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FM 1960 Shared Use Path Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 7:02:27 PMProject Narrative
Farm to Market Road 1960 (FM 1960) is an east/west urban collector. It does not have sidewalks or a designated bicycle facility. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many pedestrians currently walk along FM 1960, without sidewalks to protect their safety. • There is an existing human footpath in the grass, from Mills Road headed towards SH 249, in both directions. • There is no pedestrian or bicycle facility to connect to METRO’s bus stops: Transit Routes 96 and 44. Without sidewalks, the bus stops at SH 249 are inaccessible to pedestrians who use transit as their transportation mode. • There is no bicycle route connecting to METRO’s bus stops. • There is no pedestrian or bicycle facility to connect to local shopping and retail centers. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide an 8-feet wide shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists that is separated from vehicular traffic, create a safe and hospitable pedestrian and bicycle route, improve connectivity for alternative modes of transportation (bicycle and bus), and encourage mode shifts from driving to cycling in both person work and non-work trips. The proposed shared use path is located on the north side of FM 1960 from Mills Road to SH 249 Southbound Frontage Road. The project scope is to construct an 8-feet wide shared use path to provide a safe and convenient route for pedestrian and cyclists to bus stops at Willow Chase Blvd and FM 1960 along SH 249, as well as associated intersection improvements for the pedestrian and bike facility. This project also connects the residential community with important local shopping and activity centers, which include Fiesta Mart, Costco and Burlington Coat Factory, among others. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. The FM 1960 Share Use Path connects -retail and activity centers: Fiesta Mart, Costco and Burlington Coat Factory, among others -transit: METRO Transit Routes 96 and 44 stop near the SH 249 and FM 1960 intersection. North/south Bus Route 44 stops at North Line METRO station, while east/west Bus Route 96 stops at Spring METRO station. No other alternatives have been considered or evaluated.Project Narrative
No Categorical Exclusion (CE) (c)(3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and facilities No 15/09/2015 No No Utility adjustments are non-reimbursable for this location so any utilitities in conflict with proposed work in TxDOT right-of-way will have to be relocated by the utility owner, or the utility owner's contractor, at the expense of the utility owner. Yes There is an existing foot path in the grass along FM 1960 at this location. By installing a shared-path sidewalk at this location we are improving the ability Harris County residents to traverse the area by foot safely. Replacing the foot path with a paved sidewalk will also enhance the aesthetics of the area which will have a postive impact on the adjacent Harris County properties. no Attached detailed construction estimate.Screening Questions
Yes Per AASHTO, the width of a shared use path, in constrained situations, can be 8 feet if there is no constant heavy bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic is expected to be occasional, maintenance vehicles will not use the share use path regularly, and there are resting and passing opportunities. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition pg. 5-3).Evalutation Questions - Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects
Design Standards
Yes Per AASHTO, the width of a shared use path, in constrained situations, can be 8 feet if there is no constant heavy bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic is expected to be occasional, maintenance vehicles will not use the share use path regularly, and there are resting and passing opportunities. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition pg. 5-3).Connectivity
Barrier Elimination
No N/APedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections
Yes The shared use path will connect to a sidewalk that stops north of the bus stop on IH-10.Transit Connections
Direct link to transit connection The N FM 1960 Shared Use Path project provides a safe connection for pedestrian and cyclists to bus stations at Willow Chase Blvd and FM 1960 along SH 249. METRO Transit Routes 96 and 44 stop near the SH 249 and FM 1960 intersection. North/south Bus Route 44 stops at North Line METRO station, while east/west Bus Route 96 stops at Spring METRO station. Without sidewalks, the bus stops at SH 249 are inaccessible to pedestrians who use transit as their transportation mode.Connections to Regional Destinations
Located outside of an activity center, but directly connects to one or more points of interest?* Density thresholds for different types of activity centers are defined within the Livable Centers Benefits Calculator, which is available online at http://www.h-gac.com/livable-centers/tools.aspx. Project area is considered within a 1/2-mile radius of the project location.
The proposed facility connects the residential community with important shopping and activity centers, which include Fiesta Mart, Costco and Burlington Coat Factory, among others.Pilot Projects
No N/ASafety
Does proposed facility:
Yes No Yes No In 2012, there was one non-incapacitating injury on SH 249 and FM 1960 to a pedalcyclist on the frontage roadway by vehicles going straight (crash number 12600725). The proposed facility provides a share use path along SH 249 and FM 960 that is separated from vehicular traffic, to provide safe pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.
Project will be awarded:
15 points if three or more of the aforementioned characteristics are met.
10 points if two of these characteristics are met.
5 points if one of these characteristics is met.
Existing Plans/Studies
No N/AFunding Leverage
Neither N/AUnderserved Population Access
Is all or part of the proposed facility located within a Census Tract that has a higher proportion of the following populations than the regional average:
H-GAC to conduct analysis based on the GIS/map project location provided above
Project will be awarded:
3 points if one of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average
7 points if two of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average
10 points if three of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average