Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	US 90 A Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	US 90 A
Limits	From FM 359 to SH 99
Description	RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 4 TO 6 LANES DIVIDED
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$48,200,000.00

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.

6.0%

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

2.7%

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?

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 90 A from 4 to 6 divided lanes from FM 359 to SH 99 in a high growth portion of Fort Bend County. The project is included in the Fort Bend County Subregional Plan, the H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study (MPOID 18029) and is listed as a Critical Urban Freight Corridor, as it is on the Texas Highway Freight Network. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway, the project will include improvements in safety, freight connectivity, congestion relief, and delay reduction. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion and create a delay reduction on US 90 A to improve the capacity, connectivity, and overall strength of the regional economic competitiveness. This improvement, in conjunction with the other adjacent proposed improvements, will improve freight access (and freight network fluidity) to many major freight generators in the region including the region’s seaports, airports (Sugarland Regional Airport), manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on US 90 A and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. 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 A 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. 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, 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.

The roadway connects to the state hurricane evacuation route system at SH 99.

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.

Currently, throughout the project extent, there are segments of pavement with IRI conditions ratings of 202 and 212. IRI ratings greater than 170 mean these pavement segments are found to be in poor condition. Adding capacity to this section of US 90 will create a much-needed improved freight connectivity and strengthen regional economic competitiveness. Multiple intersection improvements and hood left turn lanes will be constructed along this project 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 proposed project improves or provides access to new residential developments (Harvest Green just north on Harlem Rd), retail stores, other land uses.

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.

A 10 Foot wide shared use path will be construction on this project as well at new sidewalks on the bridge crossing the Brazos River into Downtown Richmond.

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

This route is used by the local transit service, Fort Bend County Blue Route at the intersection of US 90A and 2nd Street and US 90A and 5th Street. This widening project comes with intersection improvements that could lead to transit reliability improvements.

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 improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility vehicle collisions. In the event US 90 A is shut down, SH 99 and IH 69 S would be alternative routes to cross the Brazos River but these facilities are not close by and miles away which could contribute to additional travel time and emissions in the area.

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.

Reconstructing this segment of US 90 A will replace sections of roadway with exorbitantly high IRI ratings and thus improve regional metrics for state of good repair for transportation asset management. Additionally, improving the operational efficiency of the roadway will reduce stop and go traffic which is a contributor to pavement deterioration. The bridges over the Brazos River were built in 1965 (EB) and 1989 (WB), currently they have a sufficiency rating of 63.2 and 89.1 as of December 2022. According to the schematic both bridges will be reconstructed and brought up to current FHWA and TxDOT design standards contributing to a good state of repair.

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.

2.39

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 average crash rate for all crash severities over the past five years was 125.14 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The serious injury crash rate was 2.39. The installation of raised medians and other operational improvements throughout the corridor would reduce conflicting traffic movements that contribute to a high number of automobile accidents. The roadway widening will increase vehicle capacity, while raised medians will reduce dangerous left turns.

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 (curb and gutter storm sewer to be constructed) 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. Per the schematic from October 2022, no detention ponds 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

4,845

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

22,601

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

4,845

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

22,601

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

2,343

1d. Disabled Persons

1122

1e. Elderly Persons

735

1f. Limited English Proficiency

1074

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.

11.50

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, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population as well as the residents of Richmond and Sugarland.

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.

New and contiguous sidewalks will be installed along the corridor which will help vulnerable populations access services. 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, medical facilities, and social services (Fort Bend County courthouse services) for the regional population. 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 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.

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. 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.