Our last posting introduced you to the Peer Technical Review Committee (PTRC) that collaborates with the Alamo RMA to ensure technical and environmental concerns are heard and considered in regards to the US 281 EIS. Well, this week we would like to introduce you to another committee that was developed to ensure that community concerns are directly heard and considered.

A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) has been formed that is comprised of representative groups that live or work along the US 281 corridor. The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee is to be a voice of the community related to the EIS process; work together with design, transportation, and environmental professionals to provide input and feedback for the development of long-term mobility solutions in the US 281 corridor. The committee advises the US 281 team on the following aspects of the EIS process:Public involvement and communication activities with stakeholders and the general public related to the development of the EIS; Development of the need and purpose for improvements on US 281; Identification of improvement alternatives; Identification of the Preferred Alternative; and Consideration of potential social, economic and environmental impacts and mitigation measures.

While the Community Advisory Committee is not required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the US 281 EIS, this advisory group has been established by the Alamo RMA to further ensure that members of the community who may be affected by potential improvements to US 281 have ample opportunity for input and feedback.

To learn more about the Community Advisory Committee and to see what organizations are involved click here Community Advisory Committee - US281EIS. While you're there, click on "EIS Comments" to let us know what you think about the Community Advisory Committee and/or the US 281 EIS process.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the US 281 EIS Joint Lead Agencies (TxDOT and the Alamo RMA) have created a Peer Technical Review Committee (PTRC) to provide a range of expertise at key coordination points throughout the EIS process including: Development of the Need and Purpose to improve the US 281 corridor; Identification of the range of improvement options for the US 281 corridor; Collaboration on overall methods used for the US 281 EIS; Completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Identification and refinement of the Preferred Alternative; and Completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The Committee, which is chaired by FHWA as the responsible federal agency, had its first meeting in November 2009 and will continue to work cooperatively throughout the project to provide input on data and methodologies for the Environmental impact Statement process.

Members of the Peer Technical Review Committee include: Federal Highway Administration; Alamo Regional Mobility Authority; Texas Department of Transportation; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Edwards Aquifer Authority; Bexar County; San Antonio – Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization; VIA Metropolitan Transit; San Antonio Water System; and City of San Antonio. Learn more about these organizations by visiting their websites.

The next US 281 Public Meeting #3 is now scheduled for April 2010. Keep checking the www.411on281.com website for more information.

In order to better inform the public and connect with users, the Alamo RMA will soon launch an updated, user-friendly, and redesigned website at www.411on281.com/US281EIS. The new site will have a number of interactive elements to keep you up-to-date with what's going on with the US 281 EIS process.

A few features of the new site will include: Transportation 101 Section--Find definitions of the transportation lingo used throughout the process, acronym explanations, and a comprehensive list of participating agencies and their role in the project Interactive Press Room--Media members and the public can subscribe to receive media advisories, press releases, and email updates Info, Info, Info -- FAQs, newsletters, Community Advisory Committee information, previous meeting materials, pictures, comprehensive calendar of events, and more detailed information regarding the US 281 EIS process Stay tuned to learn more about the revamped web site. Once the new site is up and running in the coming weeks, we'll be sending out notices encouraging everyone to check it out.

We always look forward to hearing from you; please send your comments to the EIS email box at US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org.

The Alamo RMA is going full speed ahead in 2010 with the US 281 Environmental Impact Process! We want to keep you updated about what's been going on within the EIS process...

Enthusiastic feedback was received at the second Public Scoping Meeting held in November 2009. Once all results from the Public Scoping Meeting have been recorded, it will be available for public viewing at www.411on281.com/US281EIS. We hope you'll check out what your friends and neighbors think about the preliminary alternatives for the US 281 corridor.

Also, to allow for additional technical input from the various cooperating and participating agencies involved in the US 281 EIS, the Federal Highway Administration established a US 281 EIS Peer Technical Review Committee. This Committee will meet periodically throughout the EIS process as the alternatives are being considered and evaluated for US 281. This will help ensure all agencies are involved as the EIS moves forward. As we look forward to the year ahead...

It was originally estimated that the US 281 EIS Public Meeting #3 would be held in February 2010; however this meeting has now been moved to April 2010 to allow for a more thorough analysis of the alternatives. Please be on the lookout for updated information regarding the EIS process, and as always, please continue to stay involved. We'll also be launching a revamped 4-1-1 on 2-8-1 web site in the near future... Stay tuned!

Your feedback is welcome anytime. Please send all comments to the EIS email box at US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org.

Thanks again and we look forward to your continued involvement in the US 281 EIS process during this New Year!

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2nd US 281 EIS Public Scoping Meeting on November 17th. Attendees at the meeting learned about the preliminary range of alternatives being considered for the US 281 corridor and the process for evaluating these alternatives. Also, a big thank you to everyone who submitted a comment at the public meeting, or through the EIS web site, the EIS email box (US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org), fax or regular mail. Your comments are a vital part of the EIS process, so we appreciate you taking the time to let us know what you think. Although comments are welcomed anytime during the EIS process, to be included in the public meeting record for the November meeting, comments had to be received by the November 30th deadline. Any comments received after that date will be included in the meeting record for the 3rd public meeting taking place during Spring 2010.

What is the public meeting record? The public meeting record documents all aspects of the public meeting including the purpose of the meeting, how it was publicized, what was presented at the meeting, and the response from the community. All comments received by the November 30th deadline will also be responded to within the second public meeting record. When this record is completed, it will be available for public viewing at www.411on281.com/US281EIS. Everyone who included their contact information with their comment will receive notification once the public meeting record has been posted to the web site. We hope you will check out this meeting record to read what your friends and neighbors think about the alternatives for the US 281 corridor.

Thanks again and we look forward to your continued involvement in the US 281 EIS process!

Plan on attending the second US 281 EIS Public Scoping Meeting on November 17th! This will be unlike any other public meeting you've attended for the US 281 corridor...here's how it will work:

• There will be display exhibits full of information and EIS team members around to answer your questions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Spring Hill Event Center. A court reporter and comment cards will be available throughout the meeting if you'd like to submit a comment for inclusion in the EIS public record. Feel free to arrive any time during this open house period, but please make sure you're at the meeting by 6:30.

• At 6:30 p.m. we'll begin a presentation that describes the preliminary range of alternatives being considered for the US 281 corridor and the process for evaluating and developing them.

• At 7:00 p.m. we'll break into small working groups of 8 to 10 people. Each group will have a facilitator to guide you through exercises to help you answer the following questions: Do these preliminary alternatives capture the range of alternatives that should be considered in the US 281 corridor? Do the objectives define the type of improvements you would like to see in the US 281 corridor? Do the alternatives that have been carried forward represent options you would like to see studied in more detail?

• Finally at about 8:00 p.m., we'll come back together as a large group to share each other's thoughts and ideas that were discussed in the small groups.

These small working groups are what make this public meeting different from previous meetings, because they give you an opportunity to share with your neighbors, and other users of US 281, what type of improvements you think should be considered for this corridor. If you're one of the many people who want to share your opinion, but you get stage fright speaking in front of large groups, then the November 17th meeting will be a good time to let us know what's on your mind.

As we move forward with the EIS process, alternatives will continue to be evaluated, so now is your chance to participate in the alternatives development process from the beginning. Even if you attended the first public meeting, or you've already submitted a comment, please continue to be involved in the EIS process by attending the November 17th meeting. Remember to tell your friends and neighbors; don't forget your participation is vital to the success of this EIS process...

2nd US 281 EIS Public Scoping Meeting: November 17, 2009 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Open House: 5:30–6:30 p.m. Presentation: 6:30–7:00 p.m. Small Group Work Sessions: start at 7:00 p.m.

Spring Hill Event Center (Traveling north on US 281, turn right immediately before Overlook Parkway) 2455 Celebration Drive San Antonio, Texas 78261

See you there!

The first public scoping meeting on August 27, 2009 focused on the need and purpose for improvements within the US 281 corridor. At the first meeting our community was asked, "Which needs should be addressed and which transportation options would best meet your needs within the US 281 corridor?" Based on comments expressed by the public, government agencies, and the Community Advisory Committee a set of four distinct but interrelated purposes were determined for improvements within the US 281 corridor. Any improvements in the US 281 corridor should:

• Accommodate travel demand by addressing Growth • Enhance mobility as well as accessibility within the corridor to improve Functionality • Improve Safety in the corridor • Enhance Quality of Life for users of US 281 and the surrounding community

Thank you for helping to identify the need and purpose for the EIS study! BUT, we still really need your help...

Using your comments from the first public scoping meeting we have developed a list of preliminary alternatives for the US 281 corridor north of Loop 1604 and 16 objectives which provide a framework for screening these alternatives. At the public meeting on November 17th, you'll learn about the preliminary range of alternatives being considered for the US 281 corridor and the process for evaluating these alternatives.

Most importantly, you'll have an opportunity to participate in the alternatives development process by discussing what long-term solutions you'd like to see implemented on US 281.

The format of the November 17th meeting will be different from the first EIS public meeting in August. At this November meeting, you'll be able to have a conversation and share ideas with other users of US 281 about the preliminary range of alternatives being considered. Be on the lookout for this Wednesday's blog to get all the details so you're ready to participate in the conversation on November 17th.

Please mark your calendars for this important meeting...Your comments will continue to help shape the future of the US 281 corridor!

2nd US 281 EIS Public Scoping Meeting: November 17, 2009, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Open House: 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Presentation: 6:30–7:00 p.m.

Small Group Work Sessions: start at 7:00 p.m.

Spring Hill Event Center (Traveling north on US 281, turn right immediately before Overlook Parkway) 2455 Celebration Drive San Antonio, Texas 78261

Many of you who drive US 281 everyday are probably asking yourself this question. The answer is that an Enviornmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the most robust and comprehensive environmental clearence process which includes high-level public involvement and coordination with multiple agencies and organizations, along with the detailed analysis of impacts of proposed improvement alternatives. An average EIS analysis is completed in about five years; however the Alamo RMA has made a commitment to the community to complete the US 281 EIS process in three years, bringing a long-term solution sooner rather than later to one of the most congested corridors in the country. Conducting an EIS will ensure that all alternative improvement options (additional lanes, overpasses, transit, etc.) are available for consideration by the public.

Future blogs will focus on and give you more information about the preliminary range of improvement alternatives being considered for the US 281 corridor and the process for evaluating and developing them. We hope you will particpate so that you can learn about the types of preliminary alternatives being considered.

Please join us ...

2nd US 281 EIS Public Scoping Meeting November 17, 2009 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Open House: 5:30–6:30 p.m. Presentation: 6:30–7:00 p.m. Small Group Work Sessions: start at 7:00 p.m.

Spring Hill Event Center (Heading north on US 281, turn right immediately before Overlook Parkway) 2455 Celebration Drive San Antonio, Texas 78261

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hello 411-on-281 visitors! This blog is now dedicated to the US 281 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study. Please visit this blog regularly to stay up-to-date on what's happening with the US 281 EIS. If you'd like to keep up with the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (Alamo RMA), please visit the Director of Community Relations Leroy Alloway's blog at http://voices.mysanantonio.com/leroyalloway/.

Whether you've been following the US 281 EIS study from the beginning, or you're just now learning about the study, thank you for taking the time to visit this web site and become involved! For this study to be a true success, it's imperative for the community to participate every step of the way.

A lot has been going on in the last month...The first US 281 EIS Public Meeting was held on August 27 to discuss the need and purpose for this study. If you were unable to attend this meeting, click on "Environmental Impact Statement" on the main 411on281 page to view meeting documents and materials. The EIS team is currently reviewing comments received from the first community meeting. They're also reviewing comments received from this web site (www.411on281.com/US281EIS), the US 281 EIS email (US281EIS@AlamoRMA.org), and faxed and mailed-in comments to the Alamo RMA address. Almost 200 comments were received prior to the September 8th deadline. These comments are now being placed into the official EIS record for this first meeting and once finalized, this record will be available for you to review on the official US 281 EIS web site. This will give you a chance to read what your friends and neighbors are thinking about the need and purpose for improving the US 281 corridor.

Although the first comment deadline has passed; Please continue to submit comments! All comments received now will be included in the official EIS record for the next public meeting. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for mid-November. We'll be sure to let everyone know once this date and location have been finalized. In the meantime, check back to this web site regularly to stay up-to-date on what's happening with the US 281 EIS.

Don't forget to also follow us on Twitter and add 411-on-281 as your friend on Facebook!

We are quickly approaching June 30, and the Community Open House on the US 281 Super Street project. We are looking forward to helping answer questions the community has on how the Super Street project will impact traffic on US 281, and what type of travel savings the community can hope to see from this project.

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