Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	IH 10 W Frontage Roads
Facility/Street/Highway	IH 10 W
Limits	From FM 359 to Fort Bend County Line
Description	CONSTRUCT 2 TWO LANE FRONTAGE ROADS ON NEW LOCATION (EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND). This project fills in the gap of the frontage road system in Fort Bend County on IH 10.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$50,750,000.00

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.

25.7%

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

35%

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?

4,000,000 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 constructing two 2-lane frontage roads (Westbound and Eastbound) from FM 359 (Waller Avenue) in Brookshire to the Fort Bend County line. The project fills in the gap of the frontage road system in a high growth area of Waller County on IH 10. It is an essential link on the Critical Rural Freight Network, sitting on National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) and Texas Highway Freight Network (THFN). IH 10 W is also classified as a Texas state hurricane evacuation route. In addition to the new frontage lanes, the project will include improvements in drainage, safety, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Increased growth in the number of warehouses along this segment requires better connectivity between IH 10 W and the warehouses in the Katy/Brookshire area north of IH 10 W. The lack of frontage roads decreases connectivity and accessibility for a heavily congested roadway. The purpose of this project is to improve connectivity and accessibility. The project will alleviate future congestion on US 90 due to potential economic development from the expansion of warehouses and connect IH 10 W to the warehouses in the Katy/Brookshire area north of IH 10 W, including but not limited to the recently constructed Empire West Business Park. It will also improve freight connectivity and freight network fluidity and provide an opportunity for access management. The increase in connectivity will happen in conjunction with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. 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 (nearby Houston Executive Airport), manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical link.

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.

According to TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas, the annual total delay per mile on the segment is 12,743 person hours, and truck delay is 6,481 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 64,707 vehicles per day. It is estimated that the volume will increase by 40 percent by 2041. The purpose of this project is to improve connectivity and accessibility. The project will alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development from the expansion of warehouses and connect IH 10 to the warehouses in the Katy/Brookshire area north of IH 10 W, including but not limited to the recently constructed Empire West Business Park. 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 of IH 10 W up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. Multiple intersection improvements would take place at the cross streets (Woods Rd, Igloo Rd, and Pederson Rd) and on/off ramps on to IH 10 W could be reconfigured.

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 alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development from the expansion of warehouses and connect IH 10 W to the warehouses in the Katy/Brookshire area north of IH 10 W, including but not limited to the recently constructed Empire West Business Park. The 36A corridor is shown in the area per the Waller County Transportation Plan from 2019, this would create a direct connection to the Port of Freeport. A truck parking lot is being proposed at Pederson Rd interchange to relieve an area that is in desperate need of truck parking per the TxDOT Truck Parking Study.

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 improvements to improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. This project will construct 10-foot shared use paths along the new frontage roads, and they will be connected to the new Willow Creek Path.

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 this segment of IH 10 W, but future service could use the main lanes (and/or frontage roads) in the future.

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.

IH 10 W main lanes will now have a backup option to use the frontage roads if the main lanes are shut down for accidents or any reason. US 90 could be another alternative.

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.

These frontage roads are new; therefore, the state of good repair is not applicable regarding the frontage road. However, these frontage roads will relieve stress (reduce wear and tear) on US 90 and IH 10 W main lanes.

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.

1.36

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.

4.23

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 adjacent segment of IH 10 is 62.8 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This is higher than the statewide average for similar roadways, 58.84. The fatality rate is 1.36 and the serious injury rate is 4.23. The added capacity/addition of the frontage road will improve 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.

Low

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.

Low

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 project will construct four detention ponds at the Woods Rd intersection, three ponds at the Igloo Rd intersection, and three ponds at the Pederson Rd intersection. The enhanced drainage system that results from the construction 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.

Access/Connectivity

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

2,000

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

10,784

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

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

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

2,000

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

10,784

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

787

1d. Disabled Persons

1290

1e. Elderly Persons

821

1f. Limited English Proficiency

460

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.

10.30

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 jobs, schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population. The added capacity will be balanced with bicycle and pedestrian improvements for vulnerable populations. Transit options are being looked at in the REAL 2.0 implementation plan.

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 W.

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 resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time. During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution in the Willow Fork Creek and Brookshire Creek and any other creeks 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.