Projects
Information about location-specific projects, both planned and under construction, is organized by county. Learn more about the Mobility35 projects:
To learn more about the Mobility35 vision for the Travis County corridor, take a look at the Mobility35 Implementation Plan.
Project Phasing
Phases 1 – 5 represent the stages a project must go through, from a concept to construction. These phases are used throughout project descriptions to identify the project's current stage. The brief descriptions below identify activities that take place during each phase. Public involvement is a critical element of project development that occurs throughout each of the five project phases. A project cannot progress to Phase 3 until funding is identified.
Phase 1 – Conceptual Planning for Corridor
In this phase, engineers lay out all possible initial conceptual designs, many of which are contributed through the public involvement process by people like you. Engineers consider all alternatives to determine which provide the greatest benefits for the most reasonable costs. The concepts are shared with the public at an Open House for consideration and input by the public.
Phase 2 – Implementation Plan for Corridor
In Phase 2, concepts are narrowed based on public input, the results of the technical analysis, and the environmental impacts. A concept might appear to be a great solution but its impacts to the community or the environment might be so substantial that it is not feasible. In other cases, a project might minimally impact the community and environment but the cost is too high. Finding a balance of between costs, mobility improvements and impacts is a challenge for each project and your input can help identify the best solution.
Phase 3 – Environmental/Design Studies
In Phase 3, the concepts are narrowed again to the alternatives that most effectively meet the project's purpose, need and objectives. The alternatives move from preliminary design in Phase 2 to detailed design in Phase 3. At this point, the project should simultaneously move through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
NEPA was signed into law January 1, 1970 and established national environmental policy and goals for the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of the environment and a process for implementing these goals within the federal agencies.
There are three levels of NEPA analysis. Agencies may:
a. Apply a Categorical Exclusion (CE): A CE requires the least amount of analysis and is typically reserved for projects within the right of way with very limited impacts.
b. Prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA): An EA is the next level of environmental documentation and typically compares a number of alternatives, including a No-Build Alternative.
c. Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): An EIS requires the most detailed level of analysis and often compares different combinations of alternatives alongside a No-Build alternative to achieve the most beneficial outcome.
If TxDOT finds upon review of a CE or an EA that a project requires a deeper level of analysis, the Agency can initiate the next level of NEPA documentation. The objective is to ensure that all reasonable alternatives are completely analyzed to determine potential impacts. The Agency ensures this occurs.
Phase 4 – Construction Plans, Right-of-Way & Utilities Coordination
Following completion of the environmental documentation process under NEPA, the development of detailed construction plans, right-of-way assessment and coordination of utility relocation begins in Phase 4.
Phase 5 – Letting and Construction
Following construction completion, right-of-way and utility coordination, TxDOT will "let", or release the project for bidding to the construction industry. Construction companies will then submit bids to complete construction of the project given parameters outlined in the bid documents created by TxDOT.
