Transportation Project Questionnaire

Major Projects Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	Montgomery County
Project Title	Keenan Cutoff Extension
Facility/Street/Highway	Keenan Cutoff Rd
Limits	SH 249 Toll Road to FM 149
Description	Extend Keenan Cutoff Rd from FM 149 to the SH 249 Toll Road. Includes two railroad grade separations and a new crossing of Lake Creek
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$230,000,000.00

Regional Transportation Plan Goals

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

Keenan Cut-off Road Extension from FM 149 to SH 249 Toll Road (7.7 miles) is a proposed thoroughfare extension in Montgomery County. The proposed extension is included in the 2021 Montgomery County Major Thoroughfare Plan. East-west mobility in this region of Montgomery County is limited due to the constraints of multiple railroad tracks (UPRR and BNSF) and the Lake Creek floodplain. The Keenan Cut-off extension would link a major east/west corridor (FM 2854 connecting to Conroe) to the SH 249 Toll Road. A grade separation for this connection is in place on the SH 249 Toll Road. Proposed improvements include a new crossing of Lake Creek, a grade separation over the BNSF Railroad, and a grade separated intersection over FM 1486. The proposed Keenan Cut-off Road Extension meets the five goals of the 2045 RTP: 1. Improve Safety: The proposed Keenan Cut-off Road Extension is proposed to be four lanes, two in each direction, with a 16-foot-wide raised median. The facility would also include 10-foot-wide shoulders in both directions. The raised median provides safety benefits for fatal and serious injury crashes. Full width, paved shoulders also reduce crashes. The grade separated intersection with FM 1486 could provide an 80% reduction in crashes. Grade separating FM 1486 over the BNSF will also yield safety benefits. 2. Achieve and Maintain a State of Good Repair: The proposed project is a new location extension of Keenan Cut-off Road. The proposed extension would be designed and constructed to the most current guidelines. 3. Move People and Goods Efficiently: The proposed extension would be able to efficiently move vehicles and goods in a safe manner. Grade separating Keenan Cut-off Road over FM 1486 and over the BNSF will also improve mobility by reducing travel time delay and improving incident response time. 4. Strengthen Regional Economic Competitiveness: The proposed Keenan Cut-off Road extension would provide alternative routes for passenger vehicles and freight to SH 105, SH 249 and FM 149 for this growing community. Keenan Cut-off Road provides direct connectivity to SH 249 and FM 149, with a grade separated BNSF railroad crossing to improve mobility. The commuting population in this region of Montgomery County is expecting to significantly increase and alternative and more direct routes will be required to support commuters. Activity centers, including Conroe, Magnolia, Navasota, Brenham, and College Station are served by the roadway network in this region of Montgomery County. 5. Conserve and Protect Natural and Cultural Resources: Montgomery County will be conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Keenan Cut-off Road Extension. After assessing environmental resources and constraints, the alignment and footprint of the roadway will be designed to avoid, minimize and mitigation sensitive environmental resources (natural and cultural). By adding one additional travel lane in each direction, congestion along the facility would be reduced, therefore improving overall air quality.

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:

Major Collector

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.

The proposed project is an extension of Keenan Cut-off Road. Currently, no roadway is in place, so there have been no crashes reported.

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.

The proposed project is an extension of Keenan Cut-off Road. Currently, no roadway is in place, so there have been no crashes reported.

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 proposed Keenan Cut-off Road Extension is proposed to be four lanes, two in each direction, with a 16-foot-wide raised median. The facility would also include 10-foot-wide shoulders in both directions. The raised median provides safety benefits for fatal and serious injury crashes. Full width, paved shoulders also reduce crashes. The grade separated intersection with FM 1486 could provide an 80% reduction in crashes. Grade separating FM 1486 over the BNSF will also yield safety benefits.

Potential Congestion Reductions

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

No

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

< 1.0

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

As a new alternative east/west connector route, Keenan Cutoff Extension will help to draw traffic away from SH 105 and provide the Montgomery/Magnolia area with new corridor with access to FM 1486, FM 149 and SH 249 Toll Road. TTI value was obtained using the COMPAT TTI TAMU website/system. Existing TTI: N/A (new planned roadway)

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 extension of Keenan Cut-off Road from SH 249 and FM 149 will provide congestion relief for automobile and freight users. Grade separations are proposed at the BNSF Railroad and over FM 1486 which will enhance mobility for vehicles and freight traffic. The Keenan Cut-off Road Extension would serve as a relief route for SH 105, providing better connectivity between Conroe and communities to the west, including Magnolia, Navasota, Brenham, and College Station. This extension is needed to support the growing residential population in this region of Montgomery County. Project construction and extension will provide new east/west corridor, with added capacity and safety enhancements. H-GAC land use estimates an increase in nearly 188% for housing units within the 1/4 mile corridor buffer, and 251% for jobs with the TAZ. Safety Benefits: - New 4-lane divided roadway will help accommodate future demand. Second travel lane will provide safe storage zones when cars are decelerating to make left and right turns. Raised median will help eliminate head on collisions. - Follow standard horizontal and vertical profiles for greater sight visibility and stopping sight distances. - Provide sight lines, dedicated turn lanes and proper signal alignment. Add lighting to intersections for better visibility. Work Types: Install Warning/Guide Signs, Install Traffic Signals, Install Raised Median, Safety Treat Fixed Objects, Safety Lighting at Intersections, Install Pavement Markings, Install Edge Marking, Widen Paved Shoulder, Improve Vertical and Horizontal Alignments, Add New 4-Lane Divided.

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.

The projected increase in jobs within the buffer area is expected to increase by 250% in year 2045. Additionally, the overall population is expected to increase by 183%.

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

No

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

No

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

The proposed extension would provide a relief route for SH 105. The new extension would provide commuters additional routes for traveling to/from their work. Forecasted job growth within the TAZ indicates over 251% increase in jobs from 2018 levels. The Keenan Cut-off Extension provides enhanced connectivity with other activity centers, including Conroe, Magnolia, Navasota, Brenham, and College Station. Grade separations at the BNSF Railroad crossing and at FM 1486 enhance mobility and emergency response time.

State of Good Repair

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

0

2. What is the existing condition of the facility.

Good

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

The proposed project is a new location extension of Keenan Cut-off Road. The proposed extension would be designed and constructed to the most current guidelines. AADT = New Road Maintenance Section Boundaries: Districts: Houston, Maintenance Section 5, Montgomery Maintenance Section.

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.

Proposed typical section will provide 10' wide paved shoulders.

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.

2015 low to weighted moderate-income household population = 37%

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.

2021 Hispanic household population = 9.9% (781 out of 7903), 2021 Non-Hispanic household population =2.8% (219 out of 7903)

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.

2021 household population under poverty = 8.3% (656 out of 7903)

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.

2021 Disabled Persons = 9.2% (729 out of 7903)

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.

2021 Elderly Persons = 2.6% (207 out of 7903)

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.

2021 LEP = 0.0% (0 out of 9989)

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.

7.2

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.

The benefits of the proposed project such as improved mobility and safety, improved emergency response times, and increased operational efficiency of the proposed roadway would be experienced by all populations, including vulnerable communities.

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.

Extensive public engagement, including vulnerable populations, during all phases of the project, including planning, design, construction, and implementation will inform the project development process. Public involvement materials will be prepared in both English and Spanish and accommodation for other non-English speakers will be made as requested. The design will consider feedback from the community to address their needs within the project corridor. The proposed design will take into account the locations of community resources, especially those serving vulnerable populations and wherever possible avoid impacts to these resources. In addition, low-income and environmental justice communities will be identified using U.S. Census data and field verification; the design will avoid taking ROW from these communities and where possible consider specific community needs in these areas.

Hurricane Evacuation Route

1. Is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

No

1a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternative to an evacuation route?

No

Additional Documents