Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 518 Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 518
Limits	From FM 865 to SH 35
Description	Widen from 4-lanes to 6-lanes. A raised median will be included and may vary between 14 and 18 feet. Convert the existing open ditch drainage system to a curb and gutter drainage system. In addition, outside pedestrian sidewalks and bikeways are proposed.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$76,380,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local freight plan?

Yes

1a. If the project is recommended in a freight plan, please provide the plan or study name.

H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study

1b. If the project is recommended in a freight plan, please provide a link to the plan or study website.

https://engage.h-gac.com/regional-goods

1c. If yes, please select the project priority/ranking identified in the freight plan.

Low

2. Is the proposed project located on a Critical Urban/Rural Freight corridor (CUFC/CRFC)?

Yes

3. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the existing project facility? H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the truck data from our website.

1.9%

4. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the project facility after the proposed project implementation?

2.6%

5. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to a port/airport?

6. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to other freight generators?

7. Please provide a narrative explaining how the project improves regional goods movement within and through the region. In the narrative, please mention if the project scope includes grade separations at at-grade railroad crossings or implementation of ITS technologies.

Description: The project consists of widening FM 518 from 4-lanes to 6-lanes in a high growth and activity area of Brazoria County. FM 518 is the City of Pearland’s “Main Street” and is essential to the city’s placemaking. A raised median will be included and may vary between 14 and 18 feet. The raised median allows for safety improvements for drainage and flood control. In converting the existing open ditch drainage system, it will allow for the ability to curb and gutter the drainage system. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the exiting roadway, the project will include improvements to safety, drainage, and pavement conditions. Pedestrian sidewalks and bikeways are proposed, with 10-ft shared-used path on the south side of the corridor and 5-ft sidewalks on the north side. The project is also included in the Northern Brazoria County/Pearland Subregional Plan, FM 518 AMS, H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study, and the RTP (MPOID 10133). The route is part of the Critical Urban Freight Corridors List, as it is part of the Texas Highway Freight Network (THFN). In addition, FM 518 directly connects to SH 288 which is classified as a state evacuation route. Need: According to TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the segment annual total delay per mile on the segment was 101,640 person hours and truck delay was 1,183 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 22,748 vehicles per day. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2021 is estimated to be 40 percent, for which truck traffic is expected to represent 2.6 percent after implementation of the project. The total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 346.17 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The Texas Statewide Fatality Crash Average is 1.39. The project segment’s pavement is in good to fair condition with a highest observed rating of 179. In addition, the segment has a vulnerability and criticality score of medium for resilience. Purpose and Contribution: The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion, improve resiliency and flood mitigation, and improve overall safety conditions in the area. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on FM 518 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes, including pedestrian and bicyclists, while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of FM 518 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding.

8. Is the project sponsor’s jurisdiction considering strategies to promote off-peak and overnight freight delivery?

9. Is the proposed project located on a State designated hurricane evacuation route?

9a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

9b. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternate to a hurricane evacuation route?

Yes

i. If yes, please explain in a narrative.

FM 518 directly connects to SH 288 which is classified as a state evacuation route.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic operations. Within the narrative, please include if the proposed project includes construction of truck only lanes or managed truck only lanes, construction of an interchange, or intersection improvements.

The project consists of widening FM 518 from 4-lanes to 6-lanes. The project segment lies directly upon the TXDOT Freight Network. A raised median will be included and may vary between 14 and 18 feet. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion, improve resiliency and flood mitigation, and improve traffic and flood safety conditions in the area. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on FM 518 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes, including pedestrian and bicyclists, while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of FM 518 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project benefits high growth areas. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project improves or provides access to new residential developments, retail stores, other land uses, or if the proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on FM 518 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes, including pedestrian and bicyclists, while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of FM 518 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves walking and biking conditions. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project scope includes construction of a new or improved existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on a project facility or in the vicinity of the project.

The project consists of widening FM 518 from 4-lanes to 6-lanes in Brazoria County. A raised median will be included and may vary between 14 and 18 feet. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the exiting roadway, the project will include improvements to safety, drainage, and pavement conditions. Pedestrian sidewalks and bikeways are proposed, with 10-ft shared path on the south side of the corridor and 5-ft sidewalks on the north side.

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic conditions for transit services (local, express, signature, or commuter).

There are no transit services currently operating on FM 518, but future service could use the main lanes (and/or frontage roads).

5. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will reduce inoperability for significant periods due to infrastructure damaged by a collision with vehicles such as trucks, ships, and barges.

The project will add lanes and improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility vehicle collisions.

6. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will improve state of good repair and extend the service life of the project facility.

The project segment contains pavement in good to fair condition with a highest observed rating of 179. The project will bring the roadway to FHWA and TxDOT standards. This will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility.

Planning Factors Criteria

1. What is the existing fatality crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

2. What is the existing serious injury crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

4.43

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces expected fatality and serious injury crashes. Narrative must include specific improvements (work types) included in the project scope. Crash reduction factors associated with specific work types can be found in the safety benefits calculation template. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the crash reduction factors upon request.

The total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 346.17 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The Texas Statewide Fatality Crash Average is 1.39. The added capacity will improve safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion, lack of access management, and by bringing the segment of SH 146 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

Resiliency

1. Please select the vulnerability to flooding score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool upon request.

Medium

2. Please select the criticality score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool up on request.

Medium

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces vulnerability to flooding. The narrative must include specific improvements such as drainage improvements that are included in the scope.

The segment has a vulnerability and criticality score of medium for resilience. An enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical freeway link. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards. It is also on the state evacuation route.?

Access/Connectivity

Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income

6,387

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,551

2. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

3. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a school/college/university within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

4. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a social services facility within a quarter buffer of the project location?

Yes

Environmental Justice

Please enter household population located within quarter mile buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data. 1a. Low-Income

6,387

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,551

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

754

1d. Disabled Persons

1218

1e. Elderly Persons

786

1f. Limited English Proficiency

508

2. What is the average Livable Center Need Index within quarter mile buffer of the project location? H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

16.20

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project provides benefits to vulnerable populations. Benefits include safety improvements, construction of or improvements to ped/bike facilities, or improvements to transit stops.

Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population. The raised medians will provide the opportunity for another agency to plant/maintain landscaping in the median to mitigate air pollution and improve aesthetic values.

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates adverse effects to vulnerable populations. A list of adverse effects was provided in detailed criteria document.

This project will minimize right-of-way acquisition, and stay within current alignment, in order to avoid dividing communities. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding). This project is incorporating three detention basins to mitigate flooding along the corridor. Any sound walls that are identified prior during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be constructed on this project, otherwise the corridor is mostly urban area and mostly residential and some commercial land uses that front the corridor’s ROW.

Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates impacts to natural (flood plains, wetlands) and cultural (historic and archeological sites) resources. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in identifying natural and cultural resources located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location.

No Cultural or Natural resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time.

2. Please provide Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) reductions provided by the project. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in calculating NOx and VOC reductions.

H-GAC Staff, Please calculate Emissions reductions for us per email instructions 4/26/23

Innovation

1. Does the project propose to implement new infrastructure technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations?

Yes

1a. If yes, please explain.

The project will implement new infrastructure and infrastructure or technology to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This simply broadcasts red, green, and yellow times ahead of signalized intersections to connected vehicles (model year 2021 and newer) or if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cell phone for older vehicles. This provides ample time for you to slow down before intersections because of the timing and also to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning.

2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology?

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.

The project will implement new infrastructure and autonomous/ connected vehicle technology. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This simply broadcasts red, green, and yellow times ahead of signalized intersections to connected vehicles (model year 2021 and newer) or if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cell phone for older vehicles. This provides ample time for you to slow down before intersections because of the timing and also to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning.