Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 1458 Reconstruct/Realign and Widen
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 1458
Limits	From FM 359 to Austin C/L
Description	Widen from 2-lane to 4-lanes and implement access management treatments including turn lanes, intersection improvements, and realigning existing roadway curves to improve safety and mobility.
Timeframe	Long Term (More than 10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$70,000,000.00

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 project is located in a high growth area. The population is projected to grow by 373.3% and jobs are projected to increase by 111.8%. While land use changes have not yet been announced or modeled, additional residential land uses will be needed in the future to accommodate the projected growth.This segment of FM 1458 will benefit from improved connectivity and improved level of service that will result from this improvement. The average daily volume of traffic on this segment in 2021 was 1,295, with 11.3 percent of that being truck traffic. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the project segment. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of FM 1458 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards." Additional growth projections are available in the Waller County Transportation Plan, Appendix C Growth Matrix

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

Yes

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

Thoroughfare Maps and Plans | Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)

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

This project will widen from 2-lane to 4-lanes and implement access management treatments including turn lanes, intersection improvements, and realigning existing roadway curves to improve safety and mobility.

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 is located in a high growth area. The population is projected to grow by 373.3% and jobs are projected to increase by 111.8%. No notable land use changes announced or modeled. Additional growth projections are available in the Waller County Transportation Plan, Appendix C Growth Matrix

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

Adding capacity will relieve congestion in the facility by allowing for a reduced vehicle-to-capacity ratio. Further, it will allow more room for traffic to avoid crashes on the segment, reducing congestion caused by crashes. As an access management strategy in corridors, medians reduce mid-block left turn-related crashes. They enhance traffic flow and reduce the quantity and severity of crashes at intersections and resulting congestion. This project will improve intersection design and operation, facilitating more efficient traffic flow and reducing congestion caused by intersection-related crashes. This project includes adding turn lanes, which remove turning vehicles from the flow of traffic and reduce slowdowns and congestion. They also have the potential to reduce rear end crashes as well as a variety of other left turn conflicts, further reducing congestion caused by resulting crashes. Additional growth projections are available in the Waller County Transportation Plan, Appendix C Growth Matrix

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

LOS A

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

FM 1458 is one of three crossing points across the Brazos River, the other nearby alternatives are IH 10 W to the south and FM 529 to the north.

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 project is not located on a Critical Urban Freight Corridor. The project is not located on the TxDOT or FHWA Freight Networks. The project improves regional goods movement by added capacity which will relieve congestion.

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.

This segment of FM 1458 will benefit from improved connectivity and improved level of service that will result from this improvement. The average daily volume of traffic on this segment in 2021 was 1,295, with 11.3 percent of that being truck traffic. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 40 percent. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity, connectivity, level of service, and safety of the project segment. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of FM 1458 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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.

Bike paths will be installed on another project (2023CFP-221), Sidewalks or shared use paths will most likely be built on both sides of this project. Shared use paths provide a low-stress experience for active transportation users, increasing user safety and health while improving regional connectivity. The addition of sidewalks will create transportation alternatives and allow pedestrians greater access to services and improve quality of life. Bike lanes increase the safety of riders and improve regional connectivity.

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

No existing or planned transit service is provided on this facility.

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 widen lanes to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and will improve intersection design and operations to better maintain flow on the facility after vehicle collisions.

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.

This segment contains pavement in Poor condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. This segment contains bridges in Fair condition, according to FHWA guidelines. The worst bridge on this project segment was built in 1981. It is rated as being in Fair condition overall, with a superstructure condition score of 7, substructure condition score of 7, and a deck condition score of 6. In a widening/reconstruction project like this project, pavement is removed and new pavement is constructed, thus increasing the state of good repair and extending the service life of the facility.

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.

5.125

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.

56.371

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 for this segment are per 100 million VMT. The fatality rate is 5.125, higher than the regional average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 56.371, higher than the regional average, (6.18). This project is strategically designed to enhance intersection design and operation, effectively lowering intersection-related crashes. The planned widening of the roadway serves the dual purpose of increasing its capacity and mitigating primary and secondary crashes resulting from congestion. The bike paths are scheduled for installation in a separate project (2023CFP-221). However, for this project, there is a high likelihood of constructing sidewalks or shared-use paths on both sides. The addition of pedestrian infrastructure will allow pedestrians to safely use the facility and reduce points of conflicts with vehicles, thus further contributing to the overall safety and accessibility of the area. The consolidated crash reduction factor for this project is 165% as a result of installing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (WC 407), converting a 2-lane facility to a 4-lane divided (WC 538), and improving the horizontal alignment (WC 506).

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.

Medium

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.

All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards.

Access/Connectivity

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

2,415

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,659

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?

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

2,415

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,659

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

626

1d. Disabled Persons

375

1e. Elderly Persons

367

1f. Limited English Proficiency

291

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.

25.60

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 area surrounding the project segment has a lower low-income population (11.19%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a lower minority population (47.52%) as compared to the regional average of 65% minority. Because of its central location in the regional 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. As a result of the improvement, vulnerable populations will have increased resilience and evacuation capacity in the event of hazards. Additional growth projections are available in the Waller County Transportation Plan, Appendix C Growth Matrix

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 area surrounding the project segment has a lower low-income population (11.19%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a lower minority population (47.52%) as compared to the regional average of 65% minority. TxDOT’s Environmental Process is designed to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Standard practice is to implement projects that provide user safety and operational efficiency while taking into account environmental quality and impacts on surrounding communities. In practice this means identifying and assessing potential project impacts, and then proposing measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse effects to Environmental Justice Populations. Additional growth projections are available in the Waller County Transportation Plan, Appendix C Growth Matrix

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.

This project is in conceptual development. If required, the appropriate Environmental Document (Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment, or Environmental Impact Statement) will be conducted to identify, avoid or mitigate potential impacts to the natural or human environment.

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

0;0

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?