Transportation Project Questionnaire

Major Projects Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	City of Houston
Project Title	Aldine-Westfield
Facility/Street/Highway	Aldine-Westfield
Limits	From BW 8 to S of Little York Rd.
Description	The proposed project would improve the roadway from the existing 2-way road to a 4-lane divided corridor with a median, improved intersections and turning lanes, upgraded signals, and pedestrian facilities. Improvements to the drainage along the corridor include replacing the open ditch drainage system with a curb and gutter system. Improvement include pedestrian enhancements such as a sidewalk and bikeway on either side of the roadway.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$155,000,000.00

Regional Transportation Plan Goals

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

The project includes improving the existing 2-lane, 2-way roadway with roadside ditches and no shoulders in a 60-feet ROW to a 4-lane divided roadway with a curb & gutter in a 100-feet ROW. The improvements include dedicated left turn lanes at intersections and median openings, shared paths, wheelchair ramps, upgraded traffic signals, reconstruction of existing bridges to the latest standards, street lights, landscapes/streetscapes, detention basins, an underground storm sewer system, and necessary public utility relocations. There are six schools, ten churches, and multiple major businesses with a mix of commercial and residential properties along Aldine Westfield Road. Improve Safety: The roadway in the existing condition is unsafe for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Multiple roadway segments with high crash rates have placed this roadway on the High Injury Network roadway in the Vision Zero plan.There are vertical drops exceeding three feet with no protection right next to the travel lanes. There are no sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, pedestrian signals, and street lights in the existing condition. The proposed project will improve safety along the project corridor with a 4-lane divided roadway with a curb & gutter, left turn lanes at intersections and median openings, median openings with proper access management, pedestrian and bicycle accomodations, wheelchair ramps, upgraded traffic signals, and street lights. Achieve and Maintain a State of Good Repair: The existing roadway within the project limits is approximately 40 years old, is in poor condition, and is also past its service life. The proposed concrete pavement will be designed per COH requirements for a minimum 50-year life span. The proposed improvements stated above will maintain the project corridor in a state of good repair. Move People and Goods Reliably and Efficiently: The existing 2-lane, 2-way roadway along the project corridor will not have adequate capacity to handle the projected 2035 traffic volumes. The existing vehicular level of service (LOS) for 2035 traffic will be F. With the proposed improvements stated above, the proposed vehicular LOS will be D or better. Also, a 4-lane divided roadway is consistent with the City's Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP). The proposed improvements also include appropriate accomodations to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Strengthen Regional Economic Competitiveness: Aldine Westfield Road is the only major thoroughfare that runs north & south inside the East Aldine Management District. With the proposed improvements, the travel time will be reduced and due to the proximity of the airport, businesses & warehouses, the project improves freight & multi-occupant vehicle movement along the project corridor. Conserve and Protect Natural and Cultural Resources: The existing road LOS for 2035 traffic will be F. The existing 2-lane, 2-way roadway along the project corridor will not have adequate capacity to handle projected 2035 traffic volumes. With the proposed improvements stated above, the proposed LOS will be D or better. The proposed multimodal corridor improvements will improve LOS to D or better and reduce the NOx and VOC.

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.

0.025 per million VMT

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.

0.299 per million VMT

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.

The project includes improving the existing 2-lane, 2-way roadway with roadside ditches and no shoulders in a 60-feet ROW to a 4-lane divided roadway with a curb & gutter in 100-feet ROW. The improvements include left turn lanes at intersections and median openings, shared paths, wheelchair ramps, upgraded traffic signals, the reconstruction of existing bridges to the latest standards, street lights, landscapes/streetscapes, detention basins, an underground storm sewer system and a water line. Below are the specific improvements included in this project along with respective crash reduction factors. Install Warning/Guide Signs- 20% Install Traffic Signal- 35% Improve Traffic Signals- 24% Install Pedestrian Signal- 34% Install School Zones- 20% Install Advance Warning Signals and Signs (Curve)- 15% Improve Pedestrian Signals- 10% Improve School Zone- 5% Install Raised Median- 25% Widen Bridge- 55% Safety Lighting- 49% Safety Lighting at Intersection- 13% Install Pavement Markings- 20% Install Pedestrian Crosswalk- 10% Install Sidewalks- 65% Widen Lanes- 30% Improve Vertical Alignment- 50% Improve Horizontal Alignment- 55% Add left turn lane- 25% Convert 2-Lane Facility to 4-Lane Divided- 45%

Potential Congestion Reductions

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

1b. If no, please provide the existing peak period travel time index (TTI) of the facility where proposed project is located.

1.0 – 1.25

1b-i. Provide a narrative describing the existing congestion where proposed project is located and describe narrative to explain methodology to calculate existing TTI.

The Travel Time Index (TTI) is the ratio of the peak-period travel time as compared to the free-flow travel time. This measure is computed for the AM peak period (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and PM peak period (4:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.) on weekdays. The existing 2-lane roadway, consisting of multiple school zones and business centers with lack of shoulder and left turn lane at intersections, has caused major congestion during peak periods. The online Congestion Management Process Tool (COMPAT) was used to determine the existing TTI along Aldine Westfield between Pine Tree Drive and Beltway 8. COMPAT shows TTI ranges from 1.47 in the 2018 reporting year to 1.2 in the 2022 reporting year. Formula: [SUM(TTI*TTIVMT)] / SUM(TTIVMT) Where, SUM: Summation TTI: Travel Time Index TTIVMT: Travel Time Index per Vehicle Miles of Travel

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

The project doubles the number of continuous vehicular travel lanes, going from a 2-lane, 2-way roadway with roadside ditches and no shoulders in a 60-feet ROW to a 4-lane divided roadway with a curb and gutter in a 100-feet ROW. The improvements also include dedicated left turn lanes at intersections and median openings, shared paths, wheelchair ramps, upgraded traffic signals, and the reconstruction of existing bridges to the latest standard. Below are the specific improvements included in this project to reduce congestion. Convert 2-Lane Facility to 4-Lane Divided Add left turn lane Install Traffic Signal Improve Traffic Signals Install Pedestrian Signal Improve Pedestrian Signals Improve School Zone Install Raised Median Widen Bridge Install Sidewalks Widen Lanes Improve Vertical Alignment Improve Horizontal Alignment

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.

Jobs (2018): 63,597, Jobs (2045):103,307

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

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

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

The projected jobs in 2045 within 1/4 mile distance of the project (103,307) represents a more than 60% increase from 2018 employment. This rapid growth throughout the corridor exemplifies the unmet travel demand this project is intended to serve by providing additional travel lanes and accommodating all road users. The corridor currently provides access to XX K-12 schools and XX large employers.

State of Good Repair

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

Approximately 40 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.

The existing roadway within the project limits is approximately 40 years old, is in poor condition, and is also past its service life. The proposed concrete pavement will be designed per COH requirements for a minimum 50-year life span. Also, two existing bridges along the project limits are being reconstructed to the latest standards. The proposed improvements will maintain the project corridor in a state of good repair.

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.

The majority of the project corridor does not have any sidewalks, bikeways, nor wheelchair ramps in the existing condition. The proposed improvements include shared paths, wheelchair ramps, and pedestrian signals to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The project also includes connectivity to Keith Weiss Park and hike and bike trails along Halls Bayou. There are also six schools, 10 churches, and multiple major businesses with a mix of commercial/residential properties along Aldine Westfield Road which will benefit from the proposed improvements.

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.

17,340

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.

27,865

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.

8,510

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.

1,914

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.

747

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.

7,373

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.

64.6

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.

A review of the 2020 U.S. Census indicates a large percentage of minorities (94%) and low-income individuals (33%) within a quarter-mile radius of the proposed project corridor. The proposed Aldine Westfield Road project would benefit all populations in the surrounding areas including vulnerable populations (i.e., low-income residents, minorities, children, persons with disabilities, and older adults). From a safety standpoint, the proposed project would create a safer facility with increased access management along the corridor by upgrading this major thoroughfare from a two-lane undivided road to a four-lane divided road. The proposed design would include designated left-turn lanes at selected intersections and median openings throughout the project. Proposed raised medians would also provide pedestrian refuge at crossings. The project would upgrade the existing roadside drainage ditches, which are often steep and deep, to a curb-and-gutter design with underground storm sewer systems that would help alleviate street flooding. New streetlights would improve the safety of the facility for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The existing Aldine Westfield Road does not accommodate any other transportation options other than cars. The proposed project’s 100-foot-wide ROW would include designated 10-foot-wide shared use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists with new ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps, upgraded traffic signals , and landscape/streetscape enhancement. These shared use paths would provide safe routes for local residents to access businesses, homes, churches, and schools along the corridor without the need for a car. The proposed project would also include driveway construction/reconstruction to address unsafe conflicts and access issues that many of the businesses currently experience due to a lack of defined driveways. Currently, the nearest bus routes to this section of Aldine Westfield Road are: (1) the 59 Aldine Mail Route, which runs east-west between I-45 and I-69, crossing Aldine Westfield Road on Aldine Mail Route Road; (2) the 102 Bush IAH Route, which runs between downtown Houston and Intercontinental Airport on Beltway 8, passing by with no stops at Aldine Westfield Road; and (3) the 003 Langley-Little York, which runs between Hollister Street and downtown Houston, crossing Aldine Westfield Road on Little York. None of these routes run north-south on Aldine Westfield Road within the project limits. The City of Houston will coordinate with METRO Houston on the proposed project design (locations of transit stops/bus shelters) to ensure the design will allow for a safe, future bus transit route.

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 proposed project would avoid or mitigate several adverse effects to vulnerable populations as listed below. 1) Aldine Westfield Road is in dire need of several transportation and safety improvements. As such, the East Aldine community continues to endure the inadequacies of the current transportation system due to an unsafe and deficient roadway and a lack of vital facilities. Prolonging or denying the implementation of the project would cause further harm to the underserved community by withholding the much-needed benefits of the transportation program 2) Provide safer transportation modes for all. Everyone, including those who do not have access to a personal vehicle and rely on walking or biking as their primary mode of transportation, would benefit from the proposed project. The upgraded pedestrian facilities would meet ADA standards and provide future access to new mass transit options (METRO Houston). People with disabilities or bodily impairments would be able to use the pedestrian/bicycle facilities and gain better access to the mass transit system. A new and safer roadway would result in less injury and fatality due to crashes. 3) Reduce air and noise pollution and contain contaminated soils and groundwater. With the additional roadway capacity and the installation of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations within the corridor, the proposed project would improve mobility and offer cleaner alternative transportation modes. This would reduce air and noise pollution caused by traffic congestion. During construction activities, any contaminated groundwater and soils encountered would be removed and disposed of properly at an authorized facility. New underground utilities, such as water lines, would be constructed with proper protection within potential contaminated areas to protect construction workers and public health. 4) The proposed project would be designed to avoid or reduce impacts to adjacent natural resources and park spaces. The NEPA environmental documentation will identify these sites and determine the impacts that may occur so they can be avoided or reduced. Green space at the proposed detention basins and along the roadway medians would also be created/maintained to promote natural resources/habitats. 5) Create aesthetic values along the project corridor. Landscapes/streetscapes would be used throughout the corridor to enhance the community’s character and visual appeal. 6) Support the economic vitality of the East Aldine community. By providing a safe and reliable transportation facility that supports a friendly environment for all, more people and businesses would be open to seeking and establishing themselves in the area. Therefore, the proposed project is anticipated to revitalize the economy and, more importantly, increase safety in the East Aldine area. 7) Avoid adverse impacts on employment. People would have access to the new roadway system that provides various modes of transportation including driving, walking, biking, and riding (by METRO bus) along the corridor. Work would be more attainable with the variety of transportation options available, promoting more employment in the area. Additionally, travel from/to work would be easier with less congestion as people choose to use the different modes of transportation. 8) The NEPA environmental documentation will review and assess potential displacements and propose mitigation options for these impacts. The proposed project would avoid and minimize displacement of persons, businesses, or community facilities as much as possible, and displaced properties would be acquired in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. The new roadway facility is anticipated to make commuting through the corridor easier and motivate people to settle in the area. Pedestrians and bicyclists would enjoy traversing the area in more accommodating facilities. Businesses, churches, and non-profit organizations along the corridor or within the East Aldine area would also have improved access, which would bring the community closer together. 9) Reduce/eliminate traffic congestion. People tend to avoid travel through congested roadways, which can lead to the isolation, exclusion, or separation of a community. The new roadway would reduce or eliminate traffic congestion, thereby encouraging people to travel through the corridor. As a result, the project would create a vital environment that supports inclusion of the East Aldine community.