Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	METRO
Project Title	Missouri City Park & Ride Capitalized Lease
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 6
Limits	@ Vicksburg
Description	Private partner to develop parking garage to service site; METRO to enter into extended lease for use of garage for P&R service
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$52,000,000.00

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 Missouri City Park & Ride will serve the residents of Missouri City, Texas. Missouri City is defined as one of the fastest growing areas in the Galveston-Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area. Missouri City has added 6,901 residents between 2010 and 2020, growing by 10.25 percent. Strategically located at the intersection of the Fort Bend Parkway and State Highway (SH) 6, this facility will also serve fast growing areas in Northern Brazoria and Southern Fort Bend Counties. The Missouri City Park & Ride will provide transit opportunities for passengers traveling to the Texas Medical Center as well as improved transit access to jobs located within easy reach of connecting METRO rail and bus services. Many Missouri City residents are employed in the Texas Medical Center and will benefit from reliable transit service to this highly dense and congested employment center.

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

Yes

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

https://www.h-gac.com/regional-transportation-plan https://www.ridemetro.org/about/metronext/moving-forward-plan

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

METRO has secured a 40-year renewable long-term capital lease agreement with a private developer to construct a parking structure from which METRO would operate Park & Ride (P&R) service. METRO currently provides P&R services from Missouri City to the Texas Medical Center from a temporary location near the proposed development. Due to rapid population growth and development in Missouri City, METRO determined the need for a permanent site that would accommodate more riders and provide improved passenger amenities. Located near State Highway 6 and the Fort Bend Parkway, the new Park and Ride anchors a mixed-use development which includes residential housing, shopping and entertainment venues. The multi-story parking structure will have space for approximately 1,750 vehicles. The parking structure would include multiple bus bays and passenger amenities. The parking structure would be part of a mixed-use development constructed and owned by the developer. In addition to the parking structure, the mixed-use development would include retail and multi-family housing. METRO has completed and received environmental clearance of the P& R site. METRO received a Letter of No Prejudice to initiate the development agreement in 2023 and construction of the Park and Ride facility has commenced.

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 P&R facility is in a mixed-use development which includes multi-family residential and commercial uses. This mixed-use development connects directly to the facility. It will include 668 multi-family units and over 188,000 square feet of commercial use.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

With continued growth in Missouri City and the need to provide reliable transit service to the Texas Medical Center which has challenges with traffic and limited parking.

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

Travel demand modeling for this project has not been performed, but when fully operational, the facility will reduce approximately 53,6000 vehicle miles of travel per weekday. This estimate is based on 1,675 transit riders per day [1,750x90% (# of patrons by car) + 100 (# of patrons walking to P&R] x 32 round trip miles (distance to/from TMC) = 53,600 reduced vehicle miles of travel. Note: Number of travelers (boardings) is assumed to be greater than the parking capacity due to average auto occupancy and resident’s ability to walk to the P&R facility.

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

The proposed P&R facility is adjacent to the Fort Bend Parkway located at the intersection of SH 6 and Knight Road. Congestion on SH 6, the Fort Bend Tollway, and US 90A as well as surface arterial streets in the Texas Medical Center will all benefit from reduced auto traffic demand. See 3bii.

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.

This project is not located on a critical freight corridor. However, this facility will reduce vehicular travel demand on two heavily traveled routes with significant truck travel. Fort Bend Toll Road from SH6 to US90A and US90A from the Fort Bend Toll Road to Main Street.

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 P&R faculty will provide commuter bus service from Missouri City to the Texas Medical Center. This will reduce traffic congestion by reducing vehicles along the corridors from Missouri City to the Texas Medical Center. The shortest one-way driving distance between the P&R facility and the Texas Medical Center is 16 miles. At 90% occupancy on peak travel days, the P&R will eliminate over 53,600 vehicle miles of travel (round trip) on a typical weekday. The VMT reduction will be even greater for those connecting to other METRO services to reach destinations such as Downtown Houston. Since significant residential housing will be within walking distance of the P&R, transit patronage could easily exceed 100% of the parking capacity of the facility, further reducing VMT on critical roadways.

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 P&R facility is located within a mixed-use joint development between METRO and NewQuest. The mixed-use development includes high density residential and commercial uses. . By nature, in a joint development, walking is encouraged and provides the best means for mobility. Bicycle use is also encouraged within the mixed-use development. The developer will include convenient, accessible sidewalk and path connections from and to planned residential development.

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

The P&R facility will support commuter transit service from Missouri City to the Texas Medical Center. The P&R facility will provide significant expansion of parking capacity for P&R users. It has more direct, immediate access to the frontage road for the Fort Bend parkway making access to and from the Park and Ride easier for transit patrons arriving by auto. In addition, it will be within walking distance of the residential activity co-located at this site, further encouraging use of the commuter bus service. In addition to reducing traffic congestion along the corridor, it will reduce traffic congestion within the Texas Medical Center and other destinations easily reached through convenient connection rail and bus transit services. This will further reduce VMT and the need for parking in the Texas Medical Center.

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 remove vehicles from the road therefore reducing the likelihood of collisions. Any reductions in vehicular travel demand will also support rapid response to and recovery from traffic incidents on the facilities used by P&R transit patrons.

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 P&R will be a new facility designed and constructed to METRO’s high standards. The facility will be properly maintained by METRO through their quality process.

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.

From the year 2018 to 2022, there were a total of 232 crashes found in the study area. There was no fatal crash out of the 232 crashes.

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 12 serious injuries found in the study area during the years between 2018 and 2022. The average serious injury crash rate on Highway 6 between 2018 and 2022 is 4.98 per 100 VMT, compared to the 2022 Texas statewide average serious injury crash rate of 5.28 per 100 VMT. There was no serious injury found on Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road during the last 5 years. The average serious injury crash rate on Trammel-Fresno Road between the years of 2018 and 2022 is 11.5 per 100 VMT, which is higher than the state average rate.

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 P&R facility will encourage commuters to use the bus as opposed to personal vehicle travel, reducing the number of vehicles on the road. In addition, the P&R is in a mixed-use joint development that includes multi-family housing and commercial uses. Residents have the option to eliminate their vehicles by taking the bus as well as walking to commercial establishments in the mixed-use development.

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. It will be connected to the City of Missouri 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 CE approved by FTA on December 27, 2022. The P&R facility will have associated detention ponds to help reduce flooding.

Access/Connectivity

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

2029

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

5517

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

2029

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

5517

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

1d. Disabled Persons

504

1e. Elderly Persons

100

1f. Limited English Proficiency

233

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.

According to H-GAC Activity- Connectivity Explorer, the weighted livable center need index is 13.7

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 P&R is in a mixed use-development which includes commercial and multi-family residential uses. This mixed-use development encourages walking, biking and transit use. Residents that reside in the mixed-use development have the ability to not own a vehicle reducing their overall monthly cost for vehicle ownership. The mixed-use joint development encourages transit use.

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.

The P&R encourages transit use and the mixed-use development allows for persons to not be required to own a vehicle to access employment, housing or commercial uses . The project does not displace any existing residences and impacts no residential properties, low-income or otherwise.

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 proposed P&R facility location is not located in a designated floodplain. It 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. No designate nor eligible historic features will be impacted by this project. Flooding, Cultural Resources, and other resource areas were addressed in a CE approved by FTA on December 27, 2022.

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

Annual NOx reductions: 10.72M vmt reduced x .06g/vmt / 907,185 g/ton = 0.71 tons/yr; Annual VOC reductions: 10.72M vmt reduced x .01 g/vmt / 907,185 g/ton = 0.12 tons/yr

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 P&R facility enhances mobility by providing commuter bus service to the Texas Medical Center which is a high employment center and major destination in the Houston region. Since the P&R facility is in a mixed-use development that contains commercial and multi-family residential uses, it encourages multi-modalism through biking, walking and transit use.

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