Transportation Project Questionnaire

Major Projects Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	IH 45 NHHIP, Segment 1D
Facility/Street/Highway	IH 45
Limits	From South of West Rd to SL 8
Description	RECONSTRUCT 8 MAIN LANES, RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 1 TO 4 MANAGED LANES TRANSITIONING INTO TWO ENTERING AND EXITING LANES AT REVERSIBLE HOV LANE NORTH OF SL8, AND RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM TWO 2 AND 3-LANES FRONTAGE ROADS TO TWO 2- AND 3- LANES FRONTAGE ROADS (NHHIP SEG 1D)
Timeframe	Long Term (More than 10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$325,700,000.00

Regional Transportation Plan Goals

1. Please provide narrative describing how the proposed project supports all goals established in the Regional Transportation Plan (2045 RTP).

According to the 2045 RTP, this project falls under H-GAC’s Manage, Maintain, and Expand Strategies, which collectively directly support all five of H-GAC’s goals of improving safety, achieving/maintaining a state of good repair, moving people and goods efficiently, strengthening regional economic competitiveness, and protecting cultural and natural resources. NHHIP is not only of local and regional significance but also of national significance as a major north/south interstate that moves +/- 200,000 vehicles per day. It's on the FHWA national highway network. [1] Improve Safety: This project will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. NHHIP has been designed to increase safety and reduce congestion for the traveling, walking, and biking communities. The MOEs include: reduce crash frequency, reduced crash severity, reduced travel time, and average speed improvements. Travel time savings is expected to be significant once the NHHIP is complete. Improvement in travel time varies from 61% to 84%. Travel time savings is a key performance indicated according to FHWA because it not only moves people but also freight. NHHIP is of national importance with respect to freight movement. The impact of not improving NHHIP would result in a measurable reduction in travel time that varies from 36 minutes of additional delay to 103 minutes of delay. [2] Achieve & Maintain State of Good Repair: In a widening/reconstruction project, old pavement is removed and new pavement is constructed, thus increasing the state of good repair. The expected life of the roadway is 30+ years. [3] Move People and Goods Reliably and Efficiently: This project will reduce congestion and reduce resulting crashes, increasing the reliability of the facility. The NHHIP proposes numerous new connections as part of the project. This new or reconnected network will enhance users access to adjacent land uses. New connections include: Blue Bell Road, Hutchinson Road, Andrews Street, Navigation Blvd, and numerous bike/ped facilities. [4] Strengthen Regional Economic Competitiveness: This project will reduce congestion and resulting crashes, increasing the truck travel time reliability of the facility, boosting regional and economic competitiveness. See comment above. [5] Conserve and Protect Natural and Cultural Resources: This project will include improved drainage, which will benefit the natural resources abutting the facility. This project will reduce emissions caused by idling and congestion. Designed to ATLAS 14 standards updated in response to recent floods including Hurricane Harvey. Roadways designed to accommodate 500 year flood events and expected to be passible (including depressed sections) during major weather events facilitating hurricane evacuation.

Regional Significance

1. Is the project a Roadway Project or a Transit Project?

Roadway

1a. For Roadway projects, this project is located on a facility functionally classified as a:

Principal Arterial or Higher Functional Class

Potential Crash Reductions

1. What is the existing fatality crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online at crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

1.702

2. What is the existing serious injury crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online at crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

5.836

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 1.702, higher than the regional average (1.23), and the serious injury rate is 5.836, lower than the regional average (6.18). The reconstruction and widening of the roadway from 1 to 4 managed lanes transitioning into two entering and exiting lanes at reversible HOV lane will provide additional capacity to the roadway and reduce primary and secondary crashes caused by congestion. The addition of pedestrian infrastructure like sidewalks will allow pedestrians to safely use the facility and reduce points of conflict with vehicles, thus improving the overall safety of the segment. The consolidated crash reduction factor for this project is 93%, as a result of installing sidewalks (WC 407), and providing additional travel lanes (WC 517). NHHIP has been designed to increase safety and reduce congestion for the traveling, walking, and biking communities. The MOEs include: reduce crash frequency, reduced crash severity, reduced travel time, and average speed improvements. Travel time savings is expected to be significant once the NHHIP is complete. Improvement in travel time varies from 61% to 84%. Travel time savings is a key performance indicated according to FHWA because it not only moves people but also freight. NHHIP is of national importance with respect to freight movement. The impact of not improving NHHIP would result in a measurable reduction in travel time that varies from 36 minutes of additional delay to 103 minutes of delay.

Potential Congestion Reductions

1. Is the project located on a facility listed on Texas 100 most congested roads list?

Yes

1a. If yes, please provide link to the list.

Rank #22 and #81, https://www.txdot.gov/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html (Top 100 Layer)

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces congestion. Narrative must include specific improvements (work types) included in the project scope.

his project will RECONSTRUCT 8 MAIN LANES, RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 1 TO 4 MANAGED LANES TRANSITIONING INTO TWO ENTERING AND EXITING LANES AT REVERSIBLE HOV LANE NORTH OF SL8, AND RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM TWO 2 AND 3-LANES FRONTAGE ROADS TO TWO 2- AND 3- LANES FRONTAGE ROADS to relieve congestion. The segment will be brought up to TxDOT and FHWA safety design standards.

Connectivity to Jobs, Medical Facilities, and Activity Centers

1. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to jobs within a 1/4 mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

1a. Please provide the number of jobs located within 1/4 mile distance of the project.

14,382

2. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a 1/4 mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

3. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to an activity center within a 1/4 mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

4. Provide narrative describing how proposed project improves or provides new connectivity to jobs, medical facilities, and activity centers.

This project will improve access to Greenspoint Mall, Greater Greenspoint, Pinto Business Park (Amazon, Sysco, Coca-cola, and HD Supply to name a few employers nearby). As for other relevant services there is a Texas Department of Family Protective Services office (some medical check-in services are provided) located nearby the corridor and a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office is located nearby the corridor providing services (visas and/or green cards). There is also a METRO - Fallbrook Bus Operating Facility nearby the corridor that will continue to run buses along IH 45 N. The NHHIP proposes numerous new connections as part of the project. This new or reconnected network will enhance users access to adjacent land uses. New connections include: Blue Bell Road, Hutchinson Road, Andrews Street, Navigation Blvd, and numerous bike/ped facilities.

State of Good Repair

1. What is the age of the facility where proposed project is located?

35 years

2. What is the existing condition of the facility.

Poor

3. Please explain how the project improves state of good repair and extends the service life of the facility.

Segments of the project have pavement in Poor condition, according to TxDOT and FHWA guidelines. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility. This segment contains bridges in Fair condition, according to FHWA guidelines. The worst bridge on this project segment was built in 1989 and last rehabilitated in 1995. 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 6. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility.

Biking and Walking Conditions

1. 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 new or improve existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on project facility or in the vicinity of the project.

Sidewalks will be built along the frontage roads behind the curb. The addition of sidewalks will create transportation alternatives and allow pedestrians greater access to services and improve quality of life. The NHHIP will provide an extensive network of 1-way bike lanes that are separated from traffic by a raised curb making them safe from vehicular traffic, reducing conflict points since they are one-way traveling in the same direction as traffic, will experience less debris than on-street bike lanes, will be easier to maintain, not be subject to roading water ponding, and have fewer potholes because they are subject to wear and tear of vehicular traffic. Further, TxDOT worked with TTI to develop best practices for ensuring the highest and best designs for the bike/ped accommodation in light of the adjacent/parallel roadway. The NHHIP project proposes significant visual enhancement including hardscape and landscape, while simultaneously augmenting bike/pedestrian accommodation so that these active modes of transportation can commute in a pleasing environment and the residents and community will have a more aesthetically pleasing and context sensitive environment.

Impacts to Vulnerable Populations

1. Please enter the Low-Income household population located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

18,096

2. Please enter the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities household population located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

17,596

3. Please enter the Household Population Under Poverty located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

6,056

4. Please enter the Disabled Persons household population located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

1,187

5. Please enter the Elderly Persons household population located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

343

6. Please enter the Limited English Proficiency household population located within 1/4 buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

5,858

7. What is the average Livable Center Need Index within 1/4 buffer of the project location? H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

84.40

8. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project provides benefits to vulnerable populations (benefits include safety improvements, or construction or improvements to ped/bike facilities, or improvements to transit stops.

9. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates adverse effects to vulnerable populations. List of adverse effects was provided in detailed criteria document.

The area surrounding the project segment has a higher low-income population (38.26%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher minority population (97.07%) 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. TxDOT is performing unprecedented activities related to avoidance and mitigation of infrastructure improvement impacts to vulnerable communities. Enhanced relocation services, supplemental financing to qualified owners, enhanced advisory services for relocation and loan assistance/education, and direct financial assistance to affordable housing that is in close proximity to current housing. This investment is valued at $25M. In addition, TxDOT will replace 100% of the units at Clayton Homes, which were destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Residents of Kelly Village will have similar options. Housing Choice Vouchers (aka Section 8) will be provided to qualified residents because they have a right to choose where they will live. Further, TxDOT is weatherizing many of the homes (for qualifying residents) adjacent to IH 45 due to potential impact of additional dust and noise during construction. This includes providing window AC units for many residents that do not currently have air conditioning, weather stripping their homes, new insulation, and new storm windows and doors. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher low-income population (38.26%) as compared to the regional average of 13.5%. The area surrounding the project segment has a higher minority population (97.07%) 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.