A secondary access route to connect South Padre Island and the Texas mainland will benefit area residents and visitors by improving safety, increasing mobility, and encouraging economic development.

The Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing a transportation project providing a second access point to and from the island. The development of the South Padre Island 2nd Access Project started several years ago with the initiation of an environmental process that included a series of public and stakeholder meetings to gather valued input and identify issues important to the community. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared to determine potential impacts to the human and natural environment in the study area, which is located within Cameron County.

Recently, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for further processing. This significant step clears the way for the environmental process to go to the next level. A Public Hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2012, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the South Padre Island Convention Center, located at 7355 Padre Blvd., on South Padre Island. The Public Hearing will begin with an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During this time, the DEIS, displays of the proposed alternatives and other project information will be available for viewing. Project team members will be available during this time to answer questions. At 6:30 p.m., a presentation will be given, followed by the public comment period. The official Notice of Public Hearing, which includes additional information, can be found by clicking HERE. A copy of the DEIS can be viewed on this website by clicking HERE.

If approved to move forward, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) would be prepared after the Public Hearing. The recommended preferred alternative would be further studied in the FEIS and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for review and approval.

If the FEIS is approved by the FHWA, the public and agencies will be given an additional opportunity to comment with the ultimate goal of a 'Record of Decision' (ROD). If a ROD is reached, it is anticipated that construction would take three years to complete.