Transportation Project Questionnaire

Operational Improvements and Congestion Management Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 1314 AMS Phase 3 of 3
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 1314
Limits	From SL 494 to SH 242
Description	FM 1314 Access Management Study Long Term Recommendations Implementation (Phase 3)
Timeframe	Long Term (More than 10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$87,560,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Is the project located on a facility listed on Texas 100 most congested roads list?

1b. If no, please provide the existing peak period travel time index (TTI) of the facility where proposed project is located.

1.25 – 1.50

1b-i. Provide a narrative describing the existing congestion where proposed project is located and describe narrative to explain methodology to calculate existing TTI.

Travel Time Index (TTI) is a ratio that compares peak period travel times along a corridor to average travel times, thus estimating a relative level of rush hour congestion. Current TTI for the project area is 1.33, indicating that it takes 1.33 times as long to travel this corridor in the peak period than average, which is moderately congested.

2. What is the estimated TTI after project is implemented?

1.5 – 1.75

2a. Provide a narrative describing the existing congestion where proposed project is located. Within the narrative explain the methodology and data used to calculate existing Travel Time Index (TTI).

3. Please provide a narrative to describe congestion management strategies and improvements (work types) proposed to reduce congestion on facility where the proposed project is located.

The long-term congestion management strategy focuses on improving the mobility, safety, and efficiency of the corridor. These improvements collectively meet both current and future demands of the corridor while maintaining the corridor’s safety, efficiency, and utility. The strategies include: Lane widening from 2 to 3 lanes in each direction (4 to 6 lanes total) along FM 1314 with 12-foot shoulders and additional turn lanes from IH 69 N to Gene Campbell Blvd. Reserving the ROW along Gene Campbell Blvd for future widening. Drainage study and additional drainage infrastructure improvements (as determined by study). Construction of a raised curb and a 10-ft shared-use sidepath on both sides of FM 1314 (6.7 miles). Installation of a new traffic signal to improve mobility at Ferne Drive. 12-foot shoulder from McQueen Rd to Sorters Rd. Driveway management along the corridor, including the consolidation and installation of driveways (case by case basis). Realignment of Owens Rd, will convert this intersection to a traditional four leg intersection. Realignment of Fathree Dr to improve intersection angle and sight distance. Realignment of Mills Rd to improve intersection angle and sight distance. Realignment of Mills Rd intersection. At-Grade Railroad Intersection realignment/consolidation with Royal Purple Lane at SL 494 and FM 1314.

4. Is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

4a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternative to an evacuation route?

Yes

4a-i. If yes, explain.

FM 1314 connects directly to IH 69 N which is identified as an evacuation route.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Was the project scored under Regional Goods Movement Category?

1a. If no, please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves regional goods movement. Within the narrative, please include if the proposed project is designated as a critical freight corridor or a local/regional/state truck route.

The project is not located on a Critical Urban Freight Corridor. The project is not located on the TxDOT or FHWA Freight Networks. The project improves regional goods movement by access management (medians/turn lanes) which will enhance traffic flow and reduce the quantity and severity of crashes. EMCID is a premier freight generator and logistic center. It is located along Gene Campbell Blvd, and FM 1314 is one of the two roads (the other being FM 1485) that provides access to Gene Campbell Blvd. The industrial park is expected to continue future growth, with an additional 800 acres of land in expansion plans. The 4 to 6 lane widening from IH 69 N to Gene Campbell Road will improve traffic flow for truck traffic and commuters alike.

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.

EMCID is a premier freight generator and logistic center. It is located along Gene Campbell Blvd, and FM 1314 is one of the two roads (the other being FM 1485) that provides access to Gene Campbell Blvd. The industrial park is expected to continue future growth, with an additional 800 acres of land in expansion plans. See work types on High Growth Area Needs Question 3.

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.

10 Ft Shared use paths and/or 6 ft sidewalks are being recommended on the entire corridor.

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

There is no transit along this corridor.

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.

FM 1485 Corridor runs almost parallel to this project, inoperability impacts would be minimized because traffic could use FM 1485 as a backup route if FM 1314 were 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.

Pavement Score: Fair This segment contains pavement in Fair condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend 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.

3.196

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.

16.895

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 crash rate per VMT on the southern end of FM 1314 are above the statewide average, with the segment between IH 69 and SL 494 far exceeding the statewide average. The statewide average crash rate of FM roads is 253.5 per 100 million VMT (MVMT). However, the average crash rate on FM 1314 is 340 per 100 MVMT from Sorters Rd to IH 69 and an astonishing 1,246 per 100 MVMT from IH 69 to SL 494. Crashes data from CRIS for years 2017-2022 report a total of 1,358 crashes within those six years. There are eight fatal and 30 severe injury crashes in these years, suggesting that severe crashes reoccur annually. Failing to control speed and failing to yield right of way are the top primary contributing causes to crashes. See work types on High Growth Area Needs Question 3, to summarize (WC 517, 521/522, and 407).

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.

Medium

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.

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

12,790

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,904

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?

Yes

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

12,790

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,904

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

3,900

1d. Disabled Persons

2,426

1e. Elderly Persons

1,348

1f. Limited English Proficiency

2,605

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.

28.5

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.

This project will improve mobility to and from jobs and provide for multimodal opportunities by including sidewalks/shared use paths. Students will now have safe routes to schools 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.

This project includes medians that opportunity spaces for green landscaping (improves air quality and creates a traffic calming measure to improve safety) by EMCID if they so choose. For example, the project will improve drainage to ATLAS-14 standards, which will mitigate impacts from added capacity to vulnerable populations.

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.

FM 1314 subject to frequent flooding as it is located between the Caney Creek and Dry Creek. Segments of the FM 1314 corridor are under the 100-year or 500-year floodplains. All projects are being designed to match or exceed ATLAS-14 standards.

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.
(Optional)

NOx: -1.79, VOC: -7.56

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.

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)

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

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.