713-627-3200
Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire
Project Information
| Agency Name | City of Conroe |
| Project Title | Airport Road Widening |
| Facility/Street/Highway | Airport Road |
| Limits | FM 1314 / Porter Rd to FM 3083 |
| Description | Widen existing two-lane road (no sidewalks) to four lane with sidewalks. Scope includes stormwater, water, and wastewater. |
| Timeframe | Short Term (0-5 Years) |
| Estimated Cost | $22,000,000.00 |
Investment Category-Focused Criteria
No
No
7.4%
7.4%
Yes
Yes
861,183 square feet
Widening Airport Road is needed to support for the growth of Conroe, particularly the warehousing, manufacturing and freight-related uses in the vicinity of the project corridor. Airport Road is a key freight connector for the City of Conroe, as it provides access to a large Home Depot distribution center, two business parks, and the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. The Home Depot Regional Distribution Center, located adjacent to the corridor, is 600,000 square feet and was opened in 2021. Conroe Park North is located off FM 3083, which intersects with the project corridor. This business park is nearly 1,700 acres and has 40 companies, including FedEx. The project also provides access to Deison Technology Park, located on the west side of Airport Road, just north of the project corridor. The airport serves as a regional center for a variety of aviation users; they plan to serve commercial airlines within the next 10-15 years. The widening of Airport Road is essential to supporting freight in the region.
No
No
No
Yes
Airport Road provides connectivity to the northeast quadrant of Conroe and can serve as a north-south alternate route to I-45 for access to that portion of the City.
Other Investment Category Focused Criteria
The scope of the project is to widen Airport Road from two lanes to four lanes. The project will also upgrade the two intersections of Airport Road with Loop 336 and FM 3083. The Loop 336 intersection improvements will include replacement of the current signal (span wire) with mast arms, lane widening including adding a turn lane, and adding median refuge islands. The FM 3083 intersection improvements will include relocation of signal poles, lane widening to include a new right-turn lane and adding median refuge islands. These intersection improvements will improve traffic operations at both intersections, per the traffic modeling done in Synchro. The Airport Road/Loop 336 intersection is projected to be at a level of service (LOS) E in the PM for 2045 in the no-build condition. With the intersection improvements it is projected to be at a LOS D in 2045. The intersection of Airport Road and FM 3083 is projected to be at a LOS D in PM 2045 no-build condition; the proposed reconstruction (build condition) will improve the traffic operations at this intersection to a LOS C.
The City of Conroe has been experiencing tremendous growth. In 2010, the population of Conroe was 56,207 per the U.S. Census. As of July 2021, the population grew to 94,400. A SmartAsset study in 2022 found that Conroe ranked number 6 overall across nearly 500 U.S. cities for economic and population growth. The study considered population, GDP growth, growth in businesses, housing units and unemployment/household income. The Signorelli Co. is developing a 256-acre single family community with more than 850 homes, called Cielo. Construction began in April 2023 and is projected to open later this year. The development is located north of the project corridor, along Airport Road. The widening of Airport Road will improve access to the new development, which will also include a new Conroe ISD elementary school (Bartlett Elementary). In addition to future residential development, Conroe and the surrounding project area specifically are ripe for business and industrial growth. Park 336, a business park with office and warehouse space, located near the intersection of Loop 336 and Airport Road, is expected to accommodate nearly 200,000 square footage of space to open in summer 2023. As of March 2023, permitting data shows about 40,000 square feet under construction. Adding capacity to Airport Road will alleviate future congestion due to the anticipated economic development activity in the area and will also provide access to new residential developments and other land uses in this rapidly growing area of Conroe.
The reconstruction of the roadway would widen the roadway and add pedestrian faculties on both sides of the corridor, in the form of 5 foot wide sidewalks, ADA compliant ramps and crosswalk markings. The pedestrian facilities would provide access to the residential land uses along the corridor to connect to Anderson Elementary School, a daycare, commercial land uses and churches which are all along the project corridor.
Airport Road is not directly served by Conroe Connection, which is the local system in the City of Conroe. However, the majority of the corridor is located within a 3/4-mile radius of the fixed-route bus system. Thus, it is within the service area for ADA paratransit services. This service is for individuals with disabilities who are not able to use the fixed route service. The project improvements will result in a wider road with pedestrian facilities, which will improve traffic conditions and first/last mile connections for those using paratransit.
This project is an important connector in Conroe and provides connectivity to Loop 336 and SH105. In the event of a traffic incident on SH75 or FM3083, Airport Road provides an alternate connection to these two roadways in Conroe. To access the northeast quadrant of Conroe, Airport Road provides alternative routes to Loop 336 and I-45.
The corridor's pavement condition is overall good; however, the reconstruction of the roadway would improve state of good repair. Some sections of the roadway have developed cracks and have faded pavement markings. There is some pavement damage as well, particularly between Loop 336 and FM3083. The corridor is currently lacking paved shoulders and does not have any curbs or multimodal facilities. Guardrails are installed on the roadway for safety due to the steep slope. The reconstruction would provide improved pavement, multimodal facilities and drainage, thus extending the service life of the roadway.
Planning Factors Criteria
0
47.92
From 2017 to 2021, there were a total of 46 crashes occurred on Airport Road from North Porter Road to FM 3083, resulting in four severe crashes. To address the safety concerns of this roadway, total reconstruction of this corridor has been proposed: • Widen the road from two lanes to four lanes • Add 5' sidewalk with 4' buffer zone, ADA-compliant ramps and crosswalk markings on both sides of the project corridor • At intersections of Airport Road with Loop 336 and FM 3083, both span wire signals will be upgrade to mast arms. • Lane widening (including the added turn lane), and adding median refuge islands were also proposed to both intersections • Drainage improvements The proposed improvements correspond to various work codes, each with its own associated crash reduction rate: •Work Code 407 Install Sidewalks with 65% crash reduction •Work Code 108 Improve Traffic Signals with 33% crash reduction •Work Code 517 Add Through Lane with 28% crash reduction rate
Resiliency
Medium
Low
The existing roadway has open ditches along both sides of the roadway. After rain events, the drainage ditches retain standing water and become filled with debris and litter. As part of the reconstruction and widening, drainage will be improved along the roadway through the installation of a closed drainage system. The scope includes adding 24-inch reinforced concrete pipes for stormwater and 4' by 4' stormwater inlets; junction boxes and extending 4' by 5' box culverts.
Access/Connectivity
5788
6049
No
Yes
No
Environmental Justice
5788
6049
1788
821
425
739
48.7
The project will add a 5' sidewalk along both sides of the roadway, along with ADA improvements and crosswalks. These facilities will benefit pedestrians, who currently have no safe facility along Airport Road to walk. The sidewalk improvements will also facilitate access to transit, as the majority of the corridor is within the ADA paratransit service area for the fixed route Conroe Connection system.
A preliminary environmental assessment was conducted for the project in 2022. At that time, no impacts were identified as they relate to air, water or other areas of concern. The list of adverse effects from the detailed criteria and comments are listed below: Body impairment, infirmity, illness, or death: This project will improve safety for all users, particularly multimodal users. Air, noise, or water pollution; soil contamination: This project will require a conformity analysis or Air Quality Statement if receiving federal or state funding; agency coordination will be required regarding noise due to the increased capacity. There are not anticipated to be any adverse impacts to soil requiring mitigation. Disruption or diminution of manmade or natural resources: This project will not affect natural resources. Destruction or diminution of aesthetic values: This project will not reduce aesthetic values. Impact upon the cohesion or economic vitality of a community: This project will increase economic vitality and cohesion of the community through improved access for automobiles and pedestrians. Impact to public or private facilities and services: This project will not impact facilities or services negatively; it will provide additional access to the Home Depot distribution center, regional airport, and the school along the corridor. Adverse impacts on employment: This project will create short-term jobs through construction. The improvements will provide access to businesses and other uses along the corridor, which will encourage economic growth. Displacement of persons, businesses, farms, or non-profit organizations: No right of way is required and there will be no displacement. Increased traffic congestion, exclusion or separation: The roadway will increase capacity and not worsen congestion. Detail or, reduction in, significant delay in receipt of benefits of transportation program: This project is in alignment with local, regional, state and federal goals.
Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
While the project is within ¼ mile of the 100-year flood plain around Stewarts Creek, the actual alignment is not within the flood zone and work will not take place there. The proposed project is not anticipated to adversely impact flooding. There are several designated wetlands, including two creeks, within a ¼ mile of the project area; one Palustrine wetland is adjacent to the project alignment. Project work is not anticipated to impact the bayou or fill or dredge any wetland areas; adverse impacts are not expected. There are no historic resources within ¼ mile of the proposed project. The northern portion of the alignment is in an area designated as “Surface Survey Recommended, No Deep Reconnaissance Recommended.” Much of this area adjacent to Airport Road has been disturbed by commercial/industrial development and religious facilities. An archeological survey will be conducted as needed.
H-GAC to calculate
Innovation
No
No