Title
Discuss proposed Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials Route Designation Plan.
Summary
The purpose of this item is provide the community information regarding the process to identify the proposed route(s) and the implementation schedule. The City of Austin is required to enact a Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials Route Designation Plan upon reaching a population threshold of 850,000 people. The Plan results in the designation of a route, or set of routes, for commercial motor vehicles transporting non-radioactive hazardous materials on roads or highways within the city's (Austin) boundaries and to submit the route to TxDOT for approval. Among the proposed routes is Toll 130 through Pflugerville.
The deadline for public input is January 13, 2019 in conjunction with the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) which is also being updated.
According to information provided to the CAMPO Technical Advisory Committee in early 2017, hazardous materials are substances that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has determined to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property when transported in commerce. NRHM are materials transported by motor vehicle in types and quantities which require placarding. Types of NRHM include explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, corrosive substances, and miscellaneous dangerous goods. Examples include gasoline, chlorine, diesel fuel, sulfuric acid, and propane. Routes for the transport of radioactive materials are designated separately from other hazardous materials due to their unique security and safety risks.
The Austin Transportation Department formed a project team with consultants TRC Environmental Corporation and Alliance Transportation Group, Inc. and is coordinating with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) on the NRHM routing designation process. The project work plan follows the required NRHM routing designation process established by Texas Administrative Code, Title 43, Part 1, Ch. 25, Sub-Chapter F, Rule §25.103, “Hazardous Material Routing Designations; Routing Designations by Political Subdivisions.” Major tasks associated with the project work plan include coordination with government agencies; public involvement; preliminary route identification; risk analysis; identification of a recommended set of routes; final route maps and descriptions; and route signage.
After the project team finalizes the list of proposed NRHM route designations, Austin City Council must officially approve them. To accomplish this, a local public hearing will be held in accordance with public hearing requirements. Once the public has had the opportunity to give feedback on the routes and updates are made where necessary, the Austin City Council will approve the proposed routes. Then, the proposal will be sent toTxDOT, which will hold its own public hearing. Barring any major concerns stemming from the public feedback, TxDOT will then approve the proposed routes. After approval, the City must officially enact the route designations through an ordinance. Finally, the City of Austin will work with TxDOT to plan and install the necessary route signage to guide NRHM transporters.
More information is available via https://austintexas.gov/hazmat
This item will be presented by Ms. Annick Beaudet with the City of Austin and Mr. Jim Harvey with Alliance Transportation Group.
Prior City Council Action
None.
Deadline for City Council Action
No action is being taken. Public comment closes on January 13, 2019.
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure __ N/A _X_
Budgeted Item: Yes __ No __ N/A _X_
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1295 Form Required? Yes __ No _X_
Legal Review Required: N/A _X_ Required __ Date Completed: ___________
Supporting documents attached:
1. Map: Proposed Routes
2. Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials Route Designation Study - Process Study Presentation
Recommended Action
This is a discuss only item, and no action is being taken.