TxDOT Holds Public Meeting To Discuss New Park Entrance

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) El Paso District will conduct a Public Meeting for the proposed Franklin Mountains State Park entrance project on: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Canutillo High School 6675 South Desert Boulevard, El Paso TX 79932 

The public meeting will be conducted in an open-house format. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to do so at their convenience between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Maps of the project area and other displays will be available for review and comment. TxDOT staff will be available to answer questions. All handouts will be presented in English and Spanish. Parking will be available in the school parking lot.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the proposed project and gather input from the public. The proposed project would consist of reconstructing the existing entrance from Loop 375 into the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. The project was initiated due to concern expressed by the public and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) regarding safety and access to the park.

After evaluating several alternatives, TxDOT and TPWD determined that reconstructing the existing entrance to include grade-separated access from the Loop 375 frontage roads would be the preferable build option. The proposed design would depress the park entrance below the Loop 375 mainlanes. This proposal would allow for safe ingress and egress into and out of the Tom Mays Unit, maintain traffic flow on Loop 375, and provide pedestrian crossings under the Loop 375 mainlanes.

Persons interested in attending the Public Meeting that have special communication or accommodation needs are encouraged to contact the TxDOT El Paso District Public Information Officer, Blanca Del Valle, at (915) 790-4200 at least two working days before the meeting. TxDOT will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate special needs as requested. 

Written comments from the public regarding this project are encouraged. Comments may be submitted either at the Public Meeting or within 10 days after the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to the following address: Blanton & Associates, Attn: Loop 375 at the Franklin Mountains State Park Entrance, 5 Lakeway Centre Court, Suite 200, Austin TX 78734. Comments may also be e-mailed to ELP-FMSParkEntrance@txdot.gov.

Comments must be postmarked on or before Saturday, April 20, 2013 to be included as part of the public record. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail, please contact Ms. Martha Gandara, TxDOT Project Manager, at (915) 790-4255.