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.

Name

Scott Ayres

Title

Planning Engineer

Phone Number

409-898-5743

Email Address

[email protected]

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.

Agency Name

Texas Department of Transportation - Beaumont

Name

Tucker Ferguson

Title

District Engineer

Phone Number

409-892-7311

Email Address

[email protected]

Address

8350 Eastex Freeway

City

Beaumont

State

TX

Zip Code

77708

Additional Agency Information

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

Project Information

1. Project Title

US 90 UPRR Four Grade Separations

2. Project County

Liberty County

3. Facility/Street Name

US 90

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

At UP Railroad

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

The facility had 163 crashes, 6 serious injuries and 0 fatalities during the period from 2015 to 2017. Improving congestion on this facility could save users in excess of 8,000 hours of travel time per lane-mile. Congestion is adversely affecting the travel time and reliability for freight movement. The truck volume on the facility is roughly 5,839 trucks per day and this represents 13.8% percent of the facility's AADT. The UP railroad crossing of US 90 west of Dayton is currently at-grade. Approximately 17 trains per days use this crossing. Due to the sharp curve in the rail, the speed of the trains is very low. This causes significant delays for roadway traffic on US 90 and there is no short detour route to bypass the crossing. In addition, certain vehicles are required to stop at all rail crossings and this results in congestion and delays at this location even when no train is present. Due to the current track's vicinity to SH 146 (about one-quarter mile), the queuing of traffic when trains cross US 90 can interfere with traffic at the intersection.

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

This roadway project would build four grade separations. US 90 is a divided highway and there would need to be four separate grade separations (two eastbound and two westbound). This project is dependent on another rail project that would relocate the single track crossing roughly one mile to the west and split it into two crossings. The dependent railroad relocation project will be funded with alternative funding.

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

The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion on the facility and improve the reliability of peak-period travel times, to reduce congestion and improve travel time reliability for freight movement on this facility, and to improve safety. By providing grade separations at the relocated track, the delays and congestion for roadway traffic resulting from trains crossing US 90 at the at-grade crossing would be eliminated. The grade separations would improve safety by reducing or eliminating vehicular rear-end collisions and potential collisions with trains.

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

(Expand) Roadway Added Capacity/New Construction/Complete Streets

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

37000000

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

Letters of Funding Commitment and Support.pdf

Project Development/Readiness

1. Please select the level of engineering completed.

Not Started

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

Environmental Assessment (EA)

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

01/01/2022

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

No

US Coast Guard Permits

No

Railroad Agreements

Yes

None of the Above

No

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

No

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?

No

8. Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. (6000 characters max) (Optional)

This proposed project would build four grade separations. US 90 is a divided highway and there would need to be four separate grade separations (two eastbound and two westbound). This project is dependent on another rail project that would relocate the single track crossing roughly one mile to the west and split it into two crossings. The dependent railroad relocation project will be funded with alternative funding. This project has significant support from a variety of entities, groups, and individuals included (but not limited to) Liberty County, the Liberty County Rural Rail District #1, the Dayton Community Development Corporation, Congressman Brian Babin, TxDOT, and the UP RR. A number of coordination meetings have occurred between TxDOT, Liberty County, the H-GAC, and Union Pacific in planning stages for the proposed track relocation and grade separations.

Map/Location

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

Map_BMT_15_US90.pdf

Project Budget

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

BMT_15_US90 Project Budget Worksheet.xlsx

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

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

BMT_15_US90 Roadway Safety Benefits Template.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

1031201823550PM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

BMT_15_US90 Roadway Emissions Benefits Template.xlsx

4. Additional BCA Documentation (Optional)

UP RR Relocated Track Exhibit.pdf

6. Please provide a brief narrative describing the methodology, input data and results. (Optional)

This project is dependent on a separate rail project that would relocate the single track crossing roughly one mile to the west and split it into two crossings. This roadway project would build four grade separations at the relocated UP RR track - US 90 is a divided highway and there would need to be four separate grade separations (two eastbound and two westbound). US 90 is the primary alternate route to IH-10 between Houston and Beaumont. As such, a large amount of freight travels along US 90 regularly and particularly if there is an accident or delays on IH-10. Approximately 17 trains cross US 90 daily on the UP track near SH 146. The grade separations would permanently eliminate delays resulting from train crossings, thus reducing freight travel time. In addition, the grade separations would eliminate stopped vehicles at the tracks and would greatly reduce the potential for rear-end collisions. The reduction in accidents would also reduce delays to freight travel along this route. An exhibit showing the proposed UP railroad track relocation is attached to this application.

Planning Factors - Connectivity to Employment/Eliminates At-Grade Railroad Crossings

1. Does the facility directly connect to or is located within 1/2 mile of employment?

Yes

A. If yes, please indicate number of jobs the facility directly connects to or is within a 1/2 mile?

901 - 1000

2. Does the proposed project eliminate or prevent at grade railroad crossing?

Yes

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 - Improves Corridor Level of Travel Time Reliability (LOTTR)

1. The proposed project will reduce Planning Time Index (PTI) by:

0.11 - 0.20

2. Please upload your completed LOTTR template.

BMT_15_US90 Level of Time Travel Reliability LOTTR Estimation Template.xlsx

Planning Factors - Improves Multimodal LOS

1. Does the proposed project improve highway/freight LOS?

Yes

2. Does the proposed project improve transit LOS?

No

3. Does the proposed project improve bike/pedestrian LOS?

No

4. Please provide a brief narrative explaining how proposed project improves multimodal LOS (Auto, Bike/Ped, and Transit).

This proposed project will improve highway/freight LOS. By providing grade separations at the relocated UP railroad tracks, the delays and congestion resulting from trains crossing US 90 at the existing at-grade crossing would be eliminated. The grade separations would improve safety by reducing or eliminating vehicular rear-end collisions and potential collisions with trains. By moving the UP track westward away from SH 146, the LOS improvements should apply to the SH 146 intersection as well because the vehicular queuing resulting from trains crossing the track would be eliminated.

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.

Please see the support letters for this project from Liberty County, the City of Dayton, and the Liberty Rural Rail District #1 that are attached to this application.

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

Please see the support letters for this project from Liberty County, the City of Dayton, and the Liberty Rural Rail District #1 that are attached to this application.

Planning Factors - Roadway Hierarchy/Freight System Priority/Evacuation Route

1. Please select the functional classification of the roadway on which the proposed project is located, based on the characteristics of the roadway after the project is implemented. The FHWA Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures is provided in the link below.

Principal Arterial

2. Is your project located on one of the following? Greater Houston Freight System

Yes

Locally Designated Freight Corridor

No

State Designated Evacuation Route

No