Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	US 90 Grade Separation at Purple Sage
Facility/Street/Highway	US 90
Limits	From West of Purple Sage to East of Purple Sage
Description	Construct grade separation (6 Main Lanes) in gap of US 90 mainlanes at Purple Sage intersection.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$34,300,000.00

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.

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 grade separation (6 main lanes) in the gap of US 90 main lanes at the Purple Sage intersection in Harris County. In addition to constructing a grade separation to US 90. The project will install sidewalks and ADA curb ramps at the Purple Sage Intersection under US 90. It will also include safety and capacity improvements and improve the area’s accessibility and connectivity. The project is featured in the H-GAC Regional Goods and Movement Study and is listed in the H-GAC RTP (MPOID 10268). The project is on the Critical Urban Freight Network, as part of the Texas Highway Freight Network. On the northeast side of this project segment is an intersecting area with SL 8, which is a part of the Texas hurricane evacuation route. The area in which the project sits is a high growth area, where an increasing number logistic and warehouse facilities are located. 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 (and fluidity to the freight network) to many major freight generators in the region including the region’s seaports, airports, manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on US 90 and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor. 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, evacuation routes, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

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.

SH 3 runs parallel to IH 45 S for many miles (which is classified as a state evacuation route) and could be used as an alternative 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. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 27,914 vehicles per day of which 9.2% are trucks. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent, to an estimated 39,080. The annual total delay per mile on the segment was 5,048 person hours and truck delay 661 person hours. 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. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity (filling in the missing main lanes gap on US 90) 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 US 90 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards, as well as improving air quality in the region. The new interchange/intersection here will include new left turn lanes and could eventually be signalized.

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 while connecting Purple Sage Rd to US 90 Westbound and grant access to the NorthPoint 90 Logistics Center (total of 2,430,519 sq ft) that is currently under construction with some centers already completed and operational generating truck traffic. This segment of US 90 connects directly to SL 8 which leads to the Port of Houston. 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.

The project will install sidewalks and ADA curb ramps will be installed at the Purple Sage Intersection under US 90. As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor.

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

Even though the route is slightly outside of the METRO’s service area, the route is within the vicinity of Metro’s Reid Facility Bus Stop. This widening project comes with intersection improvements that could lead to access to the bus stops, private and public schools, vulnerable population neighborhoods as well as commercial/industrial developments in the area.

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 vehicle collisions. The existing lanes there now will be reclassified as frontage roads which will act an alternative route if these US 90 main lanes are shut down.

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 or worse condition. These new main lanes will shift traffic off the existing roadways which will contribute to 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.

8.83

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 US 90 that includes the project had a total crash rate of 280.45 crashes per one hundred million vehicle miles of travel over the past five years which is more than twice the statewide crash rate for similar facilities. The segment also had a fatality crash rate of 1.15 per 100 million vehicle miles of travel. 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 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. This new grade separation on US 90 will change traffic patterns and avoid an intersection.

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 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

2,038

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,785

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

2,038

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,785

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

348

1d. Disabled Persons

414

1e. Elderly Persons

115

1f. Limited English Proficiency

153

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.

50.60

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 jobs, schools (Purple Sage Elementary School and IDEA Lake Houston), medical facilities, and social services for the regional population. The added capacity will be balanced with bicycle and pedestrian improvements for vulnerable populations. New and contiguous sidewalks will be installed along the corridor.

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 construction of a 6 main-lanes facility and sidewalks along the corridor will help vulnerable populations access services. Because of its outer location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to the jobs, schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

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 and Big Gulch creek.

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 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.

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 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.