Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SL 8 Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	SL 8
Limits	From North of US 90 to Woodforest Blvd
Description	Widen From 4 to 8 Lanes - The roadway will be expanded from a four-lane facility to an eight-lane facility.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$60,400,000.00

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%. Some residential land use changes have been announced or modeled. This section of SL 8 is congested. In the 2022 report 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas by the Texas Transportation Institute, the annual total delay per mile on the segment is 14,872 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 59,523, of which 12.9 percent are trucks. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. Intersection improvements and traffic signal timing optimization are being implemented on this project to improve traffic operations. 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 SL 8 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.h-gac.com/getmedia/867a571a-8f6a-43e1-baaa-0c3f3046be24/2022-Major-Thoroughfare-and-Freeway-Plan

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

This project will widen From 4 to 8 Lanes - The roadway will be expanded from a four-lane facility to an eight-lane facility to match the segment to the south coming off the new BW 8 bridge over the Ship Channel.

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%. Some residential land use changes announced or modeled. There are some warehouses being constructed along US 90 nearby this project corridor as well, this project will improve Port of Houston access to them.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

This project will add capacity. Adding capacity will relieve congestion on the facility by allowing for a reduced vehicle to capacity ratio. Further, it will allow more room for traffic to avoid crashes on the segment, reducing congestion caused by crashes.

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.

Uvalde Rd and Dell Dale Street both run parallel to SL 8 or even IH 610 E and SH 99 run parallel to this segment of SL 8 and could be used as an alternative in the event it needs to be closed or vice versa.

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 SL 8 is congested. In the 2022 report 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas by the Texas Transportation Institute, the annual total delay per mile on the segment is 14,872 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 59,523, of which 12.9 percent are trucks. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. Intersection improvements and traffic signal timing optimization are being implemented on this project to improve traffic operations. 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 SL 8 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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.

Frontage road sidewalks will be constructed as possible. The addition of sidewalks will create transportation alternatives and allow pedestrians greater access to services and improve quality of life.

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

No existing or planned transit service is provided on this facility.

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 widen lanes to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility after vehicle collisions.

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 pavement on this facility is mostly in Good condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. In a widening/reconstruction project like this project, pavement is removed and new pavement is constructed, thus increasing the state of good repair and extending the service life of the facility. The project segment contains 1 bridge in Fair condition. It was built in 1988. It is rated as being in Fair condition overall, with a superstructure condition score of 7, substructure condition score of 7, and a deck condition score of 6. 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.

0.737

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.

0.982

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 0.737, lower than the statewide average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 0.982, lower than the statewide average, (6.18). To further enhance safety, the widening of the roadway will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. Additionally, in line with the project management guidelines, the consideration of frontage road sidewalks is underway, with the schematic expected to be ready by mid-July 2023. The consolidation crash reduction factor for this project is 93% as a result of providing additional travel lanes (WC 517), and providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (WC 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.

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.

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

16867

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

31230

12. 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

16867

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

31230

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

5325

1d. Disabled Persons

2120

1e. Elderly Persons

898

1f. Limited English Proficiency

3632

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.

38.00

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.

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 higher low-income population (15.37%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher minority population (90.14%) as compared to the regional average of 65% minority. TxDOT’s 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 currently classified as a type of action that qualifies as a “Categorical Exclusion” as it is not expected to have a significant effect on the human and natural environment. If through the environmental analysis process TxDOT determines that the proposed action does not qualify as a CE, then an Environmental Assessment (EA) would be prepared to identify, mitigate and avoid impacts to natural and cultural resources

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: -0.17, VOC: 2.32

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.