Transportation Project Questionnaire

Resiliency and State of Good Repair Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	METRO
Project Title	Emergency & Community Services Bldg.
Facility/Street/Highway	Main Street
Limits	@ Downtown TC (Main St. and St. Joseph St.)
Description	Construction of new METRO PD emergency services & transit customer services building
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$57,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

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

Transit

1b. For Transit Projects, does this project serve commuter transit service?

Yes

1b-i. Please explain.

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

The Emergency & Community Service Center will house the METRO PD, METRO Emergency Operations, and MEROLift Paratransit service. Approximately 500 structured parking spaces will be incorporated into the facility to serve METRO PD, MERO employees and limited public parking. The proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops within a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities.

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.

The proposed facility will house the METROLift office which provides paratransit service throughout METRO’s service area. Based on the 2021 and 2022 National Transit Database reporting, approximately 1.5 million riders use METROLift annually.

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

The ECS will be a new facility (new construction).. It replaces the current METRO PD facility which will be destroyed as part of the regional flood mitigation project known as the North Canal.

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

Poor

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

Yes

5a. If yes, please provide a link to the existing asset management plan.

METRO’s Asset Management plan is accessible via METRO’s intranet: https://intranet.ridemetro.org/ent/doccenter/Pages/TAMDOCS.aspx

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

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

Yes

6a-i. If yes, explain.

The facility will be the center for METRO’s Emergency Operation Center that will support evacuations in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to be hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

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

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.

Major storm events such as a hurricane impacting the greater Houston region can disrupt freight flows on a local, state, national and international level. In addition, other more localized events such as major vehicle crashes, special events such as the Houston Livestock Show, parades, etc. may require the re-routing of goods to nearby destinations. Hurricanes Ike and Havey displaced truck travel from Mexico and throughout Texas. Lesser storms have closed access to major freight corridors throughout the region. As a key resource for emergency management in the region, the METRO ECS will play a vital role in monitoring the impacts of major weather events, major traffic crashes or other special events on the region’s transportation network. Although primarily focused on events which could impact the need for and delivery of public transportation services, the center will have the capacity to provide redundant communications and monitoring with other state and local facilities such as Houston TranStar and the Houston Emergency Center.

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.

Because the METRO service area includes much of Harris County and portions of Fort Bend and southern Montgomery Counties, ECS will be regional in its capability. The MTRO service area includes many high growth communities with new residential, retail and commercial development. Much of the regions population and employment growth is within the METRO service area and includes major industrial, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics activities. The METRO service area includes both major hub airports (Intercontinental and Hobby) and the high value goods transported by air.

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 proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops within a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities.The facility does not provide construction of new highway facilities. However, the operations and management of these facilities, particularly when impacted by traffic crashes, adverse weather or special events, is highly dependent on coordinated multi-agency response which will be supported by the ECS.

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 is located in Downtown which has a network of sidewalks and connections to transit service. The City of Houston has also installed a network of bike lanes in the CBD with the nearest lane on Gray Street, one block from the project site. This facility does not construct new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure other than that provided on the facility site. However, it may provide logistical support to METRO’s new bikeshare operations which are in the early stages of implementation.

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

The proposed facility will provide primary support for the monitoring and, if needed, emergency METRO PD and operations response to incidents impacting the delivery of METRO services. METRO services include local, express, signature and commuter services as well as rail operations and operations of HOV/HOT lanes managed by METRO. It is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops within a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities.

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.

There were five fatal crashes within a quarter-mile of the project site from 2019-2023. • Fannin @ Pierce on 11/11/2023 • La Brand @ Webster on 8/20/2023 • Louisiana @ Pease on 1/29/2023 • IH-45 (Pierce Elevated) @ San Jacinto on 5/26/2022 • IH-45 (Pierce Elevated) @ Caroline on 4/26/2019

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.

There were 14 serious injury crashes within a quarter-mile of the project site from 2019-2023. • Five in 2019 • Two in 2020 • Three in 2021 • One in 2022 • Three in 20223 , corresponding to the fatal crash on 11/11/2023

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 facility will house the METRO PD and METRO Emergency Operations. The facility will be designed to provide emergency services and the presence of METRO PD will offer additional traffic monitoring in the project vicinity. As the Emergency Operations Center for METRO, regional safety and security services can be coordinated throughout the METRO service area.

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.

High

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.

The proposed project location is not located in a designated floodplain and will be connected to the City’s storm sewer system. The improvements will not substantially alter the existing impermeable surface, so drainage and flooding are not expected to be an issue. Flooding and associated impacts were addressed in a Categorical Exclusion approved by FTA on Feb. 2, 2022. The facility will serve as the location for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to hardened and contain redundant communications capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

Access/Connectivity

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

1,093

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,166

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

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

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

Yes

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

1,093

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

4,166

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

1,142

1d. Disabled Persons

296

1e. Elderly Persons

1f. Limited English Proficiency

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.

The redline can be accessed once the ECS building is constructed which will provide access to livable centers within a quarter mile of this project.

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.

The proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops withing a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities. In addition, the proposed project is located in Downtown which has a network of sidewalks and connections to transit service. The City of Houston has also installed a network of bike lanes in the CBD with the nearest lane on Gray Street, one block from the project site.

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.

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.

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)

n/a

Innovation

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

Yes

1a. If yes, please explain.

The proposed facility is located adjacent to the Downtown Transit Center (TC) and METRORail Red Line station. This location is the hub of transit service throughout the METRO service area offering access to all major employment and educational centers in the City. Regional Park & Ride commuter service also stops withing a two-three block radius of the Downtown TC further expanding destination opportunities. The facility will also be the center for METRO’s emergency services in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is proposed to have state-of-the art communications and emergency management tools in a hardened facility with redundant capabilities to protect against wind, floods, and other damaging events.

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