Austin is required by Texas law to designate a Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials (NRHM) Route for non-radioactive, hazardous cargo traveling through Austin. The Austin Transportation Department is currently in the process of identifying this route.

Photo of a large cargo truck on a highway.

What are Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials (NRHM)?

Hazardous materials are substances that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has determined to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce. NRHM include the nine classes of hazardous material (excluding radioactive materials), which, when transported, require placarding to display the type of NRHM being carried.

Graphic showing Hazardous Materials Classes & Commonly Transported Example Materials. Class 1 explosives, class 2 gases, class 3 flammable liquids, class 4 flammable solids, spontaneously combustible and dangerous when wet, class 5 oxidizer and organic peroxide, class 6 toxic (poisonous), inhalation hazard and infectious substances, class 7 radioactive (crossed out), class 8 corrosive, class 9 miscellaneous
 

Purpose of the Study

Currently, trucks transporting NRHM are allowed to use any road in Austin, except those with prior restrictions on truck traffic. The primary objective of this study is to designate a route or set of routes that direct the travel of trucks carrying NRHM through and within the City of Austin without unduly burdening commerce. This will:

  • Minimize the likelihood of an incident involving a motor vehicle carrying NRHM
  • Minimize the consequences of an NRHM trucking incident, should one occur
  • Maximize public safety related to the transport of NRHM

Analysis Factors

When analyzing potential routes for NRHM travel, the study will consider:

  • Factors that affect the likelihood of an incident occurring:
    • Crash rates
    • Weight-bearing capabilities of the roadway
    • Traffic volume
    • Curvature and slope of roadway
  • Factors that affect the consequences, if an incident does occur:
    • Population and employment centers
    • Location of schools, hospitals, universities and other institutions
    • Location of households without a vehicle, people with mobility disabilities and elderly populations
    • Nearby aquifers, water bodies and other water sources
    • Parks, historic sites, landmarks and cultural areas
    • Emergency response times to potential incidents
  • Stakeholder and public feedback

The study will also consider current commercial hazmat travel patterns and the location of NRHM facilities within the city.

Draft Proposed Routes

The draft proposed routes were developed through a process guided by the Federal Highway Administration publication titled Highway Routing of Hazardous Materials: Guidelines for Applying Criteria (November 1996), as well as feedback from local stakeholders and the public. The draft proposed routes include travel in either direction on the following roadways:

  • SH 130 from the northern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary to SH 45 South
  • SH 45 South from the southeastern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary to IH 35
  • IH 35 from the southern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary to SH 71/US 290
  • SH 71 from the southwestern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary to the eastern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary
  • US 290 from the southwestern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary to the northeastern extraterritorial jurisdiction boundary

It is important to note that these routes are designed to specifically address the trucks/vehicles traveling through, not within, the city. Click the maps below to enlarge.

Recommended Route

Map of the proposed route for non-radioactive hazardous materials for Austin.

Recommended Route with Environmental Justice Overlay

Map of the proposed route for non-radioactive hazardous materials for Austin with an overlay that shows high concentrations of environmental justice populations.

 

Recommended Route with Council District Overlay

Map of the proposed route for non-radioactive hazardous materials for Austin with an overlay of City Council districts.

Comparison of North and South Route Options

Map that shows the north and south route examples for routing non-radioactive hazardous materials through Austin.

Public Involvement Opportunities

We want to hear your feedback!  In addition to the stakeholder and public meetings held over the past two years, the City of Austin has been conducting ongoing public meetings and workshops on route development and designation through the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) public participation process.

The NRHM Route Designation Study is part of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP), which is the City’s future transportation plan that provides mobility-related goals and objectives that guide near- and long-term transportation investments. This approach allows us to take advantage of the ASMP’s robust public participation process, which is designed to reach the broadest spectrum of our community, to inform the public about the study and provide interested parties with opportunities to provide input on the route designation.  To learn more, please visit the ASMP website.

Public Hearing on Nov. 14, 2019

The NRHM Route Designation Study will be at City Council on Nov. 14, 2019, to conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution to endorse a staff recommended route to be submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Resources about the Study

You can download a quick presentation (PDF) about the study. This document provides an overview of the study and the process to designate an NRHM. You can send feedback to hazmat@austintexas.gov.

More Information on NRHM Routes

Federal and State Regulations

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (Title 49, C.F.R., Part 397, Subpart C) authorizes states and Indian tribes to designate routes for NRHM on public roads and highways. Federal regulations also provide guidelines and standards for conducting a route designation study.

The Texas Transportation Code (§644.202) requires municipalities with populations greater than 850,000 to designate a route or set of routes for commercial motor vehicles transporting NRHM on roads or highways within the municipality’s boundaries and to submit the proposed route(s) to TxDOT for approval. Austin surpassed the population threshold in 2013, after which the City Council approved Resolution No. 20130620-055 directing the City Manager to “…determine an appropriate process and potential timeline…to pursue a designated route for the transport of hazardous materials.” In response, the Austin Transportation Department recommended that the City launch a formal process to designate NRHM routes. The Texas Administrative Code (§25.103) prescribes the responsibilities of a political subdivision when establishing a NRHM route designation and provides guidance to ensure all designations are established.

NRHM Route Designation Examples

Several other Texas cities and counties have already completed NRHM route designation processes. The National Hazardous Materials Route Registry is the list of designated, preferred and restricted routes for hazardous materials travel throughout the U.S.

Image of hazardous material signs

Contact

Please email any questions, concerns or comments to hazmat@austintexas.gov.