Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 225 at SL 8 Three Remaining DC ramps
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 225
Limits	AT SL 8
Description	CONSTRUCT 3 DIRECT CONNECTOR RAMPS (EB-NB, EB-SB, WB-SB)
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$95,000,000.00

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.

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

25.0%

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 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 three direct-connector ramps on SH 225 at SL 8 (EB-NB, EB-SB, WB-SB) in a high growth portion of Harris County at an important interchange. 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. SH 225 is the main highway connecting Port Houston with the NHFN and the rest of the Critical Urban Freight Network. It is identified as a “High Priority” project in the 2023 H-GAC Regional Goods Movement Plan, and it connects directly to “High Priority” projects on SL 8 that involve rehabilitation, widening and reconstruction of interchanges and bridges. This interchange is classified as a Texas state evacuation route. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on SH 225 and SL 8 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the project interchange and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. 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, manufacturing facilities, and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on SH 225 and SL 8 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The direct connectors will improve regional connectivity for freight fluidity while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the SH 225/SL 8 interchange up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. The enhanced drainage system that results from the project will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical freeway link. Because of the location in southeast part of 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.

The segment of SH 225 that connects to the interchange is heavily congested and direct-connector ramps are needed to provide additional capacity for the movements between SH 225 and SL 8. In TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the segment that contains the project was ranked 284th highest in All Delay but 80th highest in Truck Delay. The annual total delay per mile on the segment was 57,307 person hours and truck delay was 8,355 person hours. The forecast volume for 2041 for the segment is 143,000 vehicles per day, a 40 percent increase, and truck traffic is expected to account for 25 percent. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on SH 225 and SL 8 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project interchange and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. These DC ramps will bypass the existing traffic signals on the frontage roads which should improve daily traffic operations and freight movement.

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 interchange between SH 225 and SL 8 is in the middle of a high growth industrial area with refurbished refineries and expanded chemical plants along with new logistic centers being developed along SH 225. SL 8 is 1 of 4 crossings over or under the Buffalo Bayou ship channel that can handle truck traffic. The proposed project will alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development, including expansion of warehouses.

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 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. 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).

No transit service is provided on these direct connector ramps, but the improvement on the interchange will improve operations for the transit services that use SH 255 or SL 8 and connect to other parts of the region 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.

The project will add direct connector ramps and improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility when there are vehicle collisions. If these DC ramps were to be inoperable or shut down, traffic would not have to move far and could reroute to the SH 288/SL 8 frontage roads, but this would add travel time for traffic and emissions would increase.

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.

Segments of SH 225 and SL 8 near the project have pavement and bridges in fair or poor condition. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway near the direct connectors which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility. Constructing these Direct Connector ramps to current standards could provide an opportunity to reinforce the bridge design to accommodate constant heavy freight (and even heavy permit loads) traffic for long periods of time.

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.

1.35

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.

13.52

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 for the past five years has been 614.0 total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles, almost three times the statewide average or all freeway segments in Texas. The fatal crash rate was 1.35 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is roughly equal to the statewide average for all facility types. The addition of direct connectors will improve safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segments of SH 225 and SL 8 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. These new DC ramps will bypass the current frontage road intersections below and reduce T-bone accidents greatly.

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.

Reducing the risk of collision for freight vehicles, especially HAZMAT loads has a direct impact on the facility and surrounding community resilience by mitigating potential for HAZMAT collisions. The enhanced drainage system that results from the new 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

2,185

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,435

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?

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

2,185

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,435

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

189

1d. Disabled Persons

118

1e. Elderly Persons

1f. Limited English Proficiency

229

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.

17.00

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.

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.

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.

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 before this project lets to construction.

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.