TXFCP TxDOT Projects Layer Guide

IDENTIFYING TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IMPACTING FREEDOM COLONIES THE TEXAS FREEDOM COLONIES PROJECT ATLAS AND STUDY 2025

table of contents About These Layers ...................................................................................... 01 Glossary ................................................................................................................. 02 Changing the Future of Transportation Planning for Freedom Colonies ......................................................................................... 04 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) 05

About Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) ....................................................................................................................................... 06 Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act ......... 07 Knowing Which Projects Will Affect Your Community .................. 08

Accessing the TxDOT Project Layers ............................................. 09 Understanding the Pop-Up .................................................................... 10

Staying Connected and Getting Updates .................................... 11 Finding Your District .................................................................................... 12 Scanning and Exploring ................................................................... 13 - 14

ABOUT THESE LAYERS This booklet provides guidance on using The Texas Freedom Colonies Atlas. Information in the Atlas is organized by layers, and each layer displays a different kind of data. This booklet specifically covers layers that will help you identify transportation projects that may pose a threat to Freedom Colonies and to provide input during the project planning phase.

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Within this booklet, you will find: Tips for interpreting Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) layers Instructions for accessing the TxDOT layers Tools and regulations that descendants, community members and stakeholders can access to voice their concerns Glossary Terms The definitions of words and terms in bold blue font throughout this booklet can be found in the glossary on the following page.

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Whenever you see this icon, it means that a QR code to quickly access the resource is listed at the end of the guide in the “Scan and Explore” section.

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glossary district: a division of a town, city, or state made for political administration purposes.

In this guidebook, the districts referred to are TxDOT administrative districts. divides Texas into 25 districts.

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feasibility study: a study done before a project begins in order to decide if the project is possible or reasonable layer: an element of an online map, like the Atlas, containing specific information like district boundaries or demographic information. Layers can be turned on and off, and you can turn on more than one layer at once to compare the information in each. stakeholders: people who have an interest or involvement in something’s success. They may also be known as “consulting parties.”

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We are providing these layers to enable descendants who may not be full-time residents or landowners to remain aware of what is happening in their communities. Knowing about projects years in advance means that descendants aren't on the defense and then have an opportunity to ask questions and proactively co-plan with public agencies.

Dr. Andrea Roberts , PhD

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CHANGING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FOR FREEDOM COLONIES This layer shows the relationship between Freedom Colonies and highway projects, providing stakeholders with the information they need to offer their input to the agencies that oversee highway work, such as TxDOT. By law, stakeholders must be given the opportunity to provide input on such projects.

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Interstate 45 serves as a backdrop to the historic Fourth Ward Freedman's Town in Houston, Texas, a freedom colony.

SECTION 106 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT (NHPA) The National Historic Preservation Act was passed in 1966 to help protect historic sites and properties from being destroyed by infrastructure projects. Part of the Act, Section 106, states that any project receiving federal funding must evaluate its potential impact on historically and culturally important places, and reduce any harm caused to these places. For more about Section 106, see the resources at the end of this guide on page 13.

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It also states that stakeholders (also known as “consulting parties” in the language of Section 106) must be given the chance to comment on the potential impacts of a project. This guide provides you with resources to find out 1) how TxDOT projects may affect your community, and 2) provide TxDOT with your comments.

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ABOUT TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT)

TxDOT is responsible for federal and state transportation projects such as highways, interstates, state highways, FM and RM roads, and park roads. Typically, these projects are supported by funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), bringing the NHPA and Section 106 into effect.

If there are transportation projects in your community that are not found on this layer, it is likely because the project is locally funded or is funded by other transportation agencies.

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SECTION 4(F) OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACT

Section 4(f) of the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) Act of 1966 prohibits the FHWA and other USDOT agencies from using land from publicly owned parks, recreation areas (including recreational trails), wildlife and water fowl refuges, or public and private historic properties, unless there is no alternative to that use and the action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting from such use. TxDOT must comply with Section 4(f) because it represents the FHWA in Texas.

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knowing which projects will affect your community Left: A transportation project scheduled to begin in 5-10 years may affect Stringtown (northwest of Austin)

TxDOT makes data about their upcoming projects available to the public. Our team has taken this data and transformed it into layers for the Atlas.

The Texas Freedom Colonies Project Atlas contains three layers that will show you upcoming TxDOT projects: projects undergoing a feasibility study projects 5-10 years away projects at least 10 years away

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accessing the tXdot project layers 1. Click on "The Atlas: Map & Database” in the right-hand menu to view the Atlas.

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2. Agree to the terms and conditions of using the Atlas 3. Select the icon in the upper righthand corner in the green bar that looks like a stack of paper. This is the list of the Atlas’ layers.

4. Click the checkboxes next to “TxDOT Projects - 5 to 10 Years Away,” “TxDOT Projects - 10+ Years Away,” and/or “TxDOT Projects - Feasibility Studies” to turn on the layer(s).

5. Click on the colored line(s) on the map to learn more about a project.

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understanding the pop-up

When you click on a transportation project in the Atlas, a pop-up box with the following details will appear: the project district the project county the type of work (e.g. widening, resurfacing) the highway number where the project starts where the project ends the project ID the project status (e.g. active, closed) You can use these details to learn more about a project on TxDOT’s website, find out when and how to attend meetings, and submit comments to TxDOT.

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Staying connected and getting updates

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Enter your email on TxDOT’s public meetings page in order to be notified about upcoming opportunities to provide input on projects. This page also has a schedule of past and upcoming meetings.

There are multiple ways to contact TxDOT to provide comments. You can:

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Use the general question contact form Call or email a district office Contact a district’s historical studies planner (see following page)

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finding your district

The map above shows TxDOT’s historical studies contacts and their phone numbers by district.

They will be aware of the Section 106 process and can guide you on the best way to offer further input to TxDOT. Map appears courtesy of TxDOT Environment Affairs Division Cultural Resources Section

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SCANning AND EXPLORing Use the QR codes and links below to quickly access the resources mentioned throughout this guide.

The Texas Freedom Colonies Atlas https://www.thetexasfreedomcoloniesproject.com/atlas Referenced p. 1

TxDOT Administrative Districts https://www.txdot.gov/about/districts.html Referenced p. 2

A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/201701/CitizenGuide.pdf Referenced p. 5

Connecting People and the Past https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/env/beyond-theroad/connecting-people.pdf Referenced p. 5

A Guide to Getting Involved in TxDOT’s Historic Preservation Program https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/env/beyond-theroad/historic-preservation-process.pdf Referenced p. 5

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SCANning AND EXPLORing Use the QR codes and links below to quickly access the resources mentioned throughout this guide.

TxDOT’s Section 106 Training Series https://www.txdot.gov/business/resources/training/sec-106training.html Referenced p. 5 TxDOT’s Historic Preservation Page https://www.txdot.gov/about/campaignsoutreach/archeology-history/getting-involved-historicpreservation.html Referenced p. 5

TxDOT Hearings, Meetings, and Notices Schedule https://www.txdot.gov/projects/hearings-meetings.html Referenced p. 11

TxDOT General Question Contact Form https://www.txdot.gov/about/contact-us/ask-a-generalquestion.html Referenced p. 11

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PUTTING FREEDOM COLONIES ON THE MAP, ON POLICY AGENDAS , AND AT THE CENTER OF TEXAS HISTORY

THE TEXAS FREEDOM COLONIES PROJECT @TEXAS_FREEDOM_COLONIES THE TEXAS FREEDOM COLONIES PROJECT CHANNEL

FREEDOMCOLONIESPROJECT@GMAIL.COM

WWW.THETEXASFREEDOMCOLONIESPROJECT.COM

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