Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 1488 Widening/Other Improvements
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 1488
Limits	From Harris C/L to Joseph Road
Description	Widen from 2-lane to 4-lanes and implement access management treatments including a raised median, realignment of curve, and bike/ped facilities.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$140,350,000.00

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 158.6% and jobs are projected to increase by 53.3%. This segment of FM 1488 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 2,586 with 24.1 percent of that being truck traffic. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 39.98 percent. Continuous left turn lanes and left turn lanes in the median are being constructed on this project preventing vehicles from being impeded by vehicles wanting to turn left. Intersection Improvements are to be constructed in multiple locations along the corridor as well. Road is also being constructed on new locations in a few locations that will do away with sharp curves and dog legs, improving traffic flow and safety. 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 1488 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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/thoroughfare-planning/maps-and-plans

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 a raised median, realignment of curve, and bike/ped facilities.

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 158.6% and jobs are projected to increase by 53.3%. The corridor is commercializing very quickly closer to US 290. New residential subdivisions with thousands of homes are being constructed farther east closer to Magnolia on this same corridor.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

This project will add capacity. Adding capacity will relieve congestion on 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. It will also add raised medians improving progression by eliminating conflict points and reducing 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.

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

C

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

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

FM 1488 provides direct access between Hempstead and Magnolia and could provide an alternative to US 290 if it were to become inoperable.

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?

Yes

5a-i. If yes, explain.

Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.InvestmentCategory5ai

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.

Regional goods movement 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 2,586 with 24.1 percent of that being truck traffic. By 2041 daily traffic volume is expected to increase by 39.98 percent. Continuous left turn lanes and left turn lanes in the median are being constructed on this project preventing vehicles from being impeded by vehicles wanting to turn left. Intersection Improvements are to be constructed in multiple locations along the corridor as well. Road is also being constructed on new locations in a few locations that will do away with sharp curves and dog legs, improving traffic flow and safety. 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 1488 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

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 project will not only widen the roadway but also implement access management treatments including a raised median and intersection improvements that will limit conflict points reducing crashes and improving progression throughout the corridor. Further, it will be brought up to current design 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.

10 ft Shared Use Paths and 5 ft sidewalks are being constructed on both sides of the entire length 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.

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

Widening the roadway and implementing access management will improve traffic conditions for all vehicular movements including alternative modes of transportation. In addition, bike/ped facilities will be constructed providing much-needed alt modes access.

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 and provide adequate shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and 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.

The pavement on this facility is mostly in Good condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. 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.

0

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.

15.862

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 0, lower than the regional average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 15.862, higher than the regional average (6.18). The widening of the roadway will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. The addition of bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure will allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely use the facility and reduce points of conflict with vehicles, thus improving the overall safety of the segment. The inclusion of medians reduces the quantity and severity of crashes at intersections and provides refuge to crossing pedestrians. As an access management strategy in corridors, medians reduce mid-block left turn-related crashes. They enhance traffic flow and can be used as part of a traffic calming strategy to reduce speed. The consolidated crash reduction factor for this project is 185%, as a result of converting from a 2-lane to 4-lane facility (WC 538), adding medians (WC 201), and providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (WC 407). The widening of the roadway will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. The addition of bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure will allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely use the facility and reduce points of conflict with vehicles, thus improving the overall safety of the segment. The inclusion of medians reduces the quantity and severity of crashes at intersections and provides refuge to crossing pedestrians.

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.

New and improved ditches are being constructed on this project. 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

3,160

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,739

12. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

No

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?

No

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

3,160

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

2,739

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

956

1d. Disabled Persons

333

1e. Elderly Persons

57

1f. Limited English Proficiency

69

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.

24.60

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 higher low-income population (22.02%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a lower minority population (63.1%) 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 safer and less congested transportation through the implementation of access management, increased resilience, and evacuation capacity in the event of hazards.

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 higher low-income population (22.02%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a lower minority population (63.1%) 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 to surrounding communities. In practice this means identifying and assessing potential project impacts, then proposing measures to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse effects to Environmental Justice Populations. For example, the project will improve drainage to ATLAS-14 standards, which will mitigate impacts from added capacity to vulnerable populations.

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.

An Environmental Assessment is currently underway to evaluate potential impacts to the natural or human environment. The federal and State process specifically aims to avoid impacts first, to minimize potential impacts that are not avoidable, and then to mitigate impacts. This is true for the natural, cultural, and human environments.

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?

Yes

1a. If yes, please explain.

Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This technology facilitates vehicle 2 infrastructure communication for new and autonomous vehicles. In addition, the implementation of access management will enhance mobility, pedestrian movements, reliability, and traffic operations. Atlas 14 standards ensure resilience.

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

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.

Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads)

Additional Documents