Transit Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name Montrose TIRZ 27 Redevelopment Authority
Project Title Montrose Boulevard Reconstruction
Facility/Street/Highway Montrose Boulevard
Limits West Clay to US-59/IH-69
Description Replace all public infrastructure (roadway, utilities, access management, pedestrian realm, transit, bike lane)
Timeframe Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost $47,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

Yes

Conversion of Route 56 along Airline/Montrose to a BOOST corridor is part of the voter-approved 2019 Houston METRONext Plan: https://www.ridemetro.org/about/metronext/moving-forward-plan Other plans include: Walk + Bike Montrose Plan: https://montrosehtx.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Walk-Bike-Montrose-June2020.pdf; Montrose Livable Centers Plan: https://www.h-gac.com/getmedia/6e67a8e3-e215-4aca-ac9b-2451a3ea70df/Montrose-LC-Final-Plan; Houston Bike Plan: https://houstonbikeplan.org/

Yes

In conjunction with this project, Houston METRO will be implementing BOOST service along Route 56 Airline/Montrose, which traverses this project corridor. The improvements along BOOST corridors will include accessibility upgrades, new shelters and lighting, real-time bus information and transit signal priority. The benefits will be improved reliability, accessibility and travel time for transit riders. This project will also relocate bus stops for greater efficiency and greatly improve multimodal connections through the improved sidewalks, ADA ramps and safer street crossings that are integral to the Montrose Boulevard reconstruction. The BOOST enhancement of transit service by Houston METRO will be complementary to the proposed roadway and pedestrian improvements to Montrose Boulevard, working together to provide multimodal access to new developments in the area. As a newly designated BOOST corridor, Route 56 will replicate many of the advantages of fixed corridor transit such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), including enhanced reliability and accessibility. This improvement is anticipated to increase ridership and elevate the multimodal level of service along the corridor. Route 56 connects to other key transit nodes, including the Greenspoint Transit Center, Northline Transit Center and the Texas Medical Cener (TMC) Transit Center. The route also connects to several activity centers, including Hermann Park, the Buffalo Bayou trail, libraries, schools and universities, cultural institutions and museums and a variety of retail and shopping destinations.

Yes

The project corridor is served primarily by METRO's Route 56 Airline/Montrose, which connects the Greenspoint Transit Center to the Texas Medical Center. It connects to several other transit routes within the project limits. The project intersects with Westheimer Road, which is slated for BOOST improvements along Route 82, which is the highest local bus ridership route in the METRO system. Route 56 also connects to Richmond Avenue's Route 25, which is slated for the approved University Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Montrose Boulevard also intersects with several other transit lines, including Routes 40 and 41 along West Dallas Street and Route 32 along West Gray Street. The proposed improvements will also impact the West Alabama/Montrose stop of METRO's Katy Freeway/Texas Medical Center Park and Ride Route 298, which is along the project corridor. Route 56 and Route 298 which directly connect to the project, as well as the connecting bus routes provide connectivity to vital destinations in the Houston metro area for commuters and residents, including community centers, schools, libraries, grocery stores and key employment centers.

Yes

13,337

1130 (based on October 2019 data) for stops along the project corridor

Although exact evacuation plans are not released by Houston METRO, the agency is a vital component of assisting people during times of evacuation. During a hurricane event, the city plans to shuttle residents to the George R. Brown Convention Center, where they can catch buses to other parts of the state, using buses and paratransit vehicles from Houston METRO. During Hurricane Harvey, Houston METRO was able to assist in both evacuation of people as well as movement of supplies and equipment. In northeast Houston, for example, METRO buses helped move evacuees from the Hardy-Ley bus station to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Additionally, METRO owns and operates the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on significant evacuation routes that can be utilized for contraflow during times of evacuation. Furthermore, Houston METRO is planning to build a multi-purpose Emergency and Community Services Center in downtown Houston, which will provide a centralized emergency operations center. Montrose Boulevard is a key north-south corridor proximate to Downtown (where George R. Brown Convention Center and the further Emergency and Community Services Center will be located). Reconstruction of this roadway will result in a more reliable roadway that will be able to better serve Houston METRO during times of emergency and flooding. The project corridor is served by Route 56 Airline/Montrose, which has been identified by Houston METRO as a high-ridership, frequent bus route for BOOST service as part of the MetroNEXT Plan.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

Yes

The Project will support and provide access and benefit to a mixed use, densifying neighborhood. Since 2007, nearly 1.5 million square feet of residential space has been added adjacent to the project corridor. There are several recent and planned future projects along the corridor. Recently, two residential high rise buildings: Hanover Montrose (31 stories) and the Residences at La Colombe d'Or (34 stories) have been completed. At the corner of Montrose Boulevard and Kipling Street, there is a 36-story apartment building under construction, which will have ground-floor retail. The tract at the corner of Montrose Boulevard and Lovett Boulevard (3300 Montrose) is currently vacant, but there is a planned mid-rise development to include 330 units of multi-family residential. At the corner of Westheimer Road and Montrose Boulevard, a large mixed-use project with retail, office and residential is planned. The nearly 200,000 square foot Montrose Collective recently opened at the same intersection and offers office space, retail and restaurants. The Houston Public Library will be relocating the Freed-Montrose branch to the Montrose Collective as well. Adjacent to the northern portion of Montrose Boulevard (section not included in this funding request), the Ismaili Center is under construction. This 11-acre tract will contain educational spaces, a prayer hall, and multipurpose meeting, conference and social facilities for the community as well. In all, the H-GAC Eco-Logical tool projects an additional 610 housing units and 15,041 square feet of development by 2045. Overall, the Montrose area remains a popular residential and commercial destination, with infill development occurring throughout the area, given the proximity to downtown Houston and the historic nature of the Montrose neighborhood as an artistic and cultural stronghold.

As part of the corridor reconstruction, a median will be added to the southern portion of Montrose Boulevard (south of Westheimer Road); left turn lanes will be added at selected intersections. As part of the City of Houston's Design Concept Report process, completed for the project in 2022, a Transportation Operations Analysis was completed. Delays at signalized intersections were modeled for the 2040 no build and build condition. Based on the traffic volumes at each intersection, the build condition is projected to save about 4 hours of travel time for AM and PM Peak in 2040 on a daily basis.

The project is a total reconstruction of Montrose Boulevard from US59/I-69 to near West Clay Street. The Project will replace and upgrade roadway, multimodal and public utility infrastructure within existing public right-of-way. As part of the project scope, the broken and narrow sidewalks will be replaced with 10-foot wide accessible paths on both sides of the roadway where feasible. ADA ramps and crosswalks will also be replaced. Currently, users who are biking or walking along Montrose have to cross unsafely at unmarked and uncontrolled intersections. Median crossings for vehicles will be closed and rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) and enhanced pedestrian or pedestrian/bicycle crossings will be created. The 2020 Walk + Bike Montrose Plan (completed by TIRZ 27 in 2020) identified Montrose Boulevard as a walking priority project, with an emphasis on safe transit access to widen sidewalks, rebuild transit stops and improve multimodal crossings to create a safe and comfortable corridor that would support businesses and transit service. The overall vision of the Walk + Bike Montrose Plan is to make Montrose a 20-minute neighborhood, with a walkable and bikeable street grid to allow people to go about their daily lives without using a car. Although the neighborhood is connected, affordable and has enduring livability, it lacks safe infrastructure and connectivity for people outside vehicles. The Project will improve pedestrian conditions on a key north-south corridor that is the backbone of the neighborhood and is important component of achieving the '20-minute' vision. Several intersecting and adjacent corridors are identified on the Houston Bike Plan and will have high-comfort bikeways; the improved bicycle crossings at select intersections will provide safe connections to these facilities. The multimodal facilities on Montrose itself are proposed to be 10' wherever possible, which will allow for bicyclists to use this corridor as well. This project will connect to Phase I of the Montrose Boulevard improvements, which are north of West Clay Street and will connect to Buffalo Bayou Park and trail system. The project will also connect to the Montrose Safe Routes to School project that was selected for 0-2 year funding through H-GAC. Combined, these projects will allow for a contiguous and robust multimodal network in the Montrose neighborhood.

Through creation of a reconstructed and more reliable corridor, Montrose will be able to function as a more effective relief route in the event of damaged infrastructure on any of those roadways or in an emergency event, major traffic disruption, or evacuation scenario. Montrose Boulevard functions as a north-south connector as it is one of the few contiguous routes between I-10 and US-59 near downtown Houston and provides parallel connectivity to roads such as Kirby Drive and Shepherd Drive. The roadway can provide an alternate connection for those traveling in the area between Uptown and Downtown. Furthermore, Montrose can function as a relief route for I-45 and I-610 for vehicles and freight who are traveling north-south.

The Project is a total reconstruction of Montrose Boulevard from US59/I-69 to near West Clay Street. The Project will replace and upgrade roadway, multimodal and public utility infrastructure within existing public right-of-way. The underground utilities have exceeded their useful life. The City of Houston's latest Pavement Condition Index (PCI) from 2019 classifies a portion of the roadway in poor condition, with other areas of the corridor in fair and satisfactory condition. Today, the pavement along the corridor is in poor condition overall. There is significant longitudinal and transverse cracking and a notable presence of potholes along the southern portion of the corridor. On the northern portion of the corridor, there is transverse cracking of the concrete. Failed patching is evident throughout. Striping is poor through the length of the project corridor. Reconstruction of the roadway will improve pavement conditions, which will reduce behavior of drivers swerving into adjacent lanes to avoid potholes. There are several intersections without ADA ramps; existing ramps are often broken or overrun with vegetation or sediment. A 2021 sidewalk assessment found that nearly 82% of the sidewalks on Montrose Boulevard are in poor condition. Sections of the sidewalk are in such poor condition that they are impassible for users needing mobility assistance. There are sections of the corridor where tree roots have damaged the sidewalk, resulting in cracks and unlevel conditions. In 2023, the Houston Chronicle polled readers about the streets with the worst sidewalks in the Houston region — “any street in Montrose” was listed third in the top streets. The total reconstruction of the roadway would result in cost savings compared to continual rehabilitation and maintenance of the roadway and improve state of good repair for all users. The redesign and reconstruction will be built to City of Houston IDM standards and have a useful life of at least 50 years.

Planning Factors Criteria

0

14.1

From 2017 to 2021, there were a total of 561 crashes occurred on Montrose Boulevard from West Clay Street to US 59, resulting in 10 severe crashes. Four out of 10 severe crashes were pedestrian crashes that occurred in the dark. To address the safety concerns of this roadway, a set of proposed improvements has been proposed targeting at creating a safer and more accessible corridor that prioritizes the safety of all users: • Adding a 10-foot shared-use path that benefits pedestrians and bicyclists • Installation of a median along the southern portion of the project • The entire corridor will be reconstructed to enhance safety, including intersection improvements and installation of new utilities such as traffic signals and sanitary and water lines • Safer crossings for multimodal users will be added to improve safety such as upgrading pavement markings, crosswalks, and ADA ramps The proposed improvements correspond to various work codes, each with its own associated crash reduction rate: •Work Code 108, 203 Improve Traffic Signals, Install Raised Median with 51% crash reduction rate •Work Code 209 Safety Treat Fixed Objects with 50% crash reduction rate •Work Code 520 Lengthen Left Turn Lane with 40% crash reduction rate •Work Code 203 Install Raised Median with 25% crash reduction rate •Work Code 519 Add Left Turn Lane with 25% crash reduction rate •Work Code 108 Improve Traffic Signals with 24% crash reduction rate •Work Code 401 Install Pavement Markings with 20% crash reduction rate •Work Code 128 Install Advanced Warning Signs with 20% crash reduction rate

Resiliency

Medium

High

The proposed project is a total reconstruction of Montrose Boulevard, to include improved drainage and detention improvements. The public utilities have exceeded their useful life and the storm sewer is undersized. The project will replace all utilities, including sanitary sewer and water lines, as well as replacing storm sewers in accordance with the City of Houston's ATLAS-14 requirements to reduce flooding and create climate resilience through reduced overland sheetflows and decreased area flooding. The drainage improvements in the Project scope will provide additional storage and detention for storm water. The Project will add 13.8 acre-feet of storage volume over existing conditions, reducing localized flooding in the community. In a 100-year flood event, there is a ponding benefit of up to 0.7 feet (8.4 inches) in the vicinity of Montrose Boulevard and Westheimer Road, meaning that there will be nearly a foot less water that remains on the road after a heavy rain event.

Access/Connectivity

6629

8073

Yes

Yes

No

Environmental Justice

6629

8073

1710

1456

678

100

13.2

The City of Houston has designated Montrose Boulevard between Bomar Street and Branard Street as part of the High Injury Network (HIN). Missing and damaged ADA ramps, unmarked crosswalks, the presence of utilities and the poor sidewalk conditions hinder the pedestrian and transit rider experience on Montrose Boulevard. The absence of median refuges forces pedestrians to take unnecessary risks to cross the street, either running across four lanes of traffic, waiting for traffic to clear on both sides, or walking over 1/3 of a mile to reach a signalized crossing. Most of the transit stops along the corridor lack shelters and other amenities that riders appreciate, particularly in the hot Houston climate. Since 2018, approximately 500 crashes occurred within the Project limits; 13 crashes involved a total of 14 people walking or rolling and four crashes involved a bicyclist. Based on the TxDOT Crash Records Information System (CRIS), 55% of these 18 people walking, rolling, or biking were people of color. The Project will create uniform, predictable, and safe ~10’ paths for multimodal users. The sidewalks will include ADA compliant corner curb cut ramps. Crosswalks, presently non-existent or with faded markings, will include high visibility markings – ensuring people outside of vehicles are visible to drivers. Safety for people outside vehicles will also be improved through enhanced pedestrian and bicyclist crossings that will be installed at presently uncontrolled crossing streets. The median crossings for vehicles will be closed and rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) and enhanced pedestrian or pedestrian and bicycle crossings will be created. The reconstruction of the roadway will result in safer conditions for automobile users as well, with improved traffic signals, installation of a median on the southern portion of the corridor, and improving left turn lanes at selected intersections. The Project will improve the quality of life for historically marginalized and underserved populations, particularly by improving access to, and the quality of, transit. The Project corridor is served by METRO Airline/Montrose Route 56 local bus and Katy Freeway/Texas Medical Center Park and Ride Route 298 that connects western suburbs to the Texas Medical Center. The BOOST improvements, such as upgraded shelters, amenities, coupled with improved sidewalk and multimodal access, will benefit existing and future riders. METRO’s 2017 onboard survey of riders boarding or alighting at one of the 32 stops in the Project limits revealed the following: -22% could not make their trip without METRO -38% have no household vehicle -58% are classified as minority populations -64% of riders earned less than $40,000 The project design will facilitate bus stops that meet BOOST standards, with a 5-foot-deep shelter, 7-foot (minimum) unobstructed sidewalk, and 4-foot safety buffer. The stops will have custom shelters, lighting, real time signage, and bike parking. The near-level boarding platforms with platforms at both doors of the bus will improve boarding and alighting for people with mobility impairments.

This project has no adverse effects to vulnerable populations. The project improvements will create a multimodal corridor which will allow for positive environmental impacts through the reduction of automobile usage. The reduction in vehicle miles traveled will result in fewer emissions and pollution. The project will improve quality of life through creating a safer connections for all users and enhancing economic vitality of the area. A Preliminary NEPA assessment was conducted for the project in 2021. At that time, no impacts were identified as they relate to air, water or other areas of concern. Due to the hazardous material sites adjacent to the corridor, there will be a designation of a 'potentially petroleum contaminated corridor' applied, which requires a soil and groundwater management plan during construction to accommodate testing, identification and disposal of hazardous materials if encountered. The project meets the criteria for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) finding. The list of adverse effects from the detailed criteria and comments are listed below: Body impairment, infirmity, illness, or death: This project will improve safety for all users, particularly multimodal users. • Air, noise, or water pollution; soil contamination: This project will reduce pollution; a soil and groundwater management plan will be implemented during construction • Disruption or diminution of manmade or natural resources: This project will not affect natural resources. • Destruction or diminution of aesthetic values: This project will increase aesthetic values through landscaping and additional trees planted along the corridor. • Impact upon the cohesion or economic vitality of a community: This project will increase economic vitality and cohesion of the community through improved access. • Impact to public or private facilities and services: This project will not negatively impact facilities or services. • Adverse impacts on employment: This project will create short-term jobs through construction. The improvements will provide access to businesses and other uses along the corridor, which will encourage economic growth. • Displacement of persons, businesses, farms, or non-profit organizations: There will be no displacement. • Increased traffic congestion, exclusion or separation: The improvements at the intersections will not worsen congestion. • Detail or, reduction in, significant delay in receipt of benefits of transportation program: This project is in alignment with local, regional, state and federal goals.

Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources

The project is over ¼ mile away from any flood zone. There are no wetlands within ¼ mile of the project. There are multiple National Register and City of Houston landmarked properties, City of Houston Historic Districts, Texas State Historical Markers, and Texas State Historic Cemeteries within ¼ mile of the project, with some being adjacent to the alignment. Coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office will determine if mitigation is required. The entire area within ¼ mile of the project has the designation of “No Survey Needed” on the Texas Department of Transportation Potential Archeological Liability Map.

Over a 20-year planning horizon from 2026-2045, the project will reduce 2.42 metric tons of NOx and 2.93 metric tons of VOCs.

Innovation

Yes

This project will facilitate implementation of METRO's BOOST improvements for Route 56. The METRO improvements will incorporate Traffic/Transit Signal Priority (TSP) at intersections along the project corridor. This technology will help make transit service faster and more reliable along the corridor, improving the experience for transit users. The project will also consider the use of Silva Cell technology to provide underground bioretention and support large tree growth along the corridor. The technology is a series of underground planning boxes designed to allow for root growth and stormwater storage without compromising the structural integrity of adjacent surface-level improvements. This technology is currently being piloted along Shepherd and Durham and will be considered along Montrose.

No

Additional Documents

1235_Montrose_supporting_combined_022024.pdf

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