Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	City of Sugar Land
Project Title	Sweetwater Blvd Reconstruction
Facility/Street/Highway	Sweetwater Blvd
Limits	From Austin Pkwy to Town Center Blvd
Description	Replace Approx. 2 miles of boulevard sectioned roadway and water main, traffic signal upgrades, and pedestrian/bicyclist capacity and enhanced access.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$24,000,000.00

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 City of Sugar Land has seen high growth over the years, both as a municipality and as a pass-through for commuters travelling from other areas. The AADT is available for Sweetwater Blvd. for the following years: 2021: 33,397 2016: 34,347 2011: 36,790 2006: 35,990 2001: 27,890 There was a lot of growth from 2001 to 2006, but this has levelled out in recent years. Much of the surrounding area is built out. However, Fort Bend County Public Transportation operates a park & ride service lot off of Sweetwater Blvd. (just down Lexington) at the AMC Movie theater parking lot. Current routes go to the Texas Medical Center, Greenway Plaza, and the Galleria area. The soon to be added commuter route to downtown Houston is anticipated to have high ridership so these traffic counts will likely increase over the next coming years.

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

Yes

2a. If yes, please provide link to the plan.

Mobility Master Plan: https://mobility-master-plan-cosl.hub.arcgis.com/

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

The planned project for Sweetwater Blvd. includes roadway reconstruction of an approximately 2-mile-long section from Austin Pkwy. to Town Center Blvd. The current average roadway assessment score is 66 out of 100, which equates to fair to poor. The scope includes water main replacement, traffic signal upgrades, crosswalk improvements, and added pedestrian and bicycle capacity and enhanced access including a 10-foot-wide sidepath on one side of the street. These ped-bike enhancements include the installation of a pedestrian bridge over Ditch A near Clements High School, and a connection to the newly constructed First Colony Trail.

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 project provides access to the newly constructed First Colony Trail network. There are many public and private schools in the area that would benefit from safe routes for children to walk or bicycle on, as well as a multimodal transportation option to connect with the transit park & ride location. The improvements would also connect to the Town Center regional activity center and adjacent neighborhoods.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

The project includes multimodal infrastructure improvements and connectivity, which makes walking and bicycling in the area safer and more inviting. Offering transportation options to single occupancy vehicle use reduces congestion and improves air quality.

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

B

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

No

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

No

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

No

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Was the project scored under Regional Goods Movement Category?

No

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 includes roadway reconstruction (not widening) and pedestrian and bicyclist improvements. The project does not directly improve regional goods movement, although local delivery trucks would likely appreciate the roadway reconstruction to remedy the cracked pavement and potholes and may utilize the route more if they were avoiding it due to the condition. The proposed project is not located on a critical freight corridor or a local/regional/state truck route.

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 project does not directly improve traffic operations as its scope includes roadway reconstruction and bike-ped improvements. There will be traffic signal upgrades and enhanced crosswalks for safety improvements.

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 project includes added pedestrian and bicycle capacity and enhanced access including a 10-foot-wide sidepath on one side of the street. These ped-bike enhancements include the installation of a pedestrian bridge over Ditch A near Clements High School, and a connection to the newly constructed First Colony Trail. This improved infrastructure will make walking and bicycling safer for people of all ages and abilities, improving walking and biking conditions.

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

As with the prior regional goods movement question, just as the reconstructed roadway will eliminate cracks and potholes for trucks traveling through the area, it will also improve the ride quality for transit vehicle passengers. There are numerous medical offices, shopping destinations, the commuter park & ride lot, and senior living facilities located in the area with a number of transit dependent populations.

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 project will not directly reduce inoperability for significant periods due to infrastructure damaged by a collision with vehicles such as trucks, except that it is an alternative route to other significant roadways, such as University Blvd. or SH6. Collisions with ships or barges is not applicable.

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.

Sweetwater Blvd. was constructed over 40 years ago and is in need of rehabilitation. The planned reconstruction of the segment from Town Center Blvd. to Austin Pkwy. will lengthen the lifespan of the roadway, and the pedestrian and bicyclist improvements will provide a transportation choice to people in the area lowering traffic volumes. The more people who bike or walk, the less automobile traffic along the corridor. The proposed project will improve the state of good repair and extend the service life of Sweetwater Blvd.

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.

Zero. There have been no fatalities at the project location.

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.

1.843

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.

This project includes the replacement of Sweetwater Blvd. along an approximately 2-mile stretch of roadway from Town Center Blvd. to Austin Pkwy. (work type 303, CRF 30%), along with water main, traffic signal upgrades (work type 108, CRF 24%), and pedestrian/bicyclist capacity and enhanced access with a 10-ft. wide sidepath along one side of the street (work type 407, CRF 65%), improved crosswalk markings (work type 403, CRF 10%), a pedestrian bridge over Ditch A near Clements High School (work type 523, CRF 95%), and a connection to the newly constructed First Colony Trail. These enhancements will increase safety for those walking, bicycling, or rolling in the area by creating spaces for travel off the roadway and with improved crosswalks for increased safety and visibility while crossing the roadway.

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 reconstruction project will include inlets and drainage performance will be evaluated for capacity, but is not necessarily a part of the scope unless there is a problem with the drainage.

Access/Connectivity

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

1,761

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

7,472

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

1,761

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

7,472

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

574

1d. Disabled Persons

1,137

1e. Elderly Persons

1,084

1f. Limited English Proficiency

508

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.

18.1

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.

The proposed project will include pedestrian and bicycle facilities and increased safety including widening of the existing sidewalk to 10 feet, enhanced crosswalks for visibility and safety, and area connections to schools, shopping, medical facilities, businesses, restaurants, employment, churches, and the county's park & ride lot. People who do not drive will be able to get around safely and comfortably. There are single-family homes, a number of apartment complexes, and a senior living facility all within walking and biking distance of the Sweetwater Blvd. improvements.

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.

Adverse effects, such as noise and increased traffic congestion, will be temporary during construction. No prolonged effects are anticipated.

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.

The project does not have any impact on flood plains, wetlands, or cultural resources as there are none in the area. The project enhances already existing infrastructure (widening of sidewalks, reconstruction of roadway), and the prefabricated pedestrian bridge will be assembled elsewhere and delivered to the site and will not impact water flow or disturb the Ditch A waterway. Additionally, the pedestrian bridge will meet the storm event design criteria in terms of elevation.

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?

No

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

No

Additional Documents