713-627-3200
Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire
Project Information
| Agency Name | City of Sugar Land |
| Project Title | ITS Railroad Monitoring, Notification, & Communication (CTR2203) |
| Facility/Street/Highway | Cravens Road |
| Limits | Pitts Road |
| Description | Install railroad notification DMS prior to RR crossings to reroute traffic; Add Lidar or other technology to the Rail Monitor System to detect trains on dual tracks. |
| Timeframe | Short Term (0-5 Years) |
| Estimated Cost | $2,100,000.00 |
Investment Category-Focused Criteria
Yes
Texas Freight Network Technology & Operations Plan; City of Sugar Land ITS Master Plan
https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/tpp/freight-planning/fntop/freight-network-technology-and-operations-plan.pdf
High
No
2.65%
2.65%
Yes
Yes
3,594,440.77 sf
The proposed ITS Railroad Monitoring, Communication, and Notification System project will implement ITS technologies near at-grade railroad crossings along the US 90 corridor in Sugar Land. US 90A, which has been identified as a critical regional freight corridor, and the adjacent dual-track UPRR that runs alongside it, bisects Sugar Land from east to west. Specifically, the project scope is examining the US 90A corridor and the adjacent Union Pacific railroad track and spans across a broader portion of Fort Bend County beginning from the west end at Pitts Road in Richmond, through the city of Sugar Land (the present monitoring system location) and terminating on the east end at Cravens Road in Missouri City. There are 21 roadway crossings in the proposed study area. The project will advance and expand the current ITS traveler information system, which monitors twelve railroad crossings within the city limits, and one crossing just outside of the city limits located within the City of Stafford. Included is replacement of existing aging equipment that has reached its end of life. One of the key components of ITS is gathering and sharing information to help inform the decisions made by users of the transportation system. In 2022, Sugar Land emergency response personnel documented 25 occasions of blocked railroad crossings at multiple locations along US 90A that have led to emergency response delays. These delays affect all roadway users, including freight delivery trying to cross the railroad, or stopped along the highway waiting for a traffic signal preempted by a passing train. The main benefit of the present monitoring system is that first responders can quickly check the train traffic online as they respond to an emergency call and avoid potentially life-threatening delays. However, the time it takes to detect a blocked crossing (train stopped in crossing) is approximately 8 minutes. The City’s goal is to have the ability to detect a blocked crossing in far less time. The City is in the process of testing Artificial Intelligence video equipment that has the capability to detect a stopped train within a crossing and send notification within 1 minute. Upgrading to a more universal notification system could alert all roadway users, potentially through smart vehicle technologies or simply by using dynamic displays along the roadway. This improvement would improve regional goods movement by lessening the time drivers in the area are notified of crossing delays, making it possible to avoid the intersections impacted by passing trains.
No
No
No
Yes
The project is located along the US 90A corridor which is used to get to SH99 and SH 6. Both SH99 and SH6 are hurricane evacuation routes.
Other Investment Category Focused Criteria
The proposed project will improve traffic operations through more accurate and faster ITS detection and notification at railroad crossing intersections. The City would have real-time crossing information that could be shared with motorists, emergency services, delivery drivers, and trucks carrying freight in real-time via applications that can consume via application programming interface (API). The US 90A corridor serves approximately 63,000 vehicles on an average weekday throughout the year and increases to approximately 70,000 vehicles during the school year. At times the trains slow, stop, and completely block three or more at grade intersections for extended periods of time. In 2022, there have been 459 crossing blocked for more than 20 minutes with an average duration of 61.2 minutes for these events. Traffic congestion and emissions build, first responders are delayed, freight is not moving, and people are late for work and school. The UPRR dual track currently serves approximately 32 trains per day. With the acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway by Canadian Pacific Railway, railroad traffic is anticipated to increase by at least 25%, or possibly total 40 trains per day through Sugar Land. Having improved train detection and a quicker notification system is crucial to the movement of people and goods through the City. Sugar Land is already monitoring and reporting on the number of blocked crossings, the time crossings are blocked, and impacts to traffic congestion. Part of the project includes finding a technology that can effectively collect and evaluate all emergency response times in the area to include with the traffic impact data. These statistics will be compared to the improved monitoring system in order to see the tangible positive effects to the community, including regional goods movement.
The proposed ITS Railroad Monitoring, Communication, and Notification System project benefits several high growth areas, including Harris and Fort Bend counties. The US 90A corridor is a major thoroughfare that connects the region and continues southeast to Seguin. In Sugar Land, which is mostly built out, redevelopment into mixed-use zoning at two regional activity centers located adjacent to the 90A corridor is in the planning stages. These revived areas will include residential, retail, restaurant, and community gathering places all in a highly walkable, human scaled environment. The increased economic activity of the two mixed-use centers will require the movement of both people and goods, and since the railroad is immediately adjacent to them, improvements to the ITS system is crucial for traffic flow in and out of the area. Having the option to avoid an intersection that is blocked by a train allows residents, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, and people passing through to plan a timely alternative route and avoid tardiness to work, school, medical appointments, and other essential services.
This project focuses on ITS detection and communication of trains that block intersections to motorists. The scope does not directly address multimodal or active transportation, but the notifications can potentially be sent to personal cell phones or broadcast on dynamic display signs, so bicyclists and walkers may be able to benefit from the project improvements and avoid the area if a crossing is actively blocked.
As previously mentioned, the proposed project will improve traffic operations through more accurate and faster ITS detection and notification at railroad crossing intersections for all roadway users. The City would have real-time crossing information that could be shared with motorists, emergency services, delivery drivers, and trucks carrying freight in real-time via applications that can consume via application programming interface (API). Sugar Land does not have dedicated bus or transit lanes, so public transit vehicles move in the flow of regular traffic. The system can be used to notify transit drivers, just like any other motorist in the area.
The ITS project will notify motorists of a blocked crossing along US 90A, no matter the cause. Drivers can then avoid the intersection or area until the crossing is clear. Ships or barges are not applicable freight vehicles to the project location.
The current outdated equipment that is in place is at the end of its service life and needs replacement. New and improved signal detection and communication technology is available, and as with all equipment, will be tried out in real-life scenarios. Our Traffic Engineering department tests equipment rigorously and expects that it will last in our Texas climate and extreme weather conditions. The project aims to expand the locations where the monitoring equipment is located as well.
Planning Factors Criteria
0.936
116.16
The project will include several work types, including interconnected signals, advanced warning signs using the existing dynamic messaging signs (DMS) along US 90A and other routes, such as US 59. Motorists and truck drivers traveling on US 90A are often faced with trains approaching and try to beat the train at the next intersection, causing serious and sometimes fatal crashes to occur. These improvements will allow for the City's Traffic Management Center to communicate blocked rail crossings to motorists and truck drivers in advance, via DMS so they can reroute away from US 90A and avoid potentially causing a serious injury or fatal crash trying to beat the train.
Resiliency
Medium
Medium
The scope of the project does not include any drainage improvements.
Access/Connectivity
15,982
49,320
No
Yes
No
Environmental Justice
15,982
49,320
5,816
3,551
2,867
3,061
19.5
The UPRR runs directly along US 90A and intersects the neighborhoods that lie within the project scope. Being able to navigate from home to work on the opposite side of the tracks has an impact on equity and accessibility to connect with jobs, education, and other critical services. The public would experience an increased level of service if the current railroad monitoring system was expanded to cover a broader area of Fort Bend County and upgraded with more advanced real-time data sensing technology. Having the option to avoid an intersection that is blocked by a train allows residents to plan a timely alternative route and avoid tardiness to work, school, medical appointments, and other essential services. Police, fire, and ambulance services can better plan their travel routes in less time to avoid blocked railroad crossings during an emergency, which would improve response times for everyone including those that are underserved, leading to better outcomes during a crisis. This aligns with Environmental Justice goals of the program, providing the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and giving equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. Improved safety, reliability, and mobility within the targeted areas of the project would transform the lives of those who live, work, or travel near the rail corridor. Future expansion of the project would encompass more Historically Disadvantaged census tracts within Fort Bend County and additional communities along the railway.
The proposed project has no adverse effects to any population (including vulnerable ones), and instead mitigates the problems caused by blocked rail crossings such as traffic congestion, pollution from idling vehicles, delays in goods movement, and emergency response times. The project is partially located within two Historically Disadvantaged Communities, census tract 6713 to the east, and census tract 6737 to the west. These tracts have intentionally been included to enhance equity in the study area. Census tract 6737 is bordered by the railroad tracks that run along US 90A to the south, and a toll road to the east, which limits mobility options and can box in a resident trying to get to work on time if there is a train present and blocking a crossing. For residents living within census tract 6713, which is bordered by the railroad tracks on the north side, getting to major employment centers involves crossing those tracks.
Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
The proposed ITS project avoids impacts to natural and cultural resources in the area. The equipment currently used is installed on already existing poles that lie within the City’s ROW and will not have any of these impacts. The project will not have an impact on Nitrogen Oxides or Volatile Organic Compounds, except that when fully operational, drivers will have the option to avoid the area when railroad crossings are blocked.
N/A
Innovation
Yes
The City is in the process of testing Artificial Intelligence video equipment that has the capability to detect a stopped train within a crossing and send notification within 1 minute. The equipment is currently installed at the Easton Avenue at US 90A crossing in Sugar Land and is being monitored at the City’s Traffic Management Center. If the City's project is selected, we will be able to install and test the equipment at additional crossings. The expected outcome of the project is to improve the aging rail monitoring systems performance from an 8-minute detection to under a 1-minute detection and ultimately expand the system to include additional railroad crossings along the US 90A corridor within Fort Bend County. ITS can provide options with better advanced notification systems to efficiently detour people and vehicles around blocked crossings, increasing mobility, safety, and improving congestion. Once the technology improvements are prototyped, tested, and selected, it is vital for the project to quickly and accurately share the information with other users. The system currently uses emails, which are not very effective. Potential strategies include text messaging, push messages via mobile application integration, and/or the installation of Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) where alerts can be automatically posted in real-time along the US 90A roadway for motorists. Removing dependency of the monitoring system on a third-party server and managing all aspects in house, including the ability to store data in a data warehouse for use as needed by others, is a crucial part of this project. These data can be used to feed into better real-time communication modes or used to show historical trends to improve decisions made by the traffic operations team. With this real-time information, improvements to the city’s ITS website can also be made including GPS location-based notifications that are only sent to those users who are near an active event or situation, and the integration of signal flash information into the city’s website. Any of these technologies can be rapidly scaled up to serve a broader area, helping to alleviate the impacts of blocked railroad crossings on many communities across the region and enhancing accessibility, mobility, resiliency, reliability, and traffic operations for all modes of transportation.
Yes
The Sugar Land Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Railroad Monitoring, Communication, and Notification System Project focuses on keeping existing features of the railroad monitoring system, addressing shortfalls, and begins to lay the foundation for connected vehicles to support traffic operations. Once implemented and expanded, Sugar Land, and ultimately other cities along the US 90A corridor, would have real-time crossing information that could be shared with motorist and emergency services in real-time via applications that can consume Application Programming Interface (API), which allows rapid communication to other applications such as Waze, social media, navigation apps, and connected vehicles with in-dash notification systems. This finally leads to a foundation where connected vehicles can also consume information.