Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	IH 10 E Widening/Operational Improvements
Facility/Street/Highway	IH 10 E
Limits	From SL 8 to SS 330
Description	RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 8 TO 12 LANE (ADD 4 MANAGED LANES) - Safety, operational and mobility improvements to IH 10 mainlanes and frontage roads, based on results of the IH 10 East PEL study
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$313,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

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

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.

11.2

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

Unknown

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

Yes

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

Yes

6a. If yes, what is the estimated warehouse capacity of the other freight generators?

500,000 plus

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.

The project consists of reconstructing and widening IH 10 E from 8 lanes to 12 lanes by adding 4 managed lanes (2 in each direction). The project spans from SL 8 to SS 330 in a high growth area of Harris County. In addition to widening, another project will raise the San Jacinto River Bridge in this segment and will include safety, operation, and mobility improvements to IH 10 E main lanes and frontage roads, based on the results of the IH 10 E PEL study. IH 10 E is an important link on the Critical Urban Freight Network, lying on the Texas Highway Freight Network and well as a major hurricane evacuation route. The project segment intersects with SL 8, another major evacuation route. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway, the project will include improvements in the safety, drainage, and pavement condition of the roadway. The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion on IH 10 E and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment. This improvement, in conjunction with the other adjacent proposed improvements, will improve freight access to many major freight generators in the region including the region’s seaports, airports, manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on IH 10 E and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The roadway improvement for IH 10 will improve operations for the express services that use the link and connect to other parts of the region. As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of IH 10 E 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 on this critical freeway link. 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.

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?

Yes

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.

In TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the segment that contains the project ranked 73rd in truck delay. The annual total delay per mile on the segment is 76,534 person hours, and truck delay is 8,820 person hours. The currently daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 124,677 vehicles per day, of which 23.9 percent are trucks. It is estimated that the volume will increase by 40 percent by 2041. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment 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 is in a high growth area of Harris County. A reconstructed IH 10 E /Sheldon Rd (Exit 783) intersection leads to more Port of Houston facilities and Jacintoport Blvd industries/refineries/plants along Buffalo Bayou and Carpenters Bayou.

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.

As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with the addition or improvement of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. Sidewalks and/or wide shoulders/shared use paths are being constructed on this project for use by pedestrians and cyclists where appropriate.

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

Maxey Road Park and Ride (METRO Route 236) to Maxey Rd Park & Ride uses a portion of this segment of IH 10 E and now the route will be able to use managed lanes to get to and from Downtown Houston faster, increasing reliability of the transit service. Baytown Park and Ride (METRO Route 237) to Old San Jacinto Mall uses this portion of IH 10 E and now they will be able to use managed lanes to get to Baytown faster, increasing reliability on the transit service. Harris County Transit: 4 Decker Loop uses this IH 10 E EB frontage road route as well (between SS 330 and Thompson Rd).

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 improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility in the event of 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 majority of pavement on this section is in poor condition, with an International Roughness Index (IRI) score of over 170. Some bridges along the segment are in fair condition (a minimum condition rating of 5-6 according to FHWA guidelines). The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which 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.

1.37

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.

2.8

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 crash rate on the segment is 131.07 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This is higher than the statewide average for similar roadways, 108.26. The fatality rate of the corridor is 1.37 and the serious injury rate is 2.8. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment 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.

High

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 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. Detention ponds and enlarged drainage pipes are likely to be constructed on this project.

Access/Connectivity

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

9,444

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,009

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

9,444

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,009

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

3,816

1d. Disabled Persons

1503

1e. Elderly Persons

367

1f. Limited English Proficiency

2050

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.

49.50

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.

The project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to jobs, schools, medical facilities, and social services by reducing congestion, improving air quality, and increasing transit reliability.

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.

All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding). 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 industrial and commercial land uses that front on IH 10 E.

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.

The IH 10 E PEL study will include an evaluation of the environmental constraints associated with avoiding historical landmarks and sites, cemeteries, and endangered species to transfer to potential projects. During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution in the San Jacinto River and any other bayous/wetlands this project crosses.

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 technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, and traffic operations and will implement new 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 newer than model year 2021 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 to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning. The advantages are improved safety because of a reduction of red-light-running crashes and carbon emission reductions resulting from better traffic platooning. While it might be part of CSJ 701 right now, this type of work could easily be done on these construction/reconstruction projects.

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

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.