Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 1314 AMS Phase 1 of 3
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 1314
Limits	From SL 494 to SH 242
Description	FM 1314 Access Management Study Short Term Recommendations Implementation (Phase 1)
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$3,340,000.00

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.)

FM 1314 from SH 242 to SL 494 is a 12-mile- long corridor, located within a rapidly developing urban area of Montgomery County. Recent origin-destination (Replica) data indicates that FM 1314 serves as a significant route to IH 69 N, and a considerable proportion of trips originate and conclude within the study area itself. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other commercial developments near IH 69 attract individuals from more residential areas along the corridor, making this area one of high priority. Lands along FM 1314 are being developed quickly. 61% of lands within the 0.5 radius of the corridor are either vacant or famlands, which could be developed to residential or commercial propoerties. According to H-GAC, the total population of all Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZ) adjacent to the study corridor is expected to increase from 25,698 in 2018 to 81,356 in 2045 with the highest increase in population occurring between SH 99 and Riverwalk Dr/Spartan Dr where Porter High School is currently located. Total employment for all corridor adjacent TAZs is expected to increase from 6,068 in 2018 to 14,810 in 2045. Increased population and employment are expected to contribute to an increase in travel to and from, and along the FM 1314 corridor. H-GAC's travel demand model (TDM) determined that hourly PM traffic is expected to reach volumes ranging from 1,600 to 2,800 in each direction by 2043. The highest growth rate along FM 1314 is expected to occur between Grand Pkwy and Gene Campbell Blvd. Commuter and freight traffic use FM 1314 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 businesses opened in the past 10 years, including the Walmart’s opening in 2018. Multiple future developments slated throughout the corridor are predicted to further contribute to the increase in population, employment, and travel demand along the FM 1314. These developments include two grocery stores, 4,000 single-family homes, a distribution center, and two mixed-use developments comprised of multiple commercial developments, 342 apartments, a hospital, and a medical district. All future developments are considered short-term excluding one grocery store, which is considered mid-term and will be located near SH 242.

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/fm1314-access-management-study.html

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

The project scope includes the following improvements: Raised medians throughout the corridor, providing U-turn access at signalized intersections. Raised median openings at Ferne Dr, west and east of Painted Blvd, west of Wood Hollow Dr, Wood Hallow Dr, Lazy Ln, Fatheree Dr, Kennedy Ln, Andrew Ln, La Michoacana, Briar Tree Dr, Mayer Rd, and Church Street. Signal optimization at all signalized intersections including SH 242, Old Houston Rd, Gene Campbell Rd, SH 99, Cumberland/Painted Blvd, Timberland Blvd, Riverwalk/Spartan Dr, Sorters Rd, Valley Ranch Pkwy/Old Sorters Rd, Partners Way, Sorters Rd, IH 69, Commerce Ave, and SL 494. Pavement marking improvements along the 12-mile corridor. Installation of a new traffic signal at Fatheree Drive. Installation of street lighting at Lazy Lane. Installation of emergency flashing signals at Porter Fire Department (south of Rolling Hills Dr). Improvements to sidewalk connectivity where required. Improvements to signage for speed limits and school zones throughout the 12-mile corridor. Installation of 10-foot shared use sidepath (EB) & 5-foot sidewalk (WB) from SH 242 to McQueen Road. Installation of 10-ft shared use side path (both EB/WB) from McQueen Rd to SL 494 (2.8 mi). These areas are within ROW and are proposed as part of the short-term improvements: SL 494 to Commerce - 0.2 miles, east of Briar Tree Dr to west of Kennedy - 0.9 miles, north of Northgate to south of Indian Trail - 0.8 miles, and south of Indian Trail to south of Old Houston Road - 0.9 miles.

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 (Mavera, Artavia, The Highlands, and Azalea District at Valley Ranch Subdivisions) 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. Porter High School has direct connection to the corridor. 2 New HEBs will be opening along this corridor as well.

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 1314.

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 1485, SH 242, and SH 99 all run parallel to FM 1314 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. There are many trucks that use FM 1314 to get to Gene Campbell Road for the Wal-Mart and Lowes Distribution warehouses are, improvements consist of improved turn radii at that intersection.

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.

To address traffic flow, these strategies prioritize optimization and coordination of signals at all signalized intersections, improving timing and synchronization and minimizing stop-and-go traffic along the corridor. By recalibrating traffic lights, this strategy seeks to reduce travel time and improve mobility, particularly during peak periods. In addition, a new traffic signal is suggested to improve mobility at Fatheree Dr near Porter High School, which is expected to experience increased traffic due to the presence of the high school and proposed future developments. Safety issues are addressed through the installation of emergency flashing signals at Porter Fire Department (south of Rolling Hills Dr) and the improvement of pavement markings and school signage along the corridor, contributing to traffic awareness. Enhanced street lighting is suggested at Lazy Lane to improve visibility and safety for all road users. Additionally, raised medians are proposed throughout the corridor to control left-turn movements, improve road aesthetics, and contribute to reduced congestion as well as increased safety.

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

3.196

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.

16.895

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 the southern end of FM 1314 are above the statewide average, with the segment between IH 69 N and SL 494 far exceeding the statewide average. The statewide average crash rate of FM roads is 253.5 per 100 million VMT (MVMT). However, the average crash rate on FM 1314 is 340 per 100 MVMT from Sorters Rd to IH 69 N and an astonishing 1,246 per 100 MVMT from IH 69 N to SL 494. Crashes data from CRIS for years 2017-2022 report a total of 1,358 crashes within those six years. There are eight fatal and 30 severe injury crashes in these years, suggesting that severe crashes reoccur annually. Failing to control speed and failing to yield right of way are the top primary contributing causes to crashes. 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

12,790

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,904

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?

Yes

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

12,790

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

12,904

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

3,900

1d. Disabled Persons

2,426

1e. Elderly Persons

1,348

1f. Limited English Proficiency

2,605

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.

28.5

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) by EMCID if they so choose. 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 1314 subject to frequent flooding as it is located between the Caney Creek and Dry Creek. Segments of the FM 1314 corridor are under the 100-year or 500-year floodplains. 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: -3.34, VOC: -14.08

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.