Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	City of Mont Belvieu
Project Title	Public Works & Engineering Director
Facility/Street/Highway	Eagle Dr.
Limits	From Fm 565 to SH 146
Description	Reconstruction of 2-lane open ditch to 4-lane Blvd with curb and gutter with sidewalks and bikeway.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$36,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local freight plan?

No

2. Is the proposed project located on a Critical Urban/Rural Freight corridor (CUFC/CRFC)?

No

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.

15%

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

25%

5. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to a port/airport?

No

6. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to other freight generators?

No

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 City of Mont Belvieu spent over $15 Mil dollars expanding Eagle Dr 10 yrs ago. from IH10 to FM 565. This expansion has provided great growth to the City including the approval of Riceland, a master plan community with 4,000 homes in the next 10 year. The development includes the construction of a Town Center. This town center was part of a livable center study that was funded by HGAC and was successfully completed. The project was picked up by a developer and the new town center is currently under construction. The City just completed a new City Hall that will be the anchor for the new town center. The developer is under contract to add the roads, restaurants, commercial space, and homes around the Town Center. This growth needs to be supported by infrastructure such as the proposed Eagle Dr. as it will be one of the two main access roads to the town center. The project will expand the existing 2-lane roadway open ditch to a 4-lane curb and gutter road with a median sidewalks and a shared path for pedestrian and bicycle, traffic signals, illumination, and channel improvements. The proposed project will greatly increase mobility in the area by linking the City to SH 146 a designated hurricane evacuation route. The project does not require a grade separation, railroad crossing or ITS. Project limits are from FM 565 to SH 146. This project will facilitate movements of goods thru the City connecting our Industry site with our residential/commercial areas. It will support the increase of traffic created by the livable center. The East side of Houston area does not have a well establish town center as other Cities on the West, South, and North of Houston. The recently completed SH 99 is less that 1/2 mile away and will connect to this project via FM 565 and SH 146. This project is in our current approved CIP plan for the City.

8. Is the project sponsor’s jurisdiction considering strategies to promote off-peak and overnight freight delivery?

No

9. Is the proposed project located on a State designated hurricane evacuation route?

Yes

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.

Traffic operations will be improved by the installation of traffic signals along the corridor. The City is envisioning a traffic circle at the intersection of Eagle Dr. and FM 565 to alleviate the current and upcoming development. The City performed a traffic study to create a traffic management system for the entire City. This project will include adding the equipment necessary to upgrade our intersections and provide traffic management during heavy traffic and during emergency evacuation due to the fact we area a coastal City.

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 will support the Livable Center that is currently under construction. This new development will include our municipal buildings as an anchor surrounded with restaurants, commercial offices, retails, hotels, and living spaces. Section 1-6 of Riceland are in construction and the first homes are gonna be for sale late this year. It connects several existing and new subdivisions to the new town center and the Barbers Hill ISD (BHISD). BHISD complex is located in its entirety inside MB in a 2-mile section of Eagle Dr. Mont Belvieu is a regional HUB for all communities on the East side of Houston, including Liberty, Dayton, Winnie, Cove, Beach City among others. A large portion of those communities come to Mont Belvieu to eat, shop, visit our parks, little league, soccer, golfing, etc. The proposed town center was an HGAC funded study that was successfully implemented and now needs the infrastructure support to make it successful. Currently there is a 600,000 shipping and receiving warehouse under construction inside the City that would benefit by the road expansion. ExxonMobile has a plant inside the City and transports plastics to the port of Houston for shipment around the world. Talke is the trucking company that transport all goods from Exxon across our City to the port of Houston. The need and expansion of roads such as Eagle Dr. is greatly needed to support the logistics of our industry partners.

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 City of Mont Belvieu has successfully connected most of it's neighborhoods with sidewalks and bicycle paths. BHISD one of the top school districts in the state is located in the City in a college style campus. All schools from kindergarten to high school are in one big campus. Having a walk-able path from all areas of the City has been a goal of council and the Eagle Dr. project will expand those current sidewalk networks. It will include a 4' sidewalk in one side and a 10' share path sidewalk on the other side. The road will have pole lights that will illuminate the sidewalks and provide walk ability at night. The project will provide pedestrian connectivity to our City Hall complex, the town center, our Rec Center, Golf Course, City park, and to all BHISD buildings.

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

Currently there are no transit services offered to Mont Belvieu. Metro has never established any bus routes 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 biggest treat we have would be emergencies due to hurricanes and plant emergencies due to explosions. Both of these situations are real and The City has had to face in the past multiple times. Eagle Dr. project will provide alternate routes during those road closures and provide access to SH 146 (Hurricane Route) and SH 99. The proposed project will be access by multiple subdivisions will provide an alternative route for closure due to accidents or emergencies.

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 existing road facility is in need to a major upgrade. The existing road is a 2-lane roadway with asphalt overlay. Upgrading the road to a concrete facility will definitely extend the life of the road for many years.

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.

We have not had any fatalities in the corridor in the past few years.

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.

In th past few years we have had 4 minor and 4 major accidents in the proposed corridor according to our PD.

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 proposed project will expand the facility to a 4-lane road with a raised median that will channelize and improve traffic in the area. The City expanded the section of the road 10 years ago and that greatly improved mobility and reduced accidents. The addition of sidewalks along both side of the road will provide a nice facility for our walkers to take. The additional of traffic signals at all critical intersections will reduce accidents and will provide pedestrian signals. The addition of a traffic circle at Eagle Dr/FM 565 will provide a safer movement of cars and will reduce congestion.

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 proposed project will drain to our Hackberry regional detention park which has been constructed and will accommodate all detention needed for the project. Extensive drainage studies have been performed by the City. Some channel improvements will be necessary to convey drainage to the existing detention ponds.

Access/Connectivity

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

Less than 100

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2500

2. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

No

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?

No

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

Less than 100

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2500

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

Less than 100

1d. Disabled Persons

Less than 100

1e. Elderly Persons

500

1f. Limited English Proficiency

Less than 100

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.

1

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 City of Mont Belvieu does not have a large vulnerable population, however, it does serve several communities with low-moderate-income such as Liberty, Dayton, and Cove. The proposed roadway improvements create safety for vehicles and all pedestrian accessing the facility. It will control speed and provide signalized traffic stops. It will allow better access for all communities to City park, BHISD, Rec Center, Library, and the town center.

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 project will promote healthy living, better access to critical facilities in the City. It is not proposed to re-locate any residents nor increase noise. An environmental study will be performed to determine any potential effects to the environment or the populations. Any impacts will be mitigated as necessary.

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.

The proposed project is not in any known wetlands areas and is not in a designated flood plain. An environmental study will be performed to determine any potential effects to the environment or the populations. Any impacts will be mitigated as necessary. It will follow all requirements per Federal laws.

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.

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 City plans to incorporate the corridor into our future traffic management system plan.

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

No

Additional Documents

Eagle Dr_CIP.pdf