Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 225 at SL 8 Three Remaining DC ramps
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 225
Limits	AT SL 8
Description	CONSTRUCT 3 DIRECT CONNECTOR RAMPS (EB-NB, EB-SB, WB-SB)
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$95,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Define High Growth Area Need: Provide a narrative to explain how proposed project is needed to serve a high growth where project is located. (Please provide quantifiable data that demonstrates high growth in population, employment, commercial development or daily traffic.)

The project is located in a high growth area. The population is projected to grow by 0.4% and jobs are projected to increase by 12.3%. While land use changes have not yet been announced or modeled, additional residential land uses will be needed in the future to accommodate the projected growth. This section of SH 225 is heavily congested. In the 2022 report 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas by the Texas Transportation Institute, the segment that contains the project is ranked 80th in truck delay. The annual total delay per mile on the segment is 57,307 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 57,486, of which 13.1 percent are trucks. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the project segment. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of SH 225 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

2. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local plans?

Yes

2a. If yes, please provide link to the plan.

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/houston/sh225-i610-east-study.html

3. Please provide proposed project description (detailed project scope).

HCTRA will be building these 3 DC (Direct Connector) ramps (and the remaining 5 DCs as well) but TxDOT will be constructing the Auxiliary lanes on SH 225 leading up to these 3 DC ramps.

3a. Does the project provide access to new planned land use development (residential or commercial), or connects existing discontinuous networks?

Yes

3a-i. If yes, explain.

The project is located in a high growth area. The population is projected to grow by 0.4% and jobs are projected to increase by 12.3%. No notable land use changes announced or modeled. There are numerous economic generators located along/nearby the study limits that contribute multi-billion dollars to the local, regional, and national economy, including but not limited to Port Houston such as Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminal and the refineries (Land Use – 40% Industrial) within the study area. The projects that result from the PEL Recommendation will include elevated structures that will add capacity and provide a means for express travel thus moving goods more efficiently from these economic generators.

3b. Does the project expand existing networks to alleviate anticipated congestions?

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

Level of Service (LOS) is a measure of moving vehicles and goods reliably and efficiently. LOS for the existing facilities within the SH 225/IH 610E PEL Study limits indicate that overall, the freeway main lanes are operating at LOS D or better during the peak hours. However, traffic operations are expected to worsen by year 2045 based on the projected 52% increase in population in the study area. It is projected that in 2045 most of SH 225 will operate at LOS E/F during the AM and PM peak hours in the westbound direction. In the eastbound direction, it is projected that SH 225 will operate primarily at LOS E/F between IH 610 E and Beltway 8. The projects that result from the PEL Recommendation indicate that by 2045, would improve the congestion throughout IH 610 E to LOS D or better.

3b-ii. What is the estimated Level of Service after the project is completed.

LOS A

4. Does the proposed project provide an alternative route to existing corridor (Road or commuter transit)?

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

SH 225 runs parallel to IH 10 E, if IH 10 E were to ever shut down, this corridor could be used as an alternative route. These DC Ramps and Aux Lanes could be used as a direct connection between IH 10 E and SH 225.

5. 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 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.

This section of SH 225 is heavily congested. In the 2022 report 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas by the Texas Transportation Institute, the segment that contains the project is ranked 80th in truck delay. The annual total delay per mile on the segment is 57,307 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 57,486, of which 13.1 percent are trucks. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the project segment. The added capacity/connectivity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of SH 225 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. No longer will trucks and commuters have to wait at frontage road signalized intersections to get on BW 8 or SH 225, these DCs will reduce emissions from idling at those intersections.

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.

Sidewalks will not be built on this DC ramps/aux lanes only project.

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

Harris County Transit: Baytown/Laporte - Gulfgate Shuttle will use the NB-EB DC ramp when constructed, improving transit service reliability since buses will not be waiting at signalized intersections anymore.

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 construct 3 direct connector ramps/aux lanes to better maintain flow on the facility after vehicle collisions. The direct connector ramps and their related aux lanes will also better accommodate diverting traffic should an incident occur that impacts the main lanes.

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: Poor Narrative: This segment contains pavement in Poor condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. This project will include new connectors in Good condition, which will improve existing pavement and increase the overall amount of pavement miles in Good condition.

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.

3.82

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.

21.647

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.

Crash rates for this segment are per 100 million VMT. The fatality rate is 3.82, higher than the regional average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 21.647, higher than the regional average (6.18). This project will improve interchange design and operation, reducing intersection-related crashes. The consolidated crash reduction factor is 65% as a result of constructing direct connector ramps on an interchange (WC 515) and related aux lanes (WC 521/522).

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.

Medium

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.

Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.Resiliency2

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 existing at-grade frontage road intersections will be replaced with above-grade DC ramps reducing the risk of flooding. 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

2,185

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,435

12. 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?

No

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

2,185

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,435

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

189

1d. Disabled Persons

118

1e. Elderly Persons

19

1f. Limited English Proficiency

229

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.

17.00

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 area surrounding the project segment has a lower low-income population (9.06%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher minority population (68.82%) as compared to the regional average of 65% minority. Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population. As a result of the improvement, vulnerable populations will have increased resilience and evacuation capacity in the event of hazards. SH 225 is an evacuation route. The project will improve drainage to ATLAS-14 standards, which reduce flooding events and their impact on vulnerable populations. The project will increase access to and reliability of transit services for vulnerable populations, who generally rely more on these services.

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 area surrounding the project segment has a lower low-income population (9.06%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher minority population (68.82%) as compared to the regional average of 65% minority. TxDOT’s NEPA Environmental Process is designed to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Standard practice is to implement projects that provide user safety and operational efficiency while taking into account environmental quality and impacts to surrounding communities. In practice this means identifying and assessing potential project impacts, then proposing measures to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse effects to Environmental Justice Populations. 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.

This project is in conceptual development. If required, the appropriate NEPA Environmental Document (Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment, or Environmental Impact Statement) will be conducted to identify, avoid, and mitigate potential impacts to the natural or human environment.

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

NOx: -0.33 ; VOC: 1.49

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.

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)

Additional Documents

2023HGAC-CFP-RGM-LOS-Port Freeport-Chairman (ALL RGM TxDOT Projects).pdf

2023CFP-206 map.png