2018 Call for Projects Application List

Who is Completing the Application?

Please provide contact information for the person who will complete the online application for this project. The email address and password entered here will be used to complete and submit both Pre-Applications and Applications.

Primary Agency Information

Please provide contact information for the agency official who is representing the project sponsor. This individual will be considered the official applicant and must be authorized by their agency to submit this request for funding and make necessary assertations and representations on the agency’s behalf.

Additional Agency Information

1. Is this project being developed and/or implemented in partnership with another agency?

Project Information

1. Project Title

Independence Trail (Trail Connectivity Phase IV)

2. Project County

Brazoria County

3. Facility/Street Name

Independence Trail

4. Project limits (from, to) or location (Address)

FM 518 to Independence Park

5. Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).

The City of Pearland, having linear geography, relies on several highly utilized east-to-west vehicle corridors, FM 518/Broadway being the most traveled. This heavily traveled thoroughfare (32,100 average daily traffic count) provides an obstacle for frequent or on demand pedestrian or bicycle crossing, effectively preventing the use of alternative transportation means to access some of the more popular destinations. An overhead pedestrian bridge crossing the FM518 corridor would provide the safest possible route to transact this busy corridor allowing free movement from north to south. This passage will also be a dynamic component of connectivity by providing safe connection from several densely populated residential areas either side of FM 518 to large commercial/ retail shopping, dining and entertainment venues within the Center at Pearland Parkway shopping center and other retail establishments surrounding the intersection of Pearland Parkway and FM518. Additionally, this trail provides direct access to large regional entertainment and recreational venue at Pearland’s Independence Park, to the south, and Harris County's El Franco Lee park to the north. Pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to these large regional parks will help to alleviate vehicular traffic and congestion during live entertainment and holiday events at Independence Park. This segment of the trail will complete this alternative transportation route from the U of H Clear Lake - Pearland Campus and El Franco Lee Park in the north to the iconic Independence Park by filling the current gap between portions of the Master Trail Plan north of FM518 and those south of FM518 utilizing previous TIP projects Green Tee Terrace Trail and Clear Creek Trail and solve the problem of crossing the FM518 corridor with a safe pedestrian/cycle crossing. The City's multi-year Trail Master Plan was created to provide residents with alternative based transportation options to diverse destinations and attractions focusing on commercial, entertainment, cultural, educational and recreation activities from residential clusters. This segment is actually phase 4 of that Trail Master Plan. In addition to providing access to these commercial/ retail recreational and entertainment destinations the tie into the Green Tee trail, immediately north of FM 518, will extend this pedestrian and bicycle access along Clear Creek through undeveloped natural spaces and ultimately to the U of H Clear Lake - Pearland Campus and the El Franco Lee Park. The pedestrian bridge component will provide a safe and accessible means of crossing the FM 518 corridor and joining the 1.456 mile trail north of that roadway and the future funded Clear Creek Trail.

6. Describe the proposed improvement/activity (Description).

This trail segment will serve as a cornerstone by joining the southern trail primarily bound by Mary’s Creek to the northern trail primarily bound by Clear Creek. At this junction the sites will provide crucial connection to now disparate expansive trail systems. This will provide a segment completing access from residential to commercial to educational and recreational/entertainment centers.

7. Describe the primary outcomes to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose)

Trails provide alternative means of safe pedestrian and cycle access to commercial, cultural, educational and recreational center from residential areas. The City of Pearland considers multiple modes of transportation vital to quality of life and integral to all municipal development. In this project, the collaboration between several City departments and residential development planning is ensuring that the outcome will provide a generous set of vistas, as well as expansions, to native plant life, minimal impact to existing resources, and create useful connections that will provide encouraging paths to reduce vehicular traffic.

8. Have any MPOID numbers been assigned to this project?

No

9. Have any TxDOT Control-Section-Job (CSJ) numbers been assigned to this project?

No

10. What is the estimated total capital investment required for the project?

Less than $100 million

A. Investment Category & Strategy

Active Transportation

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

3062000

12. Please upload the funding commitment letter or letters of support from the local government.

Independence Trail Letters of Support .pdf

Project Development/Readiness

1. Please select the level of engineering completed.

Schematic

2. What is the completed or anticipated level of environmental documentation required for the proposed project?

Categorical Exclusion (CE)

A. What was/is the anticipated completion date of the environmental clearance?

07/31/2020

B. Type of Categorical Exclusion (CE)? (Optional)

3. Will any of the following be required to implement the project? US Army Corps of Engineers Permits

Yes

US Coast Guard Permits

No

Railroad Agreements

No

None of the Above

No

4. Will the acquisition of Right of Way or an easement be required to implement the project?

Yes

A. What was/is the estimated completion date for Right of Way/easement mapping?

07/31/2020

B. What was/is the estimated start date for Right of Way/easement acquisition?

07/31/2020

C. What was/is the estimated completion date for Right of Way/easement acquisition?

01/31/2021

D. How many parcels must be acquired to implement the project?

4

E. How many parcels have been acquired to date?

0

5. Has utility coordination been initiated for the project?

No

6. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency?

Yes

A. If Yes, please provide appropriate documentation showing interagency consultation (e.g, interagency agreements, coordination documentation).

Partnership with City.pdf

7. Please upload project development timeline. A sample of Best-Case Scenario project development timeline can be downloaded here for your review. (Optional)

- Indep Trail Schedule.pdf

Map/Location

1. Please provide a clear and concise GIS coverage or PDF map for the proposed project. (MPK ESRI Map Package file preferred)

Independence Trail TIP Project Maps.pdf

Project Budget

1. Please attach a completed project budget worksheet. Templates are available on the 2018 Call for projects website.

project-budget-worksheet-template.xlsx

2. Are Transportation Development Credits (TDCs) being requested?

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

02_Transit-Active-Transportation-Safety-Benefits-trail.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

1031201834216PM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

01_Active-Transportation-Emissions-Benefits-trail.xlsx

Planning Factors - Barrier Elimination (Active Transportation)

1. Does the proposed facility provide safe and convenient routes across barriers such as freeways, railroads, and waterways?

Yes

2. Does the proposed bicycle/pedestrian facility close a gap in the existing bicycle network that aligns with a regional bikeway?

Yes

Planning Factors - Emissions Reductions

1. Please provide the air quality improvements (estimated NOX tons/year) the proposed facility provides.

The NOx Emission Reduction is 0.14 tons per year.

2. Please provide the air quality improvements (estimated VOCs tons/year) the proposed facility provides.

The VOC Emission Reduction is 0.03 tons per year.

Planning Factors - Environmental Justice

1. Is the proposed project located in or is adjoining an environmental justice sensitive area (census block groups) identified by HGAC?

Yes

A. If Yes, Will the project incorporate measures that reduce, minimize or avoid adverse effects environmental justice sensitive areas (census block groups) identified by HGAC?

Yes

Planning Factors - Expands or Improves Bicycle & Pedestrian Connectivity to Employment/Schools/Medical Facilities/Transit Stops/Other Points of Interest

Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of employment?

Yes

A. If yes, please indicate number of jobs the facility directly connects to or is within a 1/4 mile.

901 - 1000

2. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of a school or university?

Yes

3. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of medical facility?

Yes

4. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of Transit Center or Transit Stop?

No

5. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of other points of interest?

Yes

Planning Factors - Planning Coordination

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a regional/sub regional/or locally adopted plan including regional thoroughfare plans? Or Has the sponsor conducted interagency coordination with other local or state agency affected by the proposed project?

Yes

A. If yes, please provide the title of the regional/sub regional or local plan in which the proposed project is recommended.

City of Pearland Trail Master Plan

B. If yes, please provide a link to the regional/sub regional or local plan in which the proposed project is recommended.

https://www.pearlandtx.gov/departments/parks-recreation/about-us/trail-master-plan https://www.pearlandtx.gov/home/showdocument?id=1964