed SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 SH 286 Legend To be removed New to be added Existing to remain Slide 83 Proposed SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 Ramps North of Morgan are removed SH 286 Slide 84 Proposed SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 Ramps South of Leopard are removed SH 286 Slide 85 Proposed SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 Southbound Brownlee shifted to new frontage road SH 286 Slide 86 Proposed SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 New eastbound frontage road on IH 37 SH 286 Slide 87 SH 286 Access Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanche St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 SH 286 Morgan Ave. Agnes St. Laredo St. Comanc he St. Lipan St. Leopard St. IH 37 SH 286 Existing Proposed Slide 88 Existing IH 37 Access Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. IH 37 Slide 89 Proposed IH 37 Access IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Legend To be removed New to be added Existing to remain Slide 90 Proposed IH 37 Access Ramps between Nueces Bay and Port are braided IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 91 Proposed IH 37 Access Southbound Brownlee shifted to new frontage road IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 92 Proposed IH 37 Access New eastbound frontage road provided on IH 37 IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 93 Proposed IH 37 Access Westbound entrance from Brownlee removed IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 94 Proposed IH 37 Access Ramps east of Brownlee removed IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 95 Proposed IH 37 Access Ramps east of Staples removed IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 96 Proposed IH 37 Access New interchange with Broadway to be determined IH 37 Nueces Bay Blvd. Port Ave. Staples St. US 181 Brownlee Blvd. Slide 97 Proposed IH 37 Access Nueces Bay Port Staples US 181 IH 37 Nueces Bay Port Staples US 181 Brownlee IH 37 Existing Proposed Slide 98 Existing US 181 Access Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. US 181 To Portland Slide 99 Proposed US 181 Access US 181 Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. Legend To be removed New to be added Existing to remain Slide 100 Proposed US 181 Access Ramps south of Burleson are removed US 181 Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. Slide 101 Proposed US 181 Access Ramp west of Burleson changed to on ramp US 181 Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. Slide 102 Proposed US 181 Access Ramps to Joe Fulton trade corridor to be determined Joe Fulton US 181 Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. Slide 103 Proposed US 181 Access Joe Fulton US 181 Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. Causeway Blvd. Burleson St. Beach Ave. Breakers Ave. US 181 Existing Proposed Slide 104 Your Ideas for Harbor Bridge Replacement Your feedback Your input