Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	Fort Bend County
Project Title	FM 762
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 762
Limits	Brazos Center Blvd to FM 2759 (2.55 miles)
Description	Construction of a four lane concrete curb and gutter road.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$30,000,000.00

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.)

Population: The FM 762 corridor situated near the City of Rosenberg with a population of 40,739 in 2022 and the city of Richmond with a population of 12,520. The corridor passes through an unincorporated community of Crabb and intersects with FM 2759. The corridor is located in an area characterized by predominantly residential neighborhoods and businesses and agricultural activities. Growth prospects: The area within 2 miles radius of the project, anticipates a growth of 128% in population and about 120% in jobs. 2045 land use plan expects to extend the commercial area by about 20%, the residential area by about 32% and the multiple use area by more than 220%. 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 AADT in 2022 was average 9,587 on FM 762. The AADT near Brazos Center Blvd was 16,404 in 2022. The average traffic is expected to grow by around 129% 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?

Yes

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

https://h-gac.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5f2a62060d074a5d8c3f00a40bb6b3b2

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

The proposed 2.55 miles long project would reconstruct and widen FM 762, from a 2-lane undivided roadway to a 4-lane divided roadway with 12-foot-wide travel lanes, a flush median with two-way left-turn lane, right turn lanes and median openings at designated locations. The proposed project would include a 10-foot-wide shared use path along the westbound direction of FM 762. Also, the side ditches would be provided. The proposed improvements would include traffic signals upgrades at certain locations

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 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 improve access to new planned retail and residential developments.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

The proposed project would provide added capacity to existing 2-lane undivided facility with expanding discontinuous network of FM 762, which will help in alleviating congestion.

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

LOS C (HCM 7)

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

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?

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 would alleviate the congestion on the facility that provides first-to-last-mile connectivity between two designated freight corridor in the city of Rosenberg.

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 around 16,400 near US 90 road and between 6,700 and 7,600 along the rest of the corridor, in which 3.6% are trucks. By 2045 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by around 123 percent. 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 1.17. Intersection improvements and connectivity: The proposed project would also provide flush median with two-way left-turn lane and right-turn lanes. The proposed project segment of FM 762 would reduce the congestion on the facility that serves as first-to-last mile connector between two freight corridors US 90 and FM 2759/FM762 of TxDOT Texas Highway Freight Network, as the proposed project corridor is the only major roadway for the feeder streets from various neighborhoods and commercial establishments. Objective: The purpose of the project is to improve operation on FM 762 corridor and to enhance the mobility, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the users.

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 a new 10-foot-wide shared use path along the westbound direction of the corridor. The shared use path will be away from travel lanes along the corridor, which improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Upgrades of traffic signals at certain locations will also improve safety for pedestrians at confilict points with major turning movements. This contributes toward new mode of transportation along the corridor for active transportation users.

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 and also, Park and Ride service is located in Rosenberg close to the 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.

The proposed improvements include reconstruct and widen the existing 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 inoperability due to collision. However, in worse conditions, the mobility would not be stopped by 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.

13.45 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 0.44, lower than the H-GAC regional average 1.21, and the serious injury crash rate is 13.45, higher than the H-GAC regional average 6.20. Work types: The Proposed improvements would provide following work types (work code, CRF): Convert 2-lane faciclity to 4-lane divided (538, 45%) Install Pavement Markings (401, 20%) Install edge markings (402, 25%) Provide additional paved surface width (541, 30%) The proposed improvements together would reduce potential crashes by 77%. Crash reduction impact: The reconstruction and widening of the roadway will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. Three existing traffic signals with proposed upgrades will reduce intersection-related 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.

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 would meet to the minimum federal standard. The proposed improvements include curb and gutter storm sewer and side ditches along the FM 762 corridor.

Access/Connectivity

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

1196

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

15258

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

1196

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

15258

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

763

1d. Disabled Persons

1798

1e. Elderly Persons

1107

1f. Limited English Proficiency

1179

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.

20.8

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 6-foot-wide side path away from travel lanes which can be used by both pedestrians and bicyclists with safe distance. Safety improvements: The proposed project would be designeded to achieve current highway safety standard by analyzing all horizontal and vertical clearances, and by providing a divided 12-foot-wide 4-lane roadway. Transit: The porposed 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 as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

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 emissions, 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 4.6 acres of wetland 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 - 10.07 tons, VOC - 57.04 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?