2018 Call for Projects Application List

Who is Completing the Application?

Please provide contact information for the person who will complete the online application for this project. The email address and password entered here will be used to complete and submit both Pre-Applications and Applications.

Primary Agency Information

Please provide contact information for the agency official who is representing the project sponsor. This individual will be considered the official applicant and must be authorized by their agency to submit this request for funding and make necessary assertations and representations on the agency’s behalf.

Additional Agency Information

1. Is this project being developed and/or implemented in partnership with another agency?

Project Information

1. Project Title

Universal Accessibility Improvements at Bus Stops

2. Project County

Harris County

3. Facility/Street Name

METRO Service Area

4. Project limits (from, to) or location (Address)

METRO Service Area

5. Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the largest public transportation in agency in the Houston region, serving 116 million riders annually. As a large urban transportation provider, METRO directly impacts the mobility of millions of residents and visitors. For a portion of those residents and visitors, public transportation is their primary means of getting to their destinations. Those who are “transit dependent” include households that do not own an automobile; people with significant physical disabilities that limit their ability to drive; low-income households; low-income single parents; people who are too young or old to drive; and recent immigrants from developing countries. Nationwide, about 30 percent of the population 5 years old or older is identified as transit-dependent; this portion of the population accounts for about 70 percent of all transit trips (Steve E. Polzin, Xuehao Chu, and Joel R. Rey. Density and Captivity in Public Transit Success Observations from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Study. In Transportation Research Record 1735, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 2000, pp. 10-18). Transit stops are the gateways to public transportation. Each one welcomes riders into the system and provides a transition point of entry into the community. Inaccessible transit stops, and facilities, can make using transit difficult or impossible for people with mobility, visual or other disabilities. METRO has 8,945 bus stops throughout its service area. Many of the stops have limited accessibility and do not have adequate passenger amenities such as shelters, benches, boarding pads, trash cans, and lighting. Access to roughly 75 percent of the station/stops is difficult due to lack of or inadequate sidewalks and ramps, few bicycle connections, ditches and other obstacles such as utility poles. Each of those conditions represents a barrier to transit use for everyone but has significant impacts on those who are transit dependent. In addition, Houston has aging roadway and sidewalk infrastructure along major streets where bus routes travel. Inadequate or non-existent sidewalks, exposed drainage, and non- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant intersection crossings raise accessibility concerns for METRO riders. Non-ADA conforming bus stops pose safety concerns to disabled individuals trying to access the bus system. Uneven and cracked sidewalk segments, ramps deteriorated to crumbling pavement and utility poles blocking the path of travel to a bus stop can make bus travel difficult and unsafe. Each of these factors limits transit ridership and presents obstacles to transit riders and those wishing to use transit.

6. Describe the proposed improvement/activity (Description).

The infrastructure improvements proposed by this project would be implemented in the entire METRO Service Area. Proposed improvements include new sidewalks where there are none, reconstruction of sidewalks in disrepair, ADA accessible bus pads, accessible bus shelter-ready pads, and ADA ramps to provide a safe path to connect METRO’s patrons to transit stops. To achieve ADA conformity, a five-foot by eight-foot landing platform would be installed at each limited accessibility bus stop. If conditions permit, METRO would add a shelter foundation, an area for a trash can, backdoor landing stop and a transition to the existing sidewalk resulting in approximately 40 feet of improvements at each stop. Figure 1 in the attachment shows proposed improvements for enhanced accessibility and minimum ADA requirement. METRO is requesting $15 million annually for 5 years to be used in conjunction with other federal (5307 and 5339) and local funding sources. The proposed level of funding would allow METRO to reach 100% ADA conformity at 5,726 bus stops in five years. Figure 2 in the attachment show the number of stops that would be improved each year and the associated costs.

7. Describe the primary outcomes to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose)

The purpose of this project is to improve regional mobility, access and safety by removing obstacles to transit access for existing and new riders. Since all transit trips begin and end with a pedestrian or bicycle connection, an important aspect of increasing ridership is improving access to and from transit stations and stops and improving the safety and comfort of riders. METRO developed a Bus Stop Accessibility Plan to improve access to transit, making it a more attractive transportation option. The program provides transit dependent persons with more transportation choices and enables them to participate more fully in their communities. It will also help other transit users meet their daily needs, for example, shoppers with carts, parents with children in strollers, travelers with luggage, and the elderly with limited mobility. The Universal Accessibility Improvements at Bus Stops is one of METRO’s top priorities. The goal of the program is to achieve 100 percent ADA conformity at all bus stops. METRO began the program in the summer of 2017 with a survey of all bus stops. Figure 3 in the attachment shows the results of that survey – 25 percent of stops meet or exceed minimum ADA standards by having at least a five-foot by eight-foot landing platform. The remaining 75 percent of stops have limited accessibility meaning a platform was not present or some other condition such as ramp slopes or the presence of an impediment, such as a utility pole, limited access at the stop. Of that group, 64 percent had conditions that could be remediated by METRO. The remaining 11 percent would require the participation of the appropriate local government to bring the stops into ADA conformity.

8. Have any MPOID numbers been assigned to this project?

Yes

A. MPOIDs

15266

9. Have any TxDOT Control-Section-Job (CSJ) numbers been assigned to this project?

No

10. What is the estimated total capital investment required for the project?

Less than $100 million

A. Investment Category & Strategy

Active Transportation

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

90000000

12. Please upload the funding commitment letter or letters of support from the local government.

Funding Commitment Letter & Letters of Support 10.31.18.pdf

Project Development/Readiness

1. Please select the level of engineering completed.

30% PS&E

2. What is the completed or anticipated level of environmental documentation required for the proposed project?

Categorical Exclusion (CE)

A. What was/is the anticipated completion date of the environmental clearance?

06/30/2019

B. Type of Categorical Exclusion (CE)? (Optional)

C-12

3. Will any of the following be required to implement the project? US Army Corps of Engineers Permits

No

US Coast Guard Permits

No

Railroad Agreements

No

None of the Above

Yes

4. Will the acquisition of Right of Way or an easement be required to implement the project?

Yes

A. What was/is the estimated completion date for Right of Way/easement mapping?

09/30/2020

B. What was/is the estimated start date for Right of Way/easement acquisition?

09/30/2019

C. What was/is the estimated completion date for Right of Way/easement acquisition?

09/30/2020

D. How many parcels must be acquired to implement the project?

It is possible that small easement or land acquisition would be pursued at specific sites for adequate accessibility to the bus stop.

E. How many parcels have been acquired to date?

None

5. Has utility coordination been initiated for the project?

No

6. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency?

Yes

A. If Yes, please provide appropriate documentation showing interagency consultation (e.g, interagency agreements, coordination documentation).

1. UA Pre-Application Final - Interagency Consultation.docx

7. Please upload project development timeline. A sample of Best-Case Scenario project development timeline can be downloaded here for your review. (Optional)

1a UA DEV TIMELINE.pdf

8. Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. (6000 characters max) (Optional)

There are no major impediments to project implementation. METRO has developed a prioritization methodology to address bus stop site accessibility through its Bus Stop Accessibility Plan. METRO has already completed the improvement of 200 bus stops in FY17, will complete another 200 in FY18 and will have completed design of over 200 bus stops in FY18. By the beginning of FY19, METRO can begin construction of these 200 already designed bus stop sites. Figure 4 in the attachment shows the bus stop evaluation process developed by METRO to implement this project.

9. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment (Optional)

1e Project Dev Readiness Figures 1-4.pdf

Map/Location

1. Please provide a clear and concise GIS coverage or PDF map for the proposed project. (MPK ESRI Map Package file preferred)

1b UA MAP.jpg

Project Budget

1. Please attach a completed project budget worksheet. Templates are available on the 2018 Call for projects website.

1c UA TDC BUDGET.xlsx

2. Are Transportation Development Credits (TDCs) being requested?

Yes

If Yes, please fill and upload the TDC application.

1d UA TDC Application.xlsx

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

3 UA BCA.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

1031201813258PM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

BCA Placeholder - see #1 Safety Benefits for BCA information.xlsx

6. Please provide a brief narrative describing the methodology, input data and results. (Optional)

See attachment in #1 Safety Benefits for methodology

Planning Factors - Barrier Elimination (Active Transportation)

1. Does the proposed facility provide safe and convenient routes across barriers such as freeways, railroads, and waterways?

Yes

2. Does the proposed bicycle/pedestrian facility close a gap in the existing bicycle network that aligns with a regional bikeway?

Yes

Planning Factors - Emissions Reductions

1. Please provide the air quality improvements (estimated NOX tons/year) the proposed facility provides.

Description Daily Reduction in Emission in Kg Nox reduction due to VMT reduction 20.32 Please see BCA attachment for methodology.

2. Please provide the air quality improvements (estimated VOCs tons/year) the proposed facility provides.

Description Daily Reduction in Emission in Kg VOC reduction due to VMT reduction 13.40 Please see BCA attachment for methodology.

Planning Factors - Environmental Justice

1. Is the proposed project located in or is adjoining an environmental justice sensitive area (census block groups) identified by HGAC?

Yes

A. If Yes, Will the project incorporate measures that reduce, minimize or avoid adverse effects environmental justice sensitive areas (census block groups) identified by HGAC?

Yes

Planning Factors - Expands or Improves Bicycle & Pedestrian Connectivity to Employment/Schools/Medical Facilities/Transit Stops/Other Points of Interest

Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of employment?

Yes

A. If yes, please indicate number of jobs the facility directly connects to or is within a 1/4 mile.

901 - 1000

2. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of a school or university?

Yes

3. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of medical facility?

Yes

4. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of Transit Center or Transit Stop?

Yes

5. Does the facility directly connect to or within 1/4 mile of other points of interest?

Yes

Planning Factors - Planning Coordination

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a regional/sub regional/or locally adopted plan including regional thoroughfare plans? Or Has the sponsor conducted interagency coordination with other local or state agency affected by the proposed project?

Yes

A. If yes, please provide the title of the regional/sub regional or local plan in which the proposed project is recommended.

METRONext, METRO Business Plan and Budget, and 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

B. If yes, please provide a link to the regional/sub regional or local plan in which the proposed project is recommended.

https://ridemetro.org/MetroPDFs/FinancialAuditInformation/Budgets/FY18-Business-Plan-and-Budget.pdf & http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/default.aspx & http://metronext.org