713-627-3200
High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire
Project Information
| Agency Name | Greater Northside Management District |
| Project Title | Berry Road Reconstruction |
| Facility/Street/Highway | Berry Road |
| Limits | Airline Drive to Jensen Drive |
| Description | Improve safety and multimodal access on corridor, particularly for students and nearby businesses. Improvements will install new sidewalks or shared use paths, improve lighting and signage, address drainage concerns as needed, and rehabilitate roadway where needed. |
| Timeframe | Medium Term (6-10 Years) |
| Estimated Cost | $17,300,000.00 |
Investment Category-Focused Criteria
Berry Road is a mixed-use corridor, with commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential land uses. The roadway has schools, restaurants, and other services that are accessed by the nearby community and residential land uses. Berry Road is an east-west connector between Northside/Northline and Eastex/Jensen neighborhoods at the forefront of a rapidly evolving area just north of downtown Houston. The project is necessary for many reasons: • Berry Road has recently become an area of interest for new development. The improved walkability of the corridor will also improve the property values for residential and commercial parcels adjacent to the improvements. Since 2010, nearly 345,000 square feet of commercial and industrial space has been constructed along the project corridor. Within 0.25 miles of the project corridor, there are 119 retail, 32 commercial, and 21 restaurant destinations that will benefit from improvements to Berry Road. While this property value increase is not considered a federally recognized societal benefit, it is important for the City of Houston and District to consider. • Based on H-GAC socioeconomic data, by 2045, the number of jobs in the project area are expected to increase by 45%. Improved walkability of the corridor will improve access, safety, and commute experience for those traveling to and from work along the corridor. • Since 2010, 326,000 square feet of residential property (195 single family and 5 2-family units) has been constructed along and adjacent to the project corridor. Over the last several years, this neighborhood has witnessed a substantial real estate boom, with townhome communities offering new housing density and properties selling for an average of $212.40 per square foot. In summer 2023, New Hope Housing broke ground on a $34 million affordable housing project, creating 220 units to address the critical need for affordable living spaces along this corridor. • On the east side of the project corridor, Berry Road is just one mile from the Tidwell Transit Center. A recent $376,000 federal grant for transit-oriented development under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a testament to the area's potential. This grant aims to transform Tidwell Transit Center into a transit-oriented hub that supports increased mobility and access. Similarly, the western end of Berry Road is only 0.35 miles from the Northline Transit Center, another focal point for community connectivity. • Improving Berry Road is a commitment to the community's future. By aligning with the transit-oriented developments at Tidwell and Northline Transit Centers and addressing the urgent needs of pedestrian safety and effective transportation, this project sets the foundation for sustainable growth. It aims to bridge the divide created by freeways, bring together a diverse community, and support the flourishing commercial and cultural activities along the corridor. Furthermore, this Project is consistent with the Greater Northside Management District’s 10-year Service Plan (2021-2030) to enhance economic diversification, business expansion, and economic growth by providing better access to businesses and neighborhoods, creating safer environment for pedestrians and bicyclists, attracting new businesses, and supporting adjustment and the reallocation of resources towards new activities.
Yes
https://greaternorthsidedistrict.org/northsideonthemove/
The proposed project will improve safety and provide enhanced multimodal access, particularly for students and nearby businesses. The project is 2.5 miles along Berry Road between Airline Drive and Jensen Drive. Proposed improvements include the installation of new sidewalks, improved lighting and signage, address drainage concerns as needed, and roadway rehabilitation where needed. The improvements consist of back-of-curb, pavement rehabilitation, and storm water drainage improvements, including: • Construction of approximately 17,500 linear feet of 6-ft sidewalks and 8,500 linear feet of 10-ft shared use paths, with associated driveway, curb, and wheelchair ramp appurtenances. • Rehabilitation of approximately 600 linear feet of asphalt pavement east of Airline Drive and 600 linear feet of concrete pavement east of Helmers Street. • Improving approximately 3,700 linear feet of 24- to 48-in reinforced concrete pipe with related appurtenances and 10,000 linear feet of ditch reshaping to improve storm water drainage. Shared use paths, where proposed, consist of one 10-ft wide concrete path on one side of the roadway. The proposed locations include: • 2,700 linear feet from Airline Drive to Fulton Street • 500 linear feet east of Bauman Road (in front of Burbank Middle School) • 5,300 linear feet from east of Irvington Blvd to Jensen Drive The shared use path on the bridge over Hardy Toll Road will be constructed by permanently closing the right eastbound traffic lane, removing the existing curb, doweling a new raised concrete pathway into the existing bridge deck and sidewalk, and installing a new railing and curb. Where shared use paths are not proposed, 6-ft sidewalks will be constructed. Proposed storm water improvements will provide sufficient clear right-of-way for shared use paths and sidewalks. Additional back-of-curb improvements include improvements to traffic signals, signage, pavement markings, and streetlights. The traffic signals at Irvington Blvd will be upgraded to include pedestrian signal heads. Existing roadside signs and pavement markings will be replaced, and new signs and markings installed as required per the TMUTCD and Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) for the proposed shared use paths and sidewalks. Streetlights will be installed where needed to provide visibility for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Yes
Improvements along Berry Road will provide enhanced safety and access to one new residential development, as well as to the existing 2.15M square feet of residential development and 4.5M square feet of commercial development along and adjacent to the project corridor. Upgrading existing and installing new sidewalk and shared use paths along the corridor will provide better connections to previously discontinuous networks, particularly connecting both sides of the railyard via the overpass.
Yes
Berry Road provides an east-west connection for those traveling north-south along Airline Drive (and I-45) and Jensen Drive (and US-59). Berry Road can also provide relief for those traveling along other east-west corridors in the area, such as Tidwell Road and Crosstimbers Street. Proposed improvements include upgrading existing and installing new sidewalk and shared use paths along the corridor. This will expand the bicycle and pedestrian network in Greater Northside, improving multimodal access and providing better connections to previously discontinuous networks, particularly connecting both sides of the railyard via the overpass. Improving the sidewalk network will also encourage active transportation and transit usage, resulting in a reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
A
Yes
Berry Road is an east-west connector providing cross-town access from Airline Drive to Jensen Drive, including Fulton and Irvington for those traveling into downtown Houston. Berry Road serves as an alternate route to other east-west corridors in the area, particularly E. Crosstimbers Street and Tidwell Road.
No
Yes
Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.InvestmentCategory5ai
Other Investment Category Focused Criteria
No
Although Berry Road is not designated as a critical freight corridor or local, regional, state truck route, the proposed improvements will provide for a safer experience for all users, including vehicles, and allow for improved access to the land uses along the corridor. Berry Road provides a vital east-west connection linking two of the major commercial and industrial zones in the District - Airline Drive and Jensen Drive. The average daily traffic along the project corridor is about 7,600 vehicles per day, with an average of 3.2% trucks. There are over 140 restaurant, retail, and commercial destinations within 0.25 miles of the project corridor. Improvements to Berry Road will facilitate first- and last-mile multimodal connectivity to these destinations by improving sidewalks and shared use paths for pedestrian and transit users.
This project is primarily back-of-curb improvements that calls for the installation of new sidewalks, improved lighting and signage, addressing drainage concerns as needed, and roadway rehabilitation where needed. The project will include intersection improvements via traffic signals upgrades at Irvington Blvd to include pedestrian signal heads, which will improve safety. Existing roadside signs and pavement markings will be replaced, and new signs and markings installed as required per the TMUTCD and Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) for the proposed shared use paths and sidewalks. Streetlights will be installed where needed to provide visibility for pedestrians and bicyclists.
This project will enhance the walking and biking conditions along Berry Road by upgrading existing and installing new sidewalks and shared use paths for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users, as well as adding improved lighting and signage. The proposed improvements will provide enhanced multimodal access and a safer experience for all users, particularly for students and nearby businesses, and allow for improved access to the land uses along the corridor. Improving Berry Road will promote Complete Street principles to develop and maintain a regional bicycle and pedestrian network that is sustainable, interoperable, efficient, and holistic in nature, thus encouraging regular bicycling and walking for the purpose of utility and recreation while improving safety for all users of the network. Without funding for this project, the Corridor will likely remain unsafe with aging sidewalks, outdated signs and markings, no bicycle facilities, and inadequate streetlights. The existing narrow sidewalks on both sides of Berry Road do not meet the standards in the City of Houston Infrastructure Design Manual. Sidewalk width is a key facility attribute that directly affects the comfort, convenience, and safety of the facility for pedestrian use. The proposed improvements will increase sidewalk width throughout the project corridor to make this a comfortable, convenient, and safe facility for pedestrian use and align with METRO’s planned improvements to transit amenities along the corridor. This project proposes to construct of approximately 17,500 linear feet of 6-ft sidewalks and 8,500 linear feet of 10-ft shared use paths, with associated driveway, curb, and wheelchair ramp appurtenances. Shared use paths, where proposed, consist of one 10-ft wide concrete path on one side of the roadway. The proposed locations include: • 2,700 linear feet from Airline Drive to Fulton Street • 500 linear feet east of Bauman Road (in front of Burbank Middle School) • 5,300 linear feet from east of Irvington Blvd to Jensen Drive The shared use path on the bridge over Hardy Toll Road will be constructed by permanently closing the right eastbound traffic lane, removing existing curb, doweling a new raised concrete pathway into the existing bridge deck and sidewalk, and installing new railing and curb. Where shared use paths are not proposed, 6-ft sidewalks will be constructed. Proposed storm water improvements will provide sufficient clear right-of-way for shared use paths and sidewalks. Additional back-of-curb improvements include traffic signal, signing, pavement marking, and streetlight improvements. The traffic signals at Irvington Blvd will be upgraded to include pedestrian signal heads. Existing roadside signs and pavement markings will be replaced, and new signs and markings installed as required per the TMUTCD and Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) for the proposed shared use paths and sidewalks. Streetlights will be installed where needed to provide visibility for pedestrians and bicyclists.
This project will improve access to transit stops along the corridor. Improvements will result in increased daily transit trips per day due to modal shift from vehicle trips. The project corridor is primarily serviced by METRO Route 56 (Airline / Montrose) and Route 79 (Irvington). • Route 56 - with three stops on Berry Road between Airline and Fulton - provides service every 10 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on the weekends between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. On Route 56, passengers can connect to the METRO Rail Red Line, libraries, parks and trails, medical centers, transit centers, schools, grocery stores, shopping, the Museum District, and Texas Medical Center. Route 56 is a BOOST corridor. BOOST routes will have enhancements such as sidewalk improvements and ramps, pedestrian crossing improvements, and bus shelters at every stop where feasible, as well as improvements to travel time, including signal priority and streamlined stops. Construction is now complete along a 1.5 mile stretch of Studewood Street between White Oak Drive and Cavalcade Street; construction has started on the next segment on Airline Drive between Cavalcade Street and Gulf Bank Road. • Route 79 - with seven stops on Berry Road between Fulton and Irvington - runs every 60 minutes 7 days per week between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. From this route, passengers can connect to the METRO Rail Red Line, as well as to libraries parks, healthcare facilities, schools, shopping, and transit centers. Improving sidewalks and shared use paths on Berry Road will increase safety and access to other METRO Bus Routes: 6, 45, and 96, as well as the METRORail Red Line at the Northline Transit Center.
This project will rehabilitate approximately 1,200 linear feet of asphalt pavement, as well as upgrade existing or install approximately 17,500 linear feet of sidewalks and shared use paths, with associated driveway, curb, and ramp improvements. This will extend the useful life of the facility, making it a more reliable alternative route. Berry Road is an east-west connector that can provide an alternate route for those traveling along, or need a connection to, Airline Drive or Jensen Drive. Berry Road can also function as a relief route / connection for I-45, Hardy Toll Road, and US-59 for vehicles needing to make an east-west connection in the event these facilities are taken out of service due to infrastructure damage.
The Project will reconstruct the portions of the corridor with concrete panels as needed, thereby extending the useful life of the facility. If the roadway is not reconstructed and panels not replaced/repaired, it will need to be maintained via the City of Houston’s programmed maintenance schedule. In addition to maintenance and rehabilitation costs incurred, users would incur increased operating costs on their vehicles as a result of the poor pavement condition.
Planning Factors Criteria
0
0
Over the 5-year period between 2018 and 2022, a total of 375 crashes occurred along the project corridor, including two fatal crashes and 12 serious injury crashes. Both fatal crashes occurred due to drivers failing to drive in a single lane. Four out of 12 severe crashes were pedestrian crashes. To address the safety concerns of this roadway, a set of improvements has been proposed: • Construction of approximately 17,500 linear feet of 6-ft sidewalks and 8,500 linear feet of 10-ft shared use paths, with associated driveway, curb, and wheelchair ramp appurtenances. • Rehabilitation of approximately 600 linear feet of asphalt pavement east of Airline Drive and 600 linear feet of concrete pavement east of Helmers Street. • Improving approximately 3,700 linear feet of 24- to 48-in reinforced concrete pipe with related appurtenances and 10,000 linear feet of ditch reshaping to improve storm water drainage. • The traffic signals at Irvington Blvd will be upgraded to include pedestrian signal heads. • Existing roadside signs and pavement markings will be replaced, and new signs and markings installed as required per the TMUTCD and Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) for the proposed shared use paths and sidewalks. • Streetlights will be installed where needed to provide visibility for pedestrians and bicyclists. The proposed improvements correspond to various work codes, each with its own associated crash reduction rate: 110 Install Pedestrian Signal 34% 304 Safety Lighting 49% 101, 401 Install Warning/Guide Signs and Install Pavement Markings 24% 108, 305 Improve Traffic Signals and Safety Lighting at Intersection 33%
Resiliency
Low
Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.Resiliency2
The proposed improvements include the installation of new sidewalks, improved lighting and signage, address drainage concerns as needed, and roadway rehabilitation where needed. Storm water drainage improvements include improving approximately 3,700 linear feet of 24- to 48-in reinforced concrete pipe with related appurtenances and 10,000 linear feet of ditch reshaping to improve storm water drainage. Converting these areas from open ditch will provide adequate space for the pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
Access/Connectivity
13140
18846
No
Yes
No
Environmental Justice
13140
18846
7675
2085
960
4216
78.5
The project is anticipated to improve mobility, connectivity, safety, and access by providing a well-lit, seamless, safe, and accessible multimodal connection for all residents, particularly children who are walking or rolling to nearby schools. Currently, residents along the Project corridor attend several schools in the District; two schools are directly on Berry Road – Berry Elementary and Burbank Middle School, both classified as Title 1 campuses. A higher percentage of students attending these two schools are considered Minority, At-Risk, Economically Disadvantaged, and/or Limited English Proficiency when compared to Houston ISD and Statewide. Within 500 feet of the Project corridor, there are about 2,000 residents; nearly 40% live below the poverty threshold, which is higher than the rate of poverty in the City of Houston, Harris County, and surrounding MSA. Households in the Project area are less likely to have a vehicle or higher than high school education. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Social Vulnerability Index, the Census tracts adjacent to the project corridor are in areas of high vulnerability, particularly the area north of the project corridor and the western segment of the roadway.
This project has no adverse effects to vulnerable populations. The project improvements will create a multimodal corridor which will allow for positive environmental impacts through the reduction of automobile usage. The reduction in vehicle miles traveled will result in fewer emissions and pollution. The project will improve quality of life through creating a safer connections for all users and enhancing economic vitality of the area. No right of way is required for the project. A Preliminary NEPA assessment was conducted for the project in 2023. At that time, no impacts were identified as they relate to air, water or other areas of concern. Due to hazardous materials sites adjacent to the corridor, there will be a designation of a 'potentially petroleum contaminated corridor' applied, which requires a soil and groundwater management plan during construction to accommodate testing, identification and disposal of hazardous materials if encountered. The project meets the criteria for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) finding. The list of adverse effects from the detailed criteria and comments are listed below: • Body impairment, infirmity, illness, or death: This project will improve safety for all users, particularly multimodal users. • Air, noise, or water pollution; soil contamination: This project will reduce pollution; a soil and groundwater management plan will be implemented during construction. • Disruption or diminution of manmade or natural resources: This project will not affect natural resources. • Destruction or diminution of aesthetic values: This project will improve existing facilities and will not alter the aesthetics of the adjacent area. • Impact upon the cohesion or economic vitality of a community: This project will increase economic vitality and cohesion of the community through improved access. • Impact to public or private facilities and services: This project will not negatively impact facilities or services. • Adverse impacts on employment: This project will create short-term jobs through construction. The improvements will provide access to businesses and other uses along and connected/adjacent to the corridor, which will encourage economic growth. • Displacement of persons, businesses, farms, or non-profit organizations: No right of way is required and there will be no displacement. • Increased traffic congestion, exclusion or separation: The project will not worsen congestion. • Detail or, reduction in, significant delay in receipt of benefits of transportation program: This project is in alignment with local, regional, state and federal goals.
Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
While the 100- and 500-year floodplains are within ¼ mile of the project, the project itself is just outside the 500-year floodplain on its western end. No impacts to the flooding are anticipated. There are three designated wetlands within ¼ mile of the proposed project; the project crosses one, Jankowski Ditch. Based on the latest guidance from USACE and EPA, it is unlikely that this wetland is considered jurisdictional. Regardless, this project is the improvement of existing infrastructure and does not propose to fill or dredge this wetland area. Impacts to wetlands are not anticipated. There is one resource within ¼ mile of the proposed project: the Adath Israel Cemetery on Airline Drive. This cemetery was previously listed by the THC but is not included in the current records online. This cemetery is approximately 300 feet south of the proposed project, separated from Berry Road by the commercial/industrial development fronting Berry. The proposed project is the improvement of existing infrastructure; based on distance and separation from Berry Road, the cemetery is not anticipated to be impacted by project work. A small area within ¼ mile of the proposed project recommends a surface survey for archeological resources by the TxDOT PALM. No survey is recommended for the project alignment itself and no impacts to archeological resources are anticipated.
Over a 20-year planning horizon from 2026-2045, the project will reduce 0.49 metric tons of NOx and 0.61 metric tons of VOCs.
Innovation
Yes
A portion of Berry Road - between Airline and Fulton - is a METRO BOOST corridor (Route 56). BOOST routes will have enhancements such as improved pedestrian access, bus shelters, and other amenities, as well as improvements to travel time, including signal priority and streamlined stops.
No