Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	FM 149 Extension to SH 249 on new location
Facility/Street/Highway	FM 149
Limits	From SH 249 to E of Stillwater Blvd
Description	Construct new location four-lane roadway with raised medians and bridge over BNSF RR / Jackson Road.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$75,000,000.00

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 158.6% and jobs are projected to increase by 53.3%. Several residemtial land use changes announced or modeled. This segment of FM 149 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 10,666, with 3.9 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 149 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/getmedia/eb370be9-17d7-4cbb-aaf7-50550325588d/2016-montgomery-county-thoroughfare-plan.pdf

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

This project will construct a new 3.8-mile-long divided facility which includes a 16-foot raised median, 4-12-foot lanes, 2-10-foot shoulders, right and left turn lanes, and 1-bi-directional shared used path. Direct connection between the existing FM 149 and the City of Montgomery/Lake Conroe to the north with the existing SH 249 Toll Road in the south. A bridge over the existing BNSF Railroad tracks and Jackson Road by eliminating the existing at-grade railroad crossing with FM 149. A diamond interchange at SH249 Toll Road to provide all traffic movements from the new facility onto the Toll Road. Access to mixed-used developments along the corridor and access to new development opportunities at the northern terminus. Right-of- way for future mobility improvements in association with a shared use path which will promote pedestrian, bicycle, and access to future transit opportunities. The alignment will provide an improve crossing of Lake Creek which has only 4 crossings in Montgomery County and is a major geographic constraint in the region, having a larger watershed than the San Jacinto River.

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%. Several residential land use changes announced or modeled. There are many subdivisisions popping up around the Magnolia area currently.

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

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

Yes, the project will expand the existing roadway network and alleviate congestion in the area. The existing conditions in the FM 149 corridor have been identified through the updating of Montgomery County’s Thoroughfare Plan, TxDOT, Traffic Projections, and through public comment. The issues summarized for the proposed project are included in the list below: At-grade intersection with BNSF Railroad and Jackson Road, Failing Level of Service (LOS) at the intersection of Jackson Road and FM 149 in the design year, both at the new alignment and northern part of the project, Proposed new developments in the area contributing to congestion,Direct access to SH 249 Toll Road. Most of the traffic going south on existing FM 149 is heading to the SH 249 Toll Road, Geometry of an existing at-grade intersection with Jackson Road and the BNSF Railroad, and Access from the City of Montgomery and Lake Conroe in the north to the areas in the south including Tomball and the City of Houston. Transportation demand exceeds the current and future capacity of the existing transportation infrastructure. Advancing the FM 149 Project will alleviate existing traffic congestion in the area and expand existing roadway capacity.

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.

Yes, the project will provide an alternative route in the corridor by providing a direct connection to SH 249 which presently does not exist at this time. Most of the traffic going south on existing FM 149 is heading to the SH 249 Toll Road.

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 located on the TxDOT Freight Network. The project improves regional goods movement by adding 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 149 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 10,666, with 3.9 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 149 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.

Project schematic shows no sidewalk or shared use paths at this time but shoulders are available. Wide shoulders will provide room for cyclists and pedestrians to utilize the facility and maintain a safe distance from vehicle traffic.

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.

This project will construct a new location four-lane roadway and bridge on FM 149. This will allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility after vehicle collisions. This will also better accommodate diverting traffic.

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.

Pavement Score: Fair Worst bridge score: Fair Narrative: This segment contains pavement in Fair condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. The project segment contains 1 bridge in Fair condition. It was built in 1982. It is rated as being in Fair condition overall, with a superstructure condition score of 5, substructure condition score of 7, and a deck condition score of 5. The project includes construction a new roadway which will lead to an increase in overall pavement miles in Good condition.

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.

1.323

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.

4.629

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 1.323, higher than the regional average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 4.629, lower than the regional average (6.18). This project will construct a new bridge as part of a new roadway which will act as an alternative if main lanes are shut down on other facilities, reducing primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. 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. Adding shoulders to the facility may reduce head-on, sideswipe, and pedestrian crashes, among others. Shoulders will allow vehicles to move off the roadway after collisions, reducing further crashes caused by congestion. The consolidated crash reduction factor is 50% for installing a raised median (WC 203) and constructing paved shoulders (WC 504).

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.

High

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.

Project will build a new bridge over Lake Creek which is classified as High Vulnerability to flooding on FM 149. 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

2,506

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,125

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

2,506

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,125

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

828

1d. Disabled Persons

959

1e. Elderly Persons

363

1f. Limited English Proficiency

120

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.

11.00

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.

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 (8.35%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a lower minority population (18.78%) 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. Sound walls will also be installed to mitigate the effects of noise pollution that result from increased traffic.

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 and 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

NOx: -0.1 ; VOC: -0.97

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)

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

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.