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Project Information
Montgomery Bicycle Loop Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 6:04:03 PMProject Narrative
Both SH 75 and SH 242 are minor arterial roadways. The roads included in this project do not have a designated bicycle facility. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many cyclists currently ride along these roads, without any designated bicycle facility. • Currently there are existing barriers to cycling on the shoulder •There is no inter-city bicycle route connecting the cities of Four Corners, Wigginsville, Grangerland and Conroe •There are gaps in the existing bicycle network The purpose of the project is to provide a Signed Shoulder Bike Route and encourage mode shifts from driving to cycling and carpooling in person non-work trips. • SH 75 from FM 3083 to FM 830 (shoulder widening and repair) • SH 242 from FM 3083 to FM 1314 (shoulder widening and repair) • FM 1484 from FM 3083 to FM 2432 (designate as bike route install signs) • FM 2432 from FM 1484 to SH 75 (designate as bike route install signs) • FM 3083 from SH 75 to SH 242 (designate as bike route install signs) • SH 242 from FM 3083 to FM 1314 (designate as bike route install signs) • FM 1314 from SH 242 to SH 105 (designate as bike route install signs) • FM 830 from FM 75 to Lake Conroe (designate as bike route install signs) The Montgomery County Bicycle Loop project includes shoulder widening and repair, signage and intersections improvements to provide a signed shoulder bike route. SH 75, as part of the north bike loop, connects Garden Park Cemetery with the neighboring communities of Willis and Panorama Village. SH 242, part of the south bike loop, connects the cities of Four Corners, Wigginsville, Grangerland and Conroe. SH 75 & SH 242 project is an important gap-filler as it supplements two bike loops north and south of SH 105 (see uploaded pdf for details). The bike loops would create a north-south cycling facility that has been identified in H-GAC’s Regional Bikeway Concept Map. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. This project connects: -cities: Four Corners, Wigginsville, Grangerland and Conroe 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 09/03/2015 No No Privately owned utilities in conflict would be relocated by the respective owners at their expense. State-owned facilities would be relocated by TxDOT as part of the contract. Although a thorough utility evaluation has not yet been conducted, a preliminary evaluation indicates there will be no impacts to existing utilities. No TxDOT has informally met with the Bike the Woodlands Coalition, the City of Conroe, and the City of Willis and all have supported this project. Attached is a detailed construction budget. Both City of Conroe and City of Willis support the project.Map/Location
Screening Questions
Yes Per AASHTO, the min width of a paved shoulder is 5 feet. A greater shoulder width is recommended when vehicle speed on the road is greater than 50 mph. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: Design of On-Road Facilities, pg. 4-7). Speed limit on the roads that make up the signed shoulder route Montgomery County Bicycle Loop is 55mph. Narrow shoulder will be widen to 8 feet, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.Evalutation Questions - Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects
Design Standards
Yes Per AASHTO, the min width of a paved shoulder is 5 feet. A greater shoulder width is recommended when vehicle speed on the road is greater than 50 mph. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: Design of On-Road Facilities, pg. 4-7). Speed limit on the roads that make up the signed shoulder route Montgomery County Bicycle Loop is 55mph. Narrow shoulder will be widen to 8 feet, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.Connectivity
Barrier Elimination
Yes The proposed facility aligns with the Regional Bikeway Concept Map since it provides a north/south bicycle facility that goes from north of Conroe to SH 242 connecting the cities of Willis and Conroe as identified in the conceptual regional bikeways.Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections
No This facility does not connect to existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities.Transit Connections
Demonstrates potential for a future transit connection Currently there are no operating Transit locations in the area. However, the City of Conroe is currently designing a bus route on SH 75 through the City of Conroe and this project will be less than a mile from the transit route.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.
SH 75, as part of the north bike loop, connects Garden Park Cemetery with the neighboring communities of Willis and Panorama Village. SH 242, part of the south bike loop, connects the cities of Four Corners, Wigginsville, Grangerland and Conroe.Pilot Projects
No This facility is not a pilot or first-time facilitySafety
Does proposed facility:
No No Yes No In 2011, there was one incapacitating and one non-incapacitating pedalcyclist injuries on roadway by vehicles on SH 75 and SH 105 respectavily (crash number 12091630,12445077).
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 This facility is not identified within an H-GAC Special Districts Study.Funding Leverage
Neither The facility does not leverage additional funding.Underserved 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