Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	IH 610 E Ship Channel Bridge
Facility/Street/Highway	IH 610 E
Limits	From N of Mississippi St to S of SH 225
Description	RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 8 TO 14 LANE (ADD 2 GENERAL PURPOSE LANES AND 4 MANAGED LANES) AND RAISE SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$2,400,000,000.00

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.

High

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.

12.7%

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

13.9%

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?

1,000,000

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 current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 146,956 vehicles per day. Truck traffic accounts for 8.9 percent of daily traffic volume for 2021. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent, for which truck traffic will account for 13.9 percent after implementation of the project. The SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL study area consists of approximately 40% industry and Port Houston (including freight and cargo), the largest Gulf Coast container port in the U.S. due to the port and heavy industry in the area (Top 5 in the US in terms of TEUs handled in 2022), I-610E is part of the Primary Highway Freight System (PHFS) for the purpose of moving goods throughout the region and the U.S. While they are part of the PHFS, the design of the roadways is not up to standard to meet the constant demand of freight along the roadways with insufficient pavement thickness, vertical clearances (e.g.: IH 610 E Ship Channel Bridge, not high enough to handle cargo ships), horizontal clearances, and shoulder widths. The SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL study will recommend reconstructing to current standards and may implement managed lanes to address supporting the heavy freight traffic on the roadway (improving freight network fluidity), projected increases in freight traffic by 2045, and raising bridge vertical clearances (170 Feet - matching SL 8 bridge clearance) to support the movement of goods throughout the US and the World.

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.

IH 610 E is 1 of 3 large routes crossing over the Buffalo Bayou (Others being BW 8 and SH 146) that connects to IH 10 E directly 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 current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 146,956 vehicles per day. Truck traffic accounts for 8.9 percent of daily traffic volume for 2021. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent, for which truck traffic will account for 13.9 percent after implementation of the project. The SH 225 and I-610E PEL study area consists of approximately 40% industry and Port Houston (including freight and cargo), the largest Gulf Coast container port in the U.S. Due to the port and heavy industry in the area, IH 610 E is part of the Primary Highway Freight System (PHFS) for the purpose of moving goods throughout the region and the U.S. While they are part of the PHFS, the design of the roadways is not up to standard to meet the constant demand of freight along the roadways with insufficient pavement thickness, vertical clearances (e.g.: IH 610 E Ship Channel Bridge, not high enough to handle cargo ships), horizontal clearances, and shoulder widths. The SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL study could recommend reconstructing to current standards and may implement managed lanes to address supporting the heavy freight traffic (improving freight network fluidity) on the roadway, projected increases in freight traffic by 2045, and raising bridge vertical clearances (170 Feet) to support the movement of goods throughout the US and the World. The SH 225 interchange will have to be reconstructed/reconfigured when the IH 610 E Bridge gets raised higher.

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 a part of the H-GAC RTP 2045 and is included in the list of RTP projects (MPOID 18710). It is identified as a “High Priority” project in the 2023 H-GAC Regional Goods Movement Plan. It is an essential link in the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) and is part of H-GAC’s Critical Urban Freight Network for the region. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the exiting roadway, the project will include improvements to safety conditions, regional economic competitiveness, and freight connectivity. The Port of Houston wants to extend Wharf 33 to the east near IH 610 E along Buffalo Bayou. The proposed project will alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development (expansion of warehouses). Port Houston Barbour’s Cut Terminal is projected to have 8.5 million truck trips per year by the year 2045 with Port Houston expecting to invest over half a billion dollars into the Barbour’s Cut Terminal over the next 10 years. This study will recommend managed lanes along SH 225 and IH 610 E to provide opportunities for express freight trips.

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.

Currently, the SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL study area does not support opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian facilities with discontinuous frontage roads and lack of sidewalks. The City of Houston's Bike plan does not propose any bike routes along our study area. Potentially reconstructing the roadways to current standards could provide an opportunity to design continuous frontage roads to promote pedestrian/bicycle connectivity and widen sidewalks to accommodate shared use path facilities where appropriate.

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

METRO (Route 30) uses the Mississippi St crossing under IH 610 E currently. No Transit service is provided on this route presently. There are limited facilities within the study area to take people from the study area to the greater Houston area. The potential recommended managed lanes along the roadways could provide opportunities to implement bus rapid transit or high occupancy vehicle travel to the greater Houston area.

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.

Potentially reconstructing the freeway to current standards will widen the roadway shoulders for both wrecked passenger and/or commercial vehicles to safely move out of traffic or have traffic move around wrecked vehicles in the case of a collision. This bridge is 1 of 3 major crossings over the Buffalo Bayou, but the other 2 are miles to the east adding travel time and emissions to the region if IH 610 E was to be shut down. This bridge will be raised higher to avoid ship strikes that could close the bridge for a period of time to perform inspections and at the same time this bridge segment is being raised it will replace the IH 610 E underpass location at Clinton Drive that went under water during the City of Houston 96 inch water transmission main pipe burst event on Feb 27, 2020 which closed IH 610 E for many hours.

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 existing IH 610 E Ship Channel bridge was built in 1973 and currently has a sufficiency rating of 74 (which places it in the Deficient classification and makes it eligible for rehab under the FHWA Highway Bridge Program) as of December 2022. Other scores included Superstructure 5, Structural Evaluation 5, Deck 6, and Substructure 6 which is rated as Fair according to FHWA's Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures rule. Along the project segment, there is a need for rehabilitation with a pavement condition rating between values 110-280, categorizing its pavement conditions between fair and poor conditions. The project will bring the pavement conditions up to TxDOT and FHWA design standards and will improve the state of good repair of the segment and overall system. Potentially reconstructing the bridge and approach freeway to current standards could provide an opportunity to increase the pavement thickness to accommodate constant heavy freight traffic for long periods of time and bring the bridge up to today's design standards. Raising the bridge up to match the 170 feet SL 8 bridge clearance height to the east will also reduce incidents with ship strikes to the bridge which will contribute to extending the service life of the facility. The SH 225 interchange will have to be reconstructed/reconfigured because of the raising of the bridge which will lead to an improved state of good repair.

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.

1.05

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.

3.93

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 116.25 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles and the fatal crash rate was 1.05. 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. Reconstructing/replacing the bridge and freeway to current design standards will increase shoulder widths to safely move wrecks from traffic (reducing traffic impediments) and provide an opportunity to connect discontinuous frontage roads with bicycle and pedestrian refuges. It will also increase the height and thickness of bridge railings to prevent vehicles from going over the side of the bridge. Additionally, the potential managed lanes could move freight traffic from the main lanes to avoid collisions with passenger vehicles or vice versa. Ultimately, either option would allow for wider lanes, separate lanes, and wider shoulders for vehicles to comfortably drive next to each other.

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.

According to the H-GAC Regional Resilience Tool, this project is classified as high criticality, and the area is highly vulnerable to flooding. Raising the bridge to 170 feet (same clearance height as the future SL 8 bridge) will prevent bridge strikes from ships and replaces IH 610 E underpass location at Clinton Drive that went under water during the City of Houston 96 inch water transmission main pipe burst event on Feb 27, 2020 with an overpass. Potentially reconstructing the freeway to current standards will provide an opportunity to implement ATLAS-14 drainage design criteria (100-yr/500-yr) and upgrade deficient facilities to mitigate/remediate drainage issues.

Access/Connectivity

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

10,263

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

11,147

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?

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

10,263

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

11,147

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

3,885

1d. Disabled Persons

1193

1e. Elderly Persons

493

1f. Limited English Proficiency

2396

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.

74.20

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.

The project is centrally located in the regional network and will 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 project also provides improved access to jobs and educational opportunities in the region. Potentially reconstructing the roadway to current standards could provide opportunities for more access and connectivity through improving bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities to connect those without vehicles to their desired destinations. Potential recommends projects that will provide opportunities to connect the communities through landscaping beautification and roadway aesthetics that highlight the communities of the corridor.

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 is providing drainage improvements that meet or exceed ATLAS-14 standards (reduced flooding risk). If sound walls are found to be needed, they will be constructed as part of this project. The SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL Study will include an evaluation of the environmental constraints to avoid or mitigate potential impacts that can be transferred into potential projects. The purpose of the PEL study is to reach EJ populations early on to collect their input to potentially incorporate into possible projects. Potentially reconstructing the roadway to current standards could provide opportunities for more access and connectivity through improving bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities to connect those without vehicles to their desired destinations. Potential projects could provide opportunities to connect the communities through landscaping beautification and roadway aesthetics that highlight/tie the communities of the corridor.

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.

There are no cultural resources nearby this project. Clinton Park (natural) should be unimpacted by this project as it is too far east of this project. The Gerhart-Pugh Family cemetery adjacent to IH 610 E should be avoided. The SH 225 and IH 610 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 mitigate sediment pollution in Buffalo Bayou.

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 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 - including frontage 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 also 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 701 CSJ 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.

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 - including frontage 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 also 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 701 CSJ right now, this type of work could easily be done on these construction/reconstruction projects.