Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 332 Grade Separation at FM 523
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 332
Limits	From N of FM 523 to S of FM 523
Description	Construct grade separation at FM 523.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$24,710,000.00

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.

5.10

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

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?

0.00

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 grade separation on SH 332 at FM 523 from north of FM 523 to south of FM 523 in Brazoria County. This project is included in the RTP 2045 (MPOID 247). and the H-GAC Regional Goods Movement Study and is recommended as a “high priority” in the Plan. The project is located on the Texas Highway Freight Network and is part of the region’s Critical Urban Freight Corridor. This project is also located on a State Evacuation Route. This project improves connectivity and freight network fluidity with Port of Freeport and many chemical plants nearby.

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 current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 9,200 vehicles per day of which 5.1% is trucks. The percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent, and truck traffic is expected to account for 8 percent. The project is constructing a grade separation at the FM 523 intersection which means trucks can now bypass traffic signals and improve freight network fluidity.

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 and provides access to Port of Freeport which is expanding their shipping container yard. There are also numerous chemical plant rehabilitation projects going on currently and recently completed Liquidified Nature Gas (LNG) industry related projects. With improved freight network fluidity and one less traffic signal to stop at this project will alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

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. The project will construct 10ft wide shoulders on the bridge and around the intersection below the grade separation.

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

No existing or planned transit service is provided on this facility.

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 grade separation at a high-crash intersection and will better maintain flow (freight network fluidity as well) on the facility.

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 the project have pavement in fair condition. The project includes reconstruction of an intersection by constructing a grade separation, which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility. Additionally, reducing stop and go traffic for freight vehicles not only improves regional goods movements, but also improves long term state of good repair and transportation asset management by reducing the frequency of stop and go freight traffic at this location which can be a major contributor to pavement pitting.

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.

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.

184.93

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 5,085.64 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles, which is 25 times the average statewide average for similar facility types. The serious injury crash rate was 184.93 which is 31 times the average statewide average for similar facility types. The project will add grade separation at a high-crash intersection and will better maintain flow on the facility and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of SH 332 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. This will also allow the City of Surfside Beach to evacuate faster from their island with one less traffic light to stop at.

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.

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 segment has a vulnerability score of medium in the H-GAC resiliency tool given its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. 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. It is also on the state evacuation route. Additionally, 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.

Access/Connectivity

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

870

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

378

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

870

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

378

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

296

1d. Disabled Persons

325

1e. Elderly Persons

125

1f. Limited English Proficiency

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.

43.00

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.

Because of its location in the regional network, the project will 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.

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.

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. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding risk). 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 retail land uses that front on SH 332 and FM 523. Traffic fluidity improves as the traffic light is bypassed and therefore improves air quality whereas vehicles used to idle at red lights.

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 that could be impacted found at this time. This project is being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding). During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution near any other 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 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.