Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SL 8 Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	SL 8
Limits	From North of US 90 to Woodforest Blvd
Description	Widen From 4 to 8 Lanes - The roadway will be expanded from a four-lane facility to an eight-lane facility.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$60,400,000.00

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.

Low

2. Is the proposed project located on a Critical Urban/Rural Freight corridor (CUFC/CRFC)?

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.

13.1%

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

19.9%

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?

2,000,000 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 widening SL 8 From 4 to 8 Lanes from north of US 90 to Woodforest Blvd in Harris County. The project is listed in the H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study (MPOID 18518), the RTP 2045 and will provide added capacity and congestion relief. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the exiting roadway, the project will include improvements in the safety, drainage, pavement condition and active transportation facilities. The proposed project is on the State Evacuation Route. This section of SL 8 is congested and needs additional capacity in order to provide more access to multiple freight logistics support facilities that exist in the area. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 59,000 vehicles per day of which 12.9 percent are trucks. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent. The total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 112.59 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The serious injury crash rate was 1.83 for this project segment. The purpose of the project is to reduce delay and congestion on SL 8 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment. 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, manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses such as the ARCO Coldport and NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center, both nearby the SL 8 and US 90 interchange. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on SL 8 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The project also connects directly to the new Generation Park development on SL 8. Project connects to ARCO Coldport (315,101 sq ft Cold Storage Warehouse) and the developing NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center (total of 2,430,519 sq ft) both nearby US 90 and SL 8 interchange. This project also connects directly to the new Generation Park development (4,200 acres) on SL 8 just to the north of this segment, development will include industrial warehouses. Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity to job, schools, and medical facilities for the regional population. The project lies in an area of high growth needs and is a state evacuation route.

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.

This section of SL 8 is congested and needs additional capacity in order to provide more access to multiple freight logistics support facilities that exist in the area. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 59,000 vehicles per day of which 12.9 percent are trucks. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on SL 8 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. 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 SL 8 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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.

Project connects to ARCO Coldport (315,101 sq ft Cold Storage Warehouse) and the developing NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center (total of 2,430,519 sq ft) both nearby US 90 and SL 8 interchange. This project also connects directly to the new Generation Park development (4,200 acres) on SL 8 just to the north of this segment, development will include industrial 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.

As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. Sidewalks will be built on the frontage roads developed by this project, thus improving walking and biking conditions and increasing access to opportunities.

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

This facility is within the Harris County Transit service area and route as well as in proximity to the Metro route and service area, this improvement will provide and improve access to the North Harris vulnerable populations for medical and social services. The improvements will increase reliability for transit services.

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 after vehicle collisions.

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 and bridges in fair condition. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility.

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.

HGAC, please calculate

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.

1.83

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 segment of SL 8 that includes the project had a total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 112.59 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The serious injury crash rate was 1.83. 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 of SL 8 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 segment has a vulnerability and criticality score of low for resilience in the RGM. 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

17,616

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

31,873

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?

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

17,616

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

31,873

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

5,688

1d. Disabled Persons

2134

1e. Elderly Persons

924

1f. Limited English Proficiency

3808

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.

38.60

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 schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population. The project will improve drainage to ATLAS-14 standards (reduce flooding events) and sound walls are being installed (noise pollution reduction). Sidewalks or Shared Use paths will be constructed as part of the project (increases walkability score and connectivity).

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 project will improve drainage to ATLAS-14 standards, reducing flooding events, and sound walls are being installed which will reduce noise pollution.

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 or Natural resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time.

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 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). 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.

2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology?

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.