FIRM PRACTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
 AND APPROVAL OF TRANSPORTATION
 PROJECTS CONTINUES TO GROW

The Firm's Environment and Land Use practice group continues to experience growth in the area of environmental review and approval of transportation projects, including particularly roads and highways. This is a rapidly evolving area of law and policy, with a number of significant recent initiatives towards streamlining environmental review and approvals, including a recent Executive Order issued by President Bush. Among the Firm's recent and ongoing projects in this area are the following:

• The Firm has served as Environmental Counsel to Williamson County, Texas on its $350 million road bond improvement program. This has involved early agency coordination and streamlining to obtain rapid project approvals. It has also involved development of an award winning regional approach to endangered species mitigation and the creation of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation. Using mitigation banking methodology and seeking available grant funding, the County's environmental compliance program has actually generated positive revenue for the County.
  
  
• The Firm has served on the HNTB team working for the Texas Turnpike Authority on the preparation of an EIS for SH 45 Southeast, a major new toll corridor planned for Southeast Travis County. This project will provide a critical multi-modal corridor as well as a connection to the planned IH-35 alternate 130.
  
  
• The Firm has joined the HNTB/HDR team for planning and environmental work for the Trans Texas Corridor Program announced by Governor Perry. This is the most ambitious transportation project in the history of Texas, and the team's work will include preparation of a Tier 1 EIS and development of a region-wide, multiple resource mitigation program. Work is expected to begin in September 2003.
  
  
• The Firm was recently retained by the City of Fort Worth to advise it in connection with the proposed SH 121 project, which is being developed under a Tri-Party Agreement with TxDOT and NTTA.

These matters build on a breadth of experience of Firm attorneys, including a variety of legislative efforts relative to transportation infrastructure and assisting in the environmental review and approval of Texas' lone private toll road, Camino Colombia. For information about this practice, please contact Alan Glen.