Transportation Project Questionnaire

Resiliency and State of Good Repair Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	Brazoria County
Project Title	CR 59 widening
Facility/Street/Highway	County Road 59
Limits	from the Fort Bend County Line to CR 48
Description	Widening existing 2-lane asphalt roadway to a 4-lane concrete Blvd. with roadside ditches, storm sewer and a detention pond.
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$20,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

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:

None of the Above

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how proposed project reduces inoperability for significant periods of time due to damaged infrastructure.

Incorporating improved drainage systems into the new roadway design project significantly reduces inoperability by mitigating the risk of water-related damages and disruptions. Enhanced drainage ensures that rainwater and floodwaters are efficiently channeled away from the roadway surface, preventing the accumulation of water that can lead to flooding, erosion, and the formation of potholes. This not only extends the lifespan of the road by protecting its structural integrity but also ensures that the road remains passable during and after heavy rainfalls or flooding events. By maintaining clear and dry driving surfaces, the improved drainage system minimizes the chances of crashes and traffic delays, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of the transportation network. The proactive approach to water management in roadway design will play a crucial role in maintaining continuous operation and accessibility, significantly contributing to the overall resilience of the infrastructure against weather-related challenges.

3. Please provide total estimated daily users served by the proposed project. AADT for roadway project (total users=AADT*vehicle occupancy) or daily total ridership for transit project.

14,000 vpd

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

50 years

4a. What is the existing condition of the facility.

Poor

5. Does the project sponsor maintain an approved and regularly updated asset management plan?

No

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

No

6a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternative to an evacuation route?

No

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Was the project scored under Regional Goods Movement Category?

No

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 widens an existing major thoroughfare from two lanes undivided to four lanes divided. There is a capacity need associated with the lack of additional existing east-west thoroughfares south of CR 59. The proximity of this project to the suburban development associated with Pearland the proposed project is important to sub-regional freight movement.

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project benefits high growth areas. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project improves or provides access to new residential developments, retail stores, other land uses, or if the proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

CR 59 has been experiencing a significant increase in traffic volumes, from 9,780 vehicles per day in 2016 to over 14,450 vehicles per day in 2024. This growth is attributed to changes in land use along CR 59 and general population growth in the area. This project will complete the vital connection between the City of Pearland and FM 521, where FM 521 is a major northwest FM road that provides important regional connectivity and is slated for widening with construction starting later this year.

3. 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.

The project will connect CR 59 to FM 521. CR 59 from SH 288 to Kirby Drive is a recently improved four-lane divided corridor. The CR 59 improvement project will address the need for a continuous four-lane divided roadway between SH 288 and FM 521. This need is driven by land use changes, regional population growth, associated traffic volume demands, and a connection to other roads slated for improvement, such as FM 521, resulting in a project of regional significance. Pavement conditions along existing CR 59 in this segment are deteriorating. With increased vehicular demand in the region, the widening and existing pavement replacement is a high priority for Brazoria County to address safety and mobility in the region. In the recently completed Brazoria County Mobility Plan, CR 59 had the highest number of crashes per mile (with 38 crashes occurring per mile) compared to twenty other major county roads as part of the improvement plan. LOS will improve from a peak period condition of E to LOS C after the proposed improvement. The project will include intersection improvements to address left turn and right turn movements at the intersection of CR 59 and CR 48.

4. 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.

The proposed project will provide a continuation of the 10-foot shared-use path. This will provide connectivity to the shared use path proposed along FM 521 by TxDOT. This will significantly improve pedestrian and bike safety as there are currently no accommodations for pedestrians or bikes along existing CR 59.

5. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic conditions for transit services (local, express, signature, or commuter).

Currently there is not transit service in the area. LOS will improve from a peak period condition of E to LOS C after the proposed improvement. The project will include intersection improvements to address left turn and right turn movements at the intersection of CR 59 and CR 48. Any future transit considerations will benefit from the improvement.

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.

The crash rate for CR 59 was calculated as part of the Brazoria County Mobility Plan as 242.7 crashes per 100-million vehicle miles traveled and is well over the statewide average for similar facilities of 101.9 crashes per 100-million vehicles miles.

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.

Between 2015 and 2019, severe crashes per mile were 1.85, which ranked the highest of the twenty corridors studied in the 2022 Brazoria County Mobility Plan.

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.

Reduction in crashes will be related to the following improvements. Improving from two foot wide shoulder with open ditch to curb and gutter, improving from two lane undivided to multi-lane divided, adding a shared use path for peds and bikes.

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.

Low

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.

Low

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.

Reduction to flooding vulnerability include conversion of the roadway from open ditch to curb and cutter.

Access/Connectivity

Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income

2033

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

6058

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

No

3. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a school/college/university within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

No

4. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a social services facility within a quarter buffer of the project location?

No

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

2033

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

6058

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

395

1d. Disabled Persons

545

1e. Elderly Persons

170

1f. Limited English Proficiency

579

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.

14.8

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.

Pavement conditions along existing CR 59 in this segment are deteriorating. With increased vehicular demand in the region, the widening and existing pavement replacement is a high priority for Brazoria County to address safety and mobility in the region. Also, improving from two foot wide shoulder with open ditch to curb and gutter, improving from two lane undivided to multi-lane divided, adding a shared use path for peds and bikes.

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.

CR 59 has been experiencing a significant increase in traffic volumes. This growth is attributed to changes in land use along CR 59 and general population growth in the area. LOS will improve from a peak period condition of E to LOS C after the proposed improvement. The proposed improvements will decrease traffic congestion.

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.

H-GAC to provide the data

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.
(Optional)

H-GAC to provide the data

Innovation

1. Does the project propose to implement new infrastructure technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations?

No

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

No

Additional Documents