Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	US 290 Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	US 290
Limits	From Washington County Line to SH 6
Description	Reconstruct and wide from 4 to 6 lanes. This project will widen the existing highway to the middle adding a third lane in each direction.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$188,640,000.00

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)?

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.

18.6%

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

21.0%

5. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to a port/airport?

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 reconstructing and widening US 290 from 4 to 6 lanes. This project will widen the existing highway to the middle adding a third lane in each direction in Waller County from the Washington County line to SH6. It will add capacity, reduce delays, relieve congestion, and strengthen regional economic competitiveness by providing improved connectivity to other freight generators. This project also ties in with a TxDOT widening project (CSJ 0114-10-097/MPOID 17234) in Washington County (in the TxDOT Bryan District). This improvement, in conjunction with others adjacent proposed, has ITS being constructed on another project (CSJ 0114-11-090/MPOID 18522) but ITS could be built at the same time as this project is constructed. The Project connects to RCR Hempstead Rail Logistics Park (recently developed - no warehouses constructed yet) at NW corner of SH 6 and US 290. US 290 already has a railroad grade separation at this location. Project connects to RCR Hempstead Rail Logistics Park (recently developed - no warehouses constructed yet, but rail spurs exist) at NW corner of SH 6 and US 290.

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 17,595 vehicles per day of which 18.6 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 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 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. This project will be constructing improved medians and intersection improvements (left and sometimes right turn lane improvements) along the corridor.

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 connects to RCR Hempstead Rail Logistics Park (recently developed with constructed rail spurs- no warehouses constructed yet) at NW corner of SH 6 and US 290. The proposed project will alleviate future congestion due to potential economic development (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.

As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. A 10 Ft shared use path will be constructed on the south side of the right of way according to the schematic.

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

Colorado Valley Transit (Route Hempstead) will provide services to Hempstead, Prairie View, and City of Waller along the US 290 corridor. Future transit service can use the main lanes on this project.

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.

Currently, as there are no frontage roads on this section of US 290, SH 159 is the nearest crossing across the Brazos River in Waller County if US 290 becomes inoperable, which is about 7.5 miles south or downstream. Operability would be greatly impacted. 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 during 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.

Some sections on this segment have pavement in fair condition, with an International Roughness Index (IRI) score of between 95 and 170 (fair) or over 170 (poor). Bridges along the segment are also only in fair condition, with a minimum condition score of 6 according to FHWA guidelines. The improvements (reconstruction and widening/new pavement) will bring the infrastructure up to TxDOT and FHWA design standards and improve the state of good repair of the segment and the overall system.

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.

1.15

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.

2.69

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 42.99 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The segment of US 290 that includes the project had a fatal crash rate of 1.15 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and the serious injury crash rate was 2.69. 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 US 290 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. An improved median (cable barrier and/or raised medians) and left/right turn lane improvements are being constructed on this project. 12 Ft wide outside shoulders will be constructed as well.

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 enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical link. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards. Detention ponds and other drainage improvements are being constructed on this project.

Access/Connectivity

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

2,826

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,689

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

2,826

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,689

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

1,226

1d. Disabled Persons

430

1e. Elderly Persons

442

1f. Limited English Proficiency

375

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.

52.40

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.

The project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to jobs, schools (Local ISDs, nearby Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University up SH 6 in College Station), 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.

This project is providing drainage improvements that meet or exceed ATLAS-14 standards, reducing flooding risk. If sound walls are found to be needed during the NEPA review process, they will be constructed as part of this project.

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.

As this project is widening to the center median, there should be little to no impact on the surrounding/adjacent properties whether they be culturally/naturally important, if any right of way is needed it will be for detention ponds. During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution in the Brazos River and any other creeks 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.

ITS (new DMS boards and cameras) will be constructed on CSJ ID 0114-11-090 (MPOID 18522) during this project or right after it to avoid damaging the fiber optic lines in the ground. 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. This is 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 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 autonomous/connected vehicle technology. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project. This is 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 701 CSJ right now, this type of work could easily be done on these construction/reconstruction projects.