Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	METRO
Project Title	Emergency & Community Services Bldg.
Facility/Street/Highway	Main Street
Limits	@ Downtown TC (Main St. and St. Joseph St.)
Description	Construction of new METRO PD emergency services & transit customer services building
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$57,000,000.00

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 Emergency and Community Service Center will house the METRO PD, METRO Emergency Operations, and METROLift Paratransit service. Approximately 500 structured parking spaces will be incorporated into the facility to serve METRO PD, MERO employees and limited public parking. The proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops withing a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities. As the population in the METRO service area grows, this facility wiil be able to provide safety and security services to the region. It will be the center for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events

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

Yes

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

METRO’s Asset Management plan is accessible via METRO’s intranet: https://intranet.ridemetro.org/ent/doccenter/Pages/TAMDOCS.aspx

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

METRO proposes an Emergency & Community Services (ECS) Center to serve as an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for emergency mobilization needs in downtown and to provide space for METRO Police services. The ECS would also be used as a METROLift training and certification location, as well as a location to provide community outreach and education, as needed. METRO would purchase the Amegy Bank parking garage at 1900 Fannin. The site located across the street from METRO’s Downtown Transit Center and adjacent to METRORail Red Line station. The facility os proposed to contain the following functions: • Centralized EOC, • METRO Police headquarters, • Staging area for METRO Police and emergency vehicles, • METROLift certification and orientation, • METRO Ride Store, and • Unprogrammed space for METRO public outreach

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 facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. The Downtown Management District guides the growth and development of the Central Business District (CBD). This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. The area surrounding the proposed facility is a mix of office and high-rise residential.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

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

The proposed project is bounded by Main Street on the west, Pierce Street on the south, Fannin Street on the east, and St. Joseph Parkway on the north. The existing Level-of-Service (LOS) for all four of these streets at the time of the CE (2021) was B. With the Build condition scheduled for 2025, the LOS remained at B for all the adjacent roadways.

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

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?

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 ECS is a facility designed to house METRO Services and provide parking for METRO employees and limited public use. The project is not on a designated truck route or freight corridor. IH 45 (Pierce Elevated), which is a state truck route, passes along the south side of the project site, but is not accessed or altered by the project so there is no impact to freight or goods movement.

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.

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 is located in Downtown which has a network of sidewalks and connections to transit service. The City of Houston has also installed a network of bike lanes in the CBD with the nearest lane on Gray Street, one block from the project site.

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

The proposed facility will be the center for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

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 ECS will be a new facility designed and constructed to METRO’s high standards. Since the facility will contain the Emergency Operations Center it will be hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

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.

There were five fatal crashes within a quarter-mile of the project site from 2019-2023. • Fannin @ Pierce on 11/11/2023 • La Brand @ Webster on 8/20/2023 • Louisiana @ Pease on 1/29/2023 • IH-45 (Pierce Elevated) @ San Jacinto on 5/26/2022 • IH-45 (Pierce Elevated) @ Caroline on 4/26/2019

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.

There were 14 serious injury crashes within a quarter-mile of the project site from 2019-2023. • Five in 2019 • Two in 2020 • Three in 2021 • One in 2022 • Three in 20223 , corresponding to the fatal crash on 11/11/2023

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 facility will house the METRO PD and METRO Emergency Operations. The facility will be designed to provide emergency services and the presence of METRO PD will offer additional traffic monitoring in the project vicinity. As the Emergency Operations Center for METRO, regional safety and security services can be coordinated throughout the METRO service area.

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 location is not located in a designated floodplain and will be connected to the City’s storm sewer system. The improvements will not substantially alter the existing impermeable surface, so drainage and flooding are not expected to be an issue. Flooding and associated impacts were addressed in a Categorical Exclusion approved by FTA on Feb. 2, 2022. The facility will serve as the location for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Cener is proposed to hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

Access/Connectivity

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

1,093

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,166

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

1,093

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,166

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

1,142

1d. Disabled Persons

296

1e. Elderly Persons

1f. Limited English Proficiency

The ECS EJ report shows approximately four percent of the area population is linguistically isolated, with Spanish and Asian languages being the predominate languages (ACS 2019 5-year estimates). - Roughly 26 people.

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.

The ECS will be constructed in the heart of downtown which will allow access to other Downtown areas and the EaDo areas by accessing the Redline. Both areas have walkable mixed-use sites but have some barriers with vacant lots and other physical barriers.

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 facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops withing a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities. In addition, the proposed project is located in Downtown which has a network of sidewalks and connections to transit service. The City of Houston has also installed a network of bike lanes in the CBD with the nearest lane on Gray Street, one block from the project site

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.

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.

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

n/a

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.

The proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops withing a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities. The facility will also be the center for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to have state-of-the art communications and emergency management tools in a hardened facility with redundant capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

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