Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 1485 AMS Phase 3 of 3
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 1485
Limits	From SL 494 to SH 242
Description	FM 1485 Access Management Study Long Term Recommendations Implementation (Phase 3)
Timeframe	Long Term (More than 10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$24,789,388.00

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.)

FM 1485 from SH 242 to SL 494 is a 6.5-mile-long corridor which has been experiencing rapid growth for the last 20 years. Recent origin-destination (Replica) data indicates that approximately 50% of the corridor traffic are through traffic from Woodlands/Conroe to access US-59 to Harris County, and the through traffic will continue to increase as Montgomery County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. Lands along FM 1485 are being developed quickly. 47% of lands within the 0.5 radius of the corridor are either vacant of farmlands which could be developed to residential or commercial properties. The southern half of the study corridor, between Dry Creek and SL 494, is within the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) which promotes residential, retail, commercial, and industrial business. EMCID projects the population within 5 miles radius of FM 1485 and US 59 will gain more than 10,000 population. Commuter and freight traffic are using FM 1485 to access the East Montgomery County Industrial Park which holds multiple internationally recognized companies, including Wal-Mart and Lowes. EMCID is actively recruiting more companies to the 800-acres industrial park. Many new businesses opened in the past 10 years, highlighted by the Walmart’s opening in year 2018. FM 1485 traffic has been approximately doubled from 2001 to 2021. The average annual growth rates of the 10 years were 3.6% and 6.0%. FM 1485 near US-59 experience congestion and reliability problems. The COMPAT indicates that the TTI Planning Time Index 80 are between 1.43 and 1.55, meaning commuters must reserve 40%-55% of extra travel time to be on time. The average Planning Time Index of all FM roads in H-GAC region is 1.28. There are four census tracts along the corridor: 6923, 6924, 6925, and 6926. The total population of these four census tracts grew 3.8% annually and around 20,000 people from 2010 to 2020. Overall, the study corridor is on high growth area.

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/fm1485-access-management-study.html

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

FM 1485 Access Management Study proposed the following long-term improvements for FM 1485 and the project limits begin at Kidd Cemetery Road and ends at State Loop (SL) 494 for an overall length of approximately 1.4 miles. The project scope involves Widening and reconstruction of FM 1485 from Kidd Cemetery Road to SL 494 (approximately 1.4 miles) and include the following: 12’ shoulders, 10’ shared use sidepaths on both sides, sub-surface utilities, Drainage/storm sewers, Upgrading traffic signals, Signing and pavement markings, and Landscaping. Exclusive right turn lanes are proposed along FM 1485 to IH-69/US-59 NB & SB frontage road approaches. The proposed shoulder is transitioned from 12’ to 0’ as it approaches IH-69/US-59 NB & SB frontage roads and no shoulder is proposed for the limits from IH-69/US-59 NB & SB frontage roads to SL 494 as this section is mostly congested with limited ROW. The proposed improvements require an acquisition of total 25-feet proposed ROW including both sides.

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.

Project corridor is experiencing high rates of growth in single family and commercial land uses. Corridor is major East-West thoroughfare between SL 494 (IH-69 N) and SH 242, ultimately connecting to IH-45 N.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

This project will relieve traffic congestion by adding an additional lane as many local streets and local thoroughfares (Gene Campbell Road) dump traffic on to FM 1485.

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

LOS B

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

FM 1314, SH 242, and FM 2090 all run parallel to FM 1485 and can be used as an alternative route if the road needs to close or vice versa.

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

5a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternative to an evacuation route?

Yes

5a-i. If yes, explain.

Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.InvestmentCategory5ai

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.

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.

The improvements could attempt to remove the bottleneck and to prevent turning vehicles blocking the through the traffic. The strategies include: Install new traffic signals at unsignalized intersection bottlenecks. Rebuild the interchange of FM 1485 and IH 69 N to provide additional capacity. Raised median to prohibit excessive traffic making left turn to or from unsignalized intersections or property driveways. Build new exclusive turn lanes or extend existing turn lane to provide enough storage space for turning vehicles. Other low-cost, high impact improvements, such as intelligent transportation system

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 1314 Corridor runs almost parallel to this project, inoperability impacts would be minimized because traffic could use FM 1314 as a backup route if FM 1485 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: Poor This segment contains pavement in Poor 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.

1.826

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.

15.068

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 FM 1485 is far above the statewide average. The state average crash rate of FM rural and urban roads are 116 and 250 crashes per 100 million VMT by year 2022, but the average crash rate on FM 1485 is 298 for year 2022 and 318 for year 2023. The segment between Walton Ave and SL 494 (near US 59) has an astonishing 662 crashes per 100 million VMT. Crashes data from CRIS for years 2017-2019, 21 and 22 have been reviewed. There are 4 fatal and 25 serious injury crashes in these years, suggesting that these severe crashes reoccur annually. There are 5 crashes involving biker or pedestrians and 4 out of the 5 crashes are either fatal or serious injury.36 crashes were commercial vehicles related. See work types on High Growth Area Needs Question 3.

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

8,663

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,538

12. 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?

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

8,663

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

8,538

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

2,408

1d. Disabled Persons

2,267

1e. Elderly Persons

632

1f. Limited English Proficiency

1,885

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.

39.9

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). 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 1485 subjects to frequent flooding as it is located between the Caney Creek and the Dry Creek. Most of the FM 1485 corridor is under the 100-year or 500-year floodplains. Some of the corridor is environmental justice area. 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

NOx: 0; VOC:0

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.