Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 225 Widening/Operational Improvements
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 225
Limits	From IH 610 to RED BLUFF RD
Description	RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 6 TO 12 LANE (ADD 2 GENERAL PURPOSE LANES AND 4 MANAGED LANES), INCLUDING SH 225/IH 610 INTERCHANGE - Safety, operational and mobility improvements to SH 225 mainlanes and frontage roads, based on results of the SH 225 PEL/IH 610 East PEL study
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$351,960,000.00

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.

19.2

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?

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 reconstructing and widening SH 225 from 6 to 12 lanes, spanning from IH 610 to Red Bluff Road. The project includes adding 2 general purpose lanes (1 in each direction) and 4 managed lanes (2 in each direction), including at the reconstructed/reconfigured SH 225/IH 610 interchange. It also includes safety, operational, and mobility improvements to the SH 225 main lanes and frontage roads. The project will include measures for crash reduction and improved safety, greater accessibility and connectivity, and congestion relief. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway, the project will include improvements in the safety, drainage, pavement condition, and bridge condition. The project takes place in Harris County in a high growth area. The project is on the Critical Urban Freight Network, sitting on the Federal Highway Freight Network, Texas Highway Freight Network, and H-GAC Highway Freight Network. To the east of the project segment, SH 225 is designated as a hurricane evacuation route, and connects to IH 610, which connects close by to IH 45, another evacuation route. This route is used by Harris County Transit’s Baytown/La Porte – Gulfgate Shuttle, which can use the future managed lanes to increase reliability of service. This project is to increase safety, improve connectivity, and reduce delay on this segment of SH 225. It will improve freight fluidity by connecting refineries and manufacturing plants to the Port of Houston wharfs along Buffalo Bayou. Improvements to the IH 610 E bridge will include raising it to 170 feet (same clearance height as the SL 8 bridge), allowing for taller/larger ships to enter the port area and generating more freight traffic. That project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on SH 225 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network.

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.

SH 225 runs parallel to IH 10 E which is a state evacuation route, also connects directly to SH 225 portion that is 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.

This section of SH 225 is congested and in need of additional capacity. According to TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the project is ranked 80th in truck delay. The annual total delay per mile on the segment is 57,307 person-hours, and truck delay is 8,355 person-hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 101,859 vehicles per day, of which 19.7 percent are trucks. It is estimated that volume will increase by 40 percent by 2041. For SH 225, Traffic operations on SH 225 between I-610 and Beltway 8 are generally LOS D in both directions during both AM and PM peak hours but experience LOS E operations by the I-610E interchange. For I-610E, traffic operations are generally LOS D in both directions during both peak hours with several locations experiencing LOS E at the SH 225, I-45, and I-10 interchanges. By the year 2045, it is expected that if no improvements are made to SH 225 and I-610E that SH 225 would have an 83% increase in LOS C or worse operations and I-610E would have 77% increases in LOS D or worse operations. To mitigate worsening traffic operations, managed lanes to accommodate the projected increases in passenger and commercial vehicles would be constructed.

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 takes place in Harris County in a high growth area. For example, 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. There are also multiple existing warehouses/plants and many new developments planned are on this segment of SH 225, which are generating large volumes of truck traffic. Additional lanes will relieve congestion and increase reliability of the FHWA freight network. The potential managed lanes along SH 225 could 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 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).

Harris County Transit: Baytown/Laporte - Gulfgate Shuttle uses this route on SH 225 and could use the managed lanes to increase reliability of this service. They also provide on-demand services throughout SH 225. There are limited facilities within the PEL 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.

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. Given this project’s location and SH 225’s location, a backup route can be easily found if SH 225 is ever shut down, for example IH 10 E or SH 225 frontage roads and numerous city streets that run east-west could be used and thus minimizing the impact of an inoperability period.

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.

Some sections on the project segment are in poor condition (with an International Roughness Index (IRI) score of over 170). The bridges along the segment are in fair condition (a minimum condition rating of 5-6 according to FHWA guidelines). The project will include improvements to the along the segment, bringing them up to TxDOT and FHWA standards. This will improve the overall state of good repair of the network and extend the service life of the facility. Reconstructing the roadway to current standards could provide an opportunity to increase the pavement thickness to accommodate constant heavy freight 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.

0.57

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.

3.96

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 this segment is 174.08 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. The fatality rate is 0.57 and the serious injury rate is 3.96. 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 the roadway to current standards could increase shoulder widths to safely move wrecks from traffic and connect discontinuous frontage roads for bicycle and pedestrian refuge. Additionally, 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.

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 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.

Access/Connectivity

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

16,195

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

17,307

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

16,195

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

17,307

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

4,495

1d. Disabled Persons

1258

1e. Elderly Persons

447

1f. Limited English Proficiency

3795

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.

62.40

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 the project’s 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. 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 recommended 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.