Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	US 90 Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	US 90
Limits	From IH 10 W to FM 2855
Description	Widen from 2-lanes to 4-lanes divided. Reconstruct highway from 2 to 4 lanes and install medians and left turn bays. Also reconstruct and widen bridges at Kellner Creek, Brookshire Creek, Willow Fork Creek, and Snake Creek. Construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities and convert the existing open-ditch drainage to a closed stormwater system.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$78,200,000.00

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.

4.9

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

5.8

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?

4,000,000 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 US 90 from 2-lanes to 4-lanes, divided from IH 10 W to FM 2855 in Waller County. The project includes reconstructing the highway from 2 to 4 lanes and installing medians and left turn bays. Additionally, reconstruction and widening of the bridges at Kellner Creek, Brookshire Creek, Willow Fork Creek, and Snake Creek are included. The project also includes construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and the conversion of the existing open-ditch drainage to a closed stormwater system. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the exiting roadway, the project will include improvements in the safety, drainage, pavement condition and bridge condition on four bridges on the. The project takes place in a high growth area of Waller County. It is listed in the H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study and H-GAC RTP (MPOID 18328). US 90 connects to IH 10 W, which is a link on the Critical Urban Freight Network, as it sits on the Texas Highway Freight Network and is a major hurricane evacuation route. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on US 90 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. 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 freight warehouses. The project connects all the warehouses in the Katy-Brookshire area north of IH 10 W and south of US 90 including but not limited to the recently constructed Empire West Business Park. The capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. Sidewalks and/or wide shoulders/shared use paths are being constructed on this project that will enhance safety for all users. This segment of US 90 runs parallel to IH 10 W which is classified as 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?

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 runs parallel to IH 10 W which is classified as 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 US 90 is heavily congested and needs additional capacity. According to TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 7,287 vehicles per day. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent, with truck traffic representing 5.8 percent after project implementation. This project will construct center turn lanes and widen the road to 4 lanes. This will improve traffic flow to counter the current 2 lane traffic that impedes traffic waiting for trucks or vehicles to left turn into warehouse facilities. 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 of up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. Multiple intersection improvements with turn lane improvements will be constructed as well. This project was recommended in the Waller County Mobility Plan (2019).

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 a high growth area of Waller County. It connects all the warehouses in Katy/Brookshire area north of IH 10 W/South of US 90 including, but not limited to, recently constructed Empire West Business Park. The proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity 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. There will be two 10 Ft shared use paths built on both sides of US 90 according to the schematic from March 2022.

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

There are no transit services currently operating on US 90, but future service could use the additional lanes in the future.

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/or redirect traffic to better maintain flow on the facility in the event of vehicle collisions. If US 90 were to shut down, a bypass for this would be near IH 10 W or the future frontage roads along IH 10 W, minimizing the 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.

One bridge on the project segment is rated as being in fair condition according to FHWA guidance, with a minimum condition score of 6. The improvements will bring the pavement and bridge infrastructure up to TxDOT and FHWA standards and improve the state of good repair of the segment and the overall system. The bridges over Kellner Creek, Brookshire Creek, and Willow Fork Creek will be reconstructed on this project.

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.

3.95

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.

11.84

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 100.53 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The fatal crash rate was 3.95 per 100 million vehicle miles, higher than the statewide average of 1.39. The serious injury crash rate was 11.84 per 100 million miles, greater than the statewide average of 5.95. 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 current TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. This project will construct raised median improvements in some places which have been shown to reduce crash rates. There will also be a 8 Ft wide outside shoulder in the City of Brookshire Downtown section of US 90.

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.

This project has medium vulnerability to flooding. The project also includes the conversion of the existing open-ditch drainage to a closed stormwater system. The enhanced drainage system will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this roadway. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards. There will be a few potential detention ponds as well constructed with this project.

Access/Connectivity

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

4,821

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,156

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?

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

4,821

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,156

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

1,379

1d. Disabled Persons

1051

1e. Elderly Persons

733

1f. Limited English Proficiency

877

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.

23.00

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.

The project will improve mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations through reducing traffic congestion and adding pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well as improve connectivity to jobs, schools (Katy High School), medical facilities (Brookshire Family Practice and Miltens Clinic), and social services (Brookshire City Hall, Post Office, and Waller County Pct 4 Annex) for the area’s 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 mitigates adverse impacts on vulnerable populations by adding pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The project uses existing ROW and does not divide communities. The raised medians will provide the opportunity for another agency to plant/maintain landscaping in the median to mitigate air pollution and improve aesthetic values.

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 the Kellner, Brookshire, and Willow Fork Creeks on this project.

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 service roads on this segment of the project as applicable (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.