Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	Fort Bend County
Project Title	E Dallas St Widening
Facility/Street/Highway	E Dallas Street
Limits	FM 521 to county line
Description	Widening of existing 2-lane undivided asphalt roadway to 4-lane divided concrete Blvd. with roadside ditches and storm sewer.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$14,200,000.00

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 proposed project is situated in an unincorporated area- Fresno. The area is located on the north of SH 6 and the south of Beltway 8 corridors, and connected to the city of Arcola and south Houston. Population: The total population of 49,957 within 2 miles radius will benefited from this proposed project. The project is situated in the area characterized by residential neighborhoods with commercial activities around. Growth prospects: The area within 2 miles radius of the project, anticipates a growth of 26% in population and about 228% in jobs from 2018 to 2045. 2045 land use plan expects to extend the commercial area by about 13%, the residential area by around 7%, the industry area by 71% and the multiple use area by approximately 304%. Further, Fort Bend County anticipates 74% growth in population, 52% increase in jobs and 89% rise in households from 2018 to 2045. Daily traffic: The estimated AAADT in 2023 was 6,481 on the corridor. The average traffic is expected to grow by around 147% in 2045 as per H-GAC conformity year 2045 Travel Demand Model.

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

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

The proposed project would reconstruct and widen the existing 2-lane undivided roadway to 4-lane divided roadway faacility with raised median, 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a 10-foot-wide shared use path in the westbound direction. The proposed project would include curb and gutter storm sewer system with roadside ditches for drainage purposes. The proposed project would include intersection improvements by adding left-turn lanes and left-turn bays.

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

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

The proposed project would convert 2-lane undivided roadway to 4-lane divided facility with raised median and continues with same cross section in Brazoria County as County Road 59.

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

LOS B (HCM 7)

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

The proposed project runs parallel to W Broadway St and Palm St, which provides alternate route.

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 proposed project is connected to TXDOT designated freight corridor FM 521. The subsequent road section in Brazoria County is designated as freight corridor in TxDOT Texas Highway Freight Network interactive map. Therefore, the proposed project would alleviate the congestion on freight corridor as well as on the facility that provides first-to-last mile connectivity to freight corridors FM 521 and SH 288.

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.

Daily traffic: The current estimated daily volume of traffic on the segment is average 6,481, in which 3.2% are trucks. By 2045 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by around 147%. The planned land use and projected population growth in 2045 would result in congestion. The average travel time index for existing conditions (2022, COMPAT) is 1.09. Intersection improvements: The proposed project would provide left-turn lanes and left-turn bays at 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.

The proposed project would provide 10-foot-wide shared use path in westbound direction and crosswalks at intersections. The shared use path will be away from travel lanes and on the curb along the corridor, which improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. This contributes toward new mode of transportation along the corridor.

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

The Fort Bend County Demand Response Service can be benefited from the proposed project for future rides on the corridor by improved travel time and safety. The fort bend county Park & Ride service and METRO transit center are located at 4 and 6 miles from the proposed project respectively.

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 proposed improvements include reconstruct and widen the exisitng corridor to 4-lane divided roadway. The reconstructed and widened facility would be designed to current safety standards which improves safety on the corridor. The new facility would have a less chances of damage and inoperablility due to collision. However, in worse conditions, the mobility would not be stopped by the ability to detour the traffic by having openings in the median. Due to improved accident management ability, the proposed project would significantly reduce the inoperability.

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 proposed project would reconstruct and widen the existing FM 762 from 2-lane undivided roadway to a 4-lane divided roadway. The new facility will serve the system for next 30 years.

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 crashes/ 100 million VMT

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.

10.57 crashes/ 100 million VMT

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: The fatality crash rate is 0, lower than the H-GAC regional average 1.21, and the serious injury crash rate is 10.57, higher than the H-GAC regional average 6.20. Work types: The Proposed improvements would provide following work types (work code, CRF): Install Warning/Guide Signs (101, 20%) Install advance warning signals and signs (132, 10%) Install raised median (203, 25%) Convert 2-lane faciclity to 4-lane divided (538, 45%) Install Pavement Markings (401, 20%) Install edge markings (402, 25%) Install sidewalks (407, 65%) Install pedestrian crosswalk (403, 10%) Add left turn lane (519, 25%) The proposed improvements together would reduce potential crashes by 96%. Crash reduction impact: The reconstruction and widening of the roadway would provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion.

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.

The proposed project is out of FEMA floodplain and FEMA observed Harvey flood area. The proposed improvements inlcue curb and gutter storm sewer and roadside ditches along the the roadway.

Access/Connectivity

Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income

350

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

3533

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?

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

350

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

3533

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

304

1d. Disabled Persons

398

1e. Elderly Persons

1f. Limited English Proficiency

430

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.

11.6

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.

Ped/bike facility: The proposed improvements include a 10-foot-wide shared use path away from travel lanes which can be used by both pedestrians and bicyclists with safe distance. Safety improvements: The proposed project would be designated to achieve current highway safety standard by analyzing all horizontal and vertical clearances, and by providing a divided 12-foot-wide four-lane roadway. Transit: The proposed project would improve Demand Response Transit service provided by Fort Bend County. Connectivity: Because of its location in the road network, the project will produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations and freight corridors. This will strengthen the regional goods movement.

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.

"Congestion and safety: The proposed improvements mainly focus on congestion mitigation, safety improvements and mobility enhancement, hence lowering the adverse effect to nearest neighborhood. Air pollution, travel time, economy: Reduced congestion will improve air quality by lowering the emmisions, minimize the congestion related crashes, and improved travel time can benefit in lowering the delivery cost and bringing business. Mental health and community cohesion: Apart from that, congestion reduction can diminish the stress, fatigue, irritability and rage. Proposed shared use path in each direction improve community cohesion and quality of public realm. Aesthetic value: The new facility with improved landscape will enhance the aesthetic value of the surrounding areas.

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.

Natural resources: A total of 9.79 acres of wetland and 11.92 acres of floodplain areas are present within a quarter mile buffer. The proposed project directly does not impact wetland areas. Cultural resources: There is no historical sites located within a quarter mile buffer of a project.

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 - 0.13 tons, VOC - 0.47 tons

Innovation

1. Does the project propose to implement new infrastructure technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations?

2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology?