Transportation Project Questionnaire

Operational Improvements and Congestion Management Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	City of Mont Belvieu
Project Title	Public Works & Engineering Director
Facility/Street/Highway	Traffic Management Center
Limits	City Wide
Description	Construction of a traffic management center for the City of Mont Belvieu
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$3,000,000.00

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.

1.0 – 1.25

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

Existing free-flow speed run from SH 146 to Lakes of Champions on Eagle Dr at 35 MPH and 3 signals is 6.48 minutes. Peak Hour run is 7.72 minutes. During peak hours for school 2-3pm is 8.96 at a TTI of 1.382

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

< 1.0

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).

Project would provide communication to signals for coordination, upgrades, and control from the Managment Center at old city hall. This would allow for coordinated flow through the intersections and provide school traffic relief by allowing real time timing adjustments.

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 basic goal of this Management Center Plan is to identify a series of improvement projects to address the transportation-related functional requirements for the City of Mont Belvieu, with an objective of providing a Management Center and advanced transportation system improvements throughout the city for emergency operations. The guiding principles and many of the technical aspects have not been developed previously. This plan will serve as a foundation for a Management Center implementation along with a much-needed updated technology for ITS devices to improve egress and ingress for emergency operations related Evacuations, plant operations emergencies, and coordinating/providing guidance for interstate/Sate Highway traffic along SH 146, SH 99 and IH 10 during traffic incident and emergencies.

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

Yes

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

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

Yes

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 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 -20 years. The development includes the construction of a Livable Town Center, and city hall. This Livable Town Center was part of a 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 improvements to signals, latest technology, emergency response times, emergency communications, and other upgrades. The project will improve the existing traffic signal intersections, add CCTV, upgraded detection, DMS signs, improved ADA access and connection to MBlink network on fiber. The proposed project will greatly increase mobility and cut congestion while also providing an emergency operation for communication to sign, signals and CCTV. The proposed Management Center Plan will improve projects to address the transportation-related functional requirements for the City of Mont Belvieu, with an objective of providing a Management Center and advanced transportation system improvements throughout the city for emergency operations. The guiding principles and many of the technical aspects have not been developed previously. The project will implement a Management Center along with a much-needed updated technology for ITS devices to improve egress and ingress for emergency operations related Evacuations, plant operations emergencies, and coordinating/providing guidance for interstate/Sate Highway traffic along SH 146, SH 99 and IH 10 during traffic incident and emergencies.

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 project will increase ADA access with audible pedestrian buttons, improved signal heads along sidewalks and/ or trails routes that access corridors in the city including pedestrians and bikers. The project will provide better coordination of signalized intersections while allowing pedestrians to cross in a safer manner. This project will be critical since Riceland development is located mainly on the eastside of Eagle Dr and will be needed a safe access to the westside where the town center will be, including city hall and billing department. The City of Mont Belvieu has successfully connected most of its 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. The proposed Traffic Management Center will allow proper routing of pedestrian facilities across the city particularly during high walk-able periods such as high school football games, little league, and soccer seasons. The project will manage 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).

The project will improve overall traffic conditions for all arterials in the City of Mont Belvieu (MB). MB does not have an existing transit service, but future transit projects will benefit off the management plan project. The new Management Center (TMC) will be located at in Existing City Hall Building along with other city facilities. The TMC will include the latest technologies and equipment to help provide the citizens of Mont Belvieu with improvement in emergency operation safety and congestion. With more people relocating and visiting the city, advancements in the latest technology are needed to enhance the quality of life in the community by a commitment to excellence in the delivery of the City’s public service and emergency operations. The TMC will mitigate situations and provide better response on along all the City of Mont Belvieu’s current and future roads. The new technology will improve the accuracy and time in alerting proper authorities of an accident, alerting travelers of congestion along routes, will provide better data collection, and management. Other improved operations include traffic signal management, inclement weather response, prioritizing signals for emergency vehicles, reporting incidents to the proper authorities, natural disaster evacuations, and maintaining equipment. Finalize city’s Architecture Plan for regional connection and enhanced future ITS operations.

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 provide communication by dynamic message signs, CCTV, signal timing adjustments for crashes, events or other inoperable periods that may happen due to emergencies or damage infrastructure. Project will improve response times for any infrastructure damage or emergency issues. Mont Belvieu will benefit with this project based on the number of heavy plants industrial companies operating in and around the area, that may require an evacuation or lock down. Today crashes or issues along IH 10 or SH 146 causes traffic operation to fail and require residents to maneuver through the city. Communication and adjusting signal will be beneficial. ITS advanced technology is used to coordinate signals, improved traffic progression, reduce incident clearance times, improve real-time traveler information, improve progression, and enhance special event traffic management and more. During periods of inoperability due to emergencies or accidents the TMC will guide the deployment, management, and operation of advanced traffic management technology within the area while serving as an educational tool. It will allow city staff to view, assess, and redirect traffic in real time as needed. It will allow for emergency services to be dispatched to the scene even before the public can contact 911.

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 project will extend the life of the existing signal systems by adding gps clocks, signal timing, updated cabinets, controllers and may eliminate the need to add capacity or more travel lanes.

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.

0.0124 (2023)

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.

0.2795 (2023)

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 management center and improvements will help provide congestion control and increased emergency response times for fatal injuries. The communication will help in reroutes, adjusting flow thru signals and provide emergency information. Emergency response time will help with serious injuries and impacts due to crashes. Implementation of a TMC can be measured by obvious key performance indicators, such as an increase in the quantity of incidents managed, an increase in number of ITS devices deployed, and an increase in miles of coverage. Some outcome-focused measures of improvement may include reduced recurring and non-recurring congestion, reduced crashes, and improved response times to traffic incidents. The system will reduce crashes and fatalities through continuous improvement of traffic management systems and procedures. IT will optimize travel time reliability on transportation systems in critical corridors to ensure travelers are reaching their destinations in the amount of time they expected for the journey. It provides timely and accurate travel information to customers so they can make informed mobility decisions so they can avoid areas that are dangerous and could cause more accidents.

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.

Project would not help with preventing flooding but will help in coordination of emergency operations of travel and high-water spots. Management center will assist fire and police for any water rescues. Part of the project is to provide CCTV at locations.

Access/Connectivity

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

1252

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

931

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

Yes

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?

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

1252

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

931

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

93 (10%)

1d. Disabled Persons

500 ( 5.1%)

1e. Elderly Persons

830

1f. Limited English Proficiency

1320 (13.1%)

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.

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 management center project will provide improvements to pedestrians crossing including audible push button upgrades, modified wheelchair ramps were needed, CCTV, detection upgrades, signal timing and other improvements. The pedestrian upgrades will allow for a friendlier ADA issue.

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.

Management center project will not cause any adverse effects to the vulnerable population. The project will have no adverse effects to any population and will only increase safety and operations of infrastructure.

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.

Project will not affect wetlands or flood plain areas. 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.
(Optional)

0.03 (both)

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.

Project will include updates local and master software including cabinets, controllers, detection, pedestrian crossing equipment, CCTV and digital signs. The proposed TCM will improve safety and mobility for all modes of transportation by integrating planning, design, operations, and maintenance activities and acknowledging all opportunities for innovation. It will increase safety by reducing crashes and fatalities through continuous improvement of traffic management systems and procedures. It will provide reliability and optimize travel times on transportation systems in critical corridors to ensure travelers are reaching their destinations in the amount of time they expected for the journey. It is efficient by Implement projects that optimize existing transportation system capacity and alleviate congestion. Provides timely and accurate travel information to customers so they can make informed mobility decisions. It will provide collaboration manage and operate an integrated transportation system through multi-jurisdictional coordination and cooperation between various transportation disciplines and partner agencies.

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