An Open House will be held at each meeting from 5:00 - 6:30pm. During this time, the public can view informational display boards, including maps of the preferred corridor alternative. TXDOT staff and environmental consultants will be available to answer questions during this time.

Larry Tegtmeyer - TXDOT Wichita Falls District Engineer - has written the Cooke County "Save Our County" group, saying that, during the Open House, individuals will be able to "officially register their comments," and "...they will not be required to stay for the Hearing to have their comments documented for the record. Court reporters will be on hand during the Open House to take comments. There will be laptop computers available to register statements for the record. Written comment cards will be available that can be turned in immediately or sent later. Also, during the Public Hearing in an adjacent room, the court reporter will continue to record comments. Laptops and comment cards will be available as well."

The formal hearing will begin at 6:30pm. Each individual attending will be asked to sign

in. TXDOT will make a brief presentation about the EIS process. Individuals interested in

making a public statement (at end of the formal hearing) will be required to complete a

Speaker Registration card available on site. A court reporter will record all remarks made during the hearing. During the public statement period, elected officials will be invited to speak first, and then those who registered will be called upon. A 3-minute time limit will be imposed. Hopefully, if we can get this info out, people will come prepared.

Bob Nelson ~ Save Our County [Cooke County]

July 10 Sherman Sherman Municipal Ballroom, 405 N. Rusk St

July 11 Bonham Bonham High School Cafeteria, 1002 Warpath Dr

July 11 Decatur Decatur Civic Center, 2010 W. US 380

July 11 Denton U. of North TX Gateway Ctr. Ballroom, 801 N. Texas Blvd

July 13 McKinney McKinney High School Cafeteria, 1400 Wilson Creek Pkwy

July 13 Weatherford College, Alkek Fine Arts Center, 225 College Park Dr

July 17 Fort Worth Will Rogers Exhibits Hall, Round Up Inn, 3400 Burnett-Tandy Dr.

The Texas Department of Transportation will hold 54 public hearings July 10-Aug 10 throughout the Trans-Texas Corridor-35 study area to answer questions and listen to public comments.

"Decisions will be made based on those comments, so it’s important that people participate in the process," said Tim Brown, chairman of the Trans-Texas Corridor Advisory Committee.

Presentations at the hearings will focus on the preferred corridor alternative from Gainesville to Laredo and why it best meets the state’s long-term goal of relieving congestion and improving safety on I-35.

Other corridor alternatives that were evaluated will also be presented for public comment. After the public hearings, staff will analyze the comments and submit a final environmental impact statement to the Federal Highway Administration. A decision from FHWA is expected next summer.

FHWA approval would allow the environmental process to continue with additional environmental studies focusing on the narrowed 10-mile wide study area.

It is within this study area that a final project route would be determined for roads, rail and utilities. Construction could only begin after the additional studies are completed.