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 Port is growing this year 1.5M passengers and 4 million tons of cargo. As we continue to grow the congestion on Harborside, made worse by the railroad crossings, continues to get worse. Need overhead flyover to get vehicle straight from i45 to the port. This also avoids Harbordie flooding which exaserbates the problem.
2. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local plans? Yes
2a. If yes, please provide link to the plan. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/mrt/mission-plan-2024-2025.pdf
3. Please provide proposed project description (detailed project scope). Elevated highway (flyover) from i45s at harborside or the most practical to port entrance off of Harbosdie.
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 direct connect will bring cargo off harborside straight into the West End Cargo Complex, and cruise passengers from i45 to cruise exits.
3b. Does the project expand existing networks to alleviate anticipated congestions? Yes
3b-i. If yes, explain. Harborside off of 45 is riddled with rail crossing and flooding. This solution avoids the slowdowns for both cargo, cruise passengers and residents of Galveston.
3b-ii. What is the estimated Level of Service after the project is completed. 1
4. Does the proposed project provide an alternative route to existing corridor (Road or commuter transit)? Yes
4a. If yes, explain. Elevated highway from i45 to port complex.
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. The direct connect or elevated flyover from I45 to the Port complex avoids rail lines and flooding, reducing congesting and enhance efficiency and 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. With the majority of the traffic shifted to the flyover, bicycle lanes could b added to Harborside drive low road creating easy access between A&M and UTMB Universities.
4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic conditions for transit services (local, express, signature, or commuter). The elevated highway will take trucks off of harborside making it more usable for the commuter.
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. There will be two modes of entry to the port. Thus if something were to happen to either the other could be used.
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 flyover will reduce the wear and tear on state highway 275 (harborside).
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. 1/336
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. 12/336
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. Elevated highway, with multiple lanes, signage and designated exits for different modes of traffic reduces expected fatality and serious injury crashes.
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. High
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. Harborside always flood providing and alternate rout will reduce congestion and enhance safety.
Access/Connectivity
Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income 19.2 %
1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities 35.2%
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? 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 19.2%
1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities 35.2%
1c. Household Population Under Poverty 19.2%
1d. Disabled Persons 11.6%
1e. Elderly Persons 19.1%
1f. Limited English Proficiency 6.52%
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. 42.292
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. Reduces the traffic on the low road for residents to get around, include bike paths, enhance safety
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. Safety Safety Safety
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. Creating an overhead road r=mitigates the impact 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
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. Enhanced accessibility, mobility, signage, resiliency, reliability and improved traffic operations
2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology? Yes
2a. If yes, please explain. Vehicle counts and speed
Additional Documents
713-627-3200
