Environmental Study
South Padre Island Second Access Project
TxDOT has reinitiated the environmental process for the South Padre Island Second Access Project in Cameron County, Texas; and is preparing a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The proposed project will explore alternate non-tolled connections from the Texas mainland to South Padre Island. The study limits are from SH 100 on the mainland, across the Laguna Madre, to PR 100 on South Padre Island.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process
TxDOT projects follow the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, or NEPA. Through this process, TxDOT assesses the environmental effects of projects prior to making decisions.
In compliance with NEPA, TxDOT is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the most rigorous study there is for transportation projects. An EIS involves a data driven evaluation, resource agency coordination and public involvement.
This environmental process serves as an analysis of potential impacts to the human and natural environment, and it is anchored by transparent decision-making and public involvement opportunities.
Environmental analyses and constraints
TxDOT collects and evaluates information on environmental constraints so efforts can be made to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential impacts. Information is collected from publicly available databases and information provided by resource agencies and the public. TxDOT must assess and avoid environmental constraints where possible. To the greatest extent feasible, TxDOT would avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts. The project team continues to identify available information, including mapping and databases from agency websites along with GIS data layers to develop natural resources and human environmental constraints maps of the study area and its surroundings. These data sources provide an overview of important features and resources for early consideration in the environmental planning process.
Agency roles in the environmental process
Many resource agencies participate in the development of an Environmental Study at local,
state, and federal levels. As lead agency, TxDOT has invited resource agencies and tribal nations to be involved in the environmental process as cooperating or participating agencies.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries
- U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service
- National Park Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Kiowa Tribe
- Mescalero Apache Tribe
- Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma
- Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality
- Apache Tribe of Oklahoma
- Comanche Nation
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- Texas Division of Emergency Management
- The Texas General Land Office
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Historical Commission
- Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority
- Cameron County
- City of South Padre Island
- City of Port Isabel
- Town of Bayview
- Town of Laguna Vista
- City of Los Fresnos
Downloads
Document available for download regarding the ongoing environmental study:
- Federal Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS (2008)
- Draft EIS Volume I (2012)
- Draft EIS Volume II
- Draft EIS Volume III
- Draft EIS Volume IV
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 17, 2025, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.