Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	US 90 Greens Bayou Bridge
Facility/Street/Highway	US 90
Limits	From W of Greens Bayou to E of Greens Bayou
Description	Construct bridge (6 Main Lanes) over Greens Bayou in gap of US 90 mainlanes.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$29,100,000.00

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.

Medium

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.

9.2%

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

14.2%

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?

2,430,519

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 a bridge (6 main lanes) over Greens Bayou in gap of US 90 main lanes from W of Greens Bayou to E of Greens Bayou within a high growth portion of Harris County. The project is a part of the H-GAC RTP 2045 and is included in the list of RTP projects (MPOID 18504). It is identified as a “Medium Priority” project in the 2023 H-GAC Regional Goods Movement Plan. It is an essential link in the H-GAC’s Critical Urban Freight Network for the region, as it sits on the Texas Highway Freight Network. This segment of US 90 connects to SL 8 which is a Hurricane Evacuation Route. The project will include measures for resiliency and flood mitigation, accessibility, and connectivity. In addition to the construction of a bridge, the project will include improvements in safety, drainage, and pavement conditions. For this project, if the main lanes on US 90 over Greens Bayou that will grant access to the NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center (total of 2,430,519 sq ft) at Purple Sage Rd intersection that is currently under construction with some centers already completed and operational generating truck traffic. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity (improved freight network fluidity) for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of US 90 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical freeway link.

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.

This segment of US 90 connects to IH 8 which is a Hurricane Evacuation Route. It can also function as an alternative for IH 69 N or IH 10 E.

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 total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 80.99 crashes per 100 million. The Texas Statewide Fatality Crash Average is 1.39. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 27,914 vehicles per day. The forecast volume for 2041 for the segment is 39,080 vehicles per day - a 40 percent increase, for which truck traffic is expected to account for 14.2 percent after implementation of the project. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on 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. With the construction of a new higher bridge over Greens Bayou compared to the existing frontage roads the flooding risk will be eliminated, thus allowing traffic flow to continue in inclement weather.

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.

This project will finish main lanes on US 90 over Greens Bayou that will grant access to the NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center (total of 2,430,519 sq ft) at Purple Sage Rd intersection that is currently under construction with some centers already completed and operational generating truck traffic. 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 90 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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.

Only the main lanes will be constructed on this project, no bicycle or pedestrian facilities will be constructed as part of this project.

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.

If the new US 90 main lanes were to shut down, the existing frontage roads could act as an alternative route and miniziming an inoperability period. Nearby Wallisville Road could act as an alternative route as well.

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.

The project segment has pavement in fair condition with a maximum IRI score of 138. With the construction of the new main lanes, this will change traffic patterns and shift traffic away from the existing frontage road thus extending 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.

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. 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 US 90 that includes the project had a total crash rate of 80.99 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles of travel over the past five years. The bridge 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. The new bridge on this project will be designed to current FHWA and TxDOT 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 new US 90 Main lanes bridge will be higher than the existing frontage roads, which are more likely to be flooded by Greens Bayou. 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

6,660

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,686

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?

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

6,660

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,686

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

2,095

1d. Disabled Persons

804

1e. Elderly Persons

315

1f. Limited English Proficiency

1953

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.

63.70

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 jobs, schools (IDEA Lake Houston and Purple Sage Elementary School), 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 have 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). Any sound walls that are identified prior or during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be constructed on this project, otherwise the corridor is mostly allowing equitable access to residential and commercial land uses that front the facility.

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 resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time. During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution in Greens Bayou.

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.

This segment of US 90 is missing its ITS infrastructure and could be built/installed on another project at the same time as this project.

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