Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1500 characters max The project is needed for system connectivity, accommodating growth, upgrading the existing facilities to current design standards, providing improved emergency access, and enhancing mobility along FM 528 and the surrounding roadways. The surrounding area has grown in population with small suburban development and is in need of the connection of FM 528 between SH 35B (Gordon Street) and SH 6. In addition, the proposed FM 528 extension is needed for direct connection to SH 6, which is a hurricane evacuation route within the project area. The lack of connection with FM 528 within the project limits does not provide system connectivity for the region. Describe the primary outcomes to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1500 characters max The purpose of the project is to improve traffic operations, travel times, increase emergency access, and reduce traffic delay along a congested and developing FM 528 corridor while minimizing environmental impacts. Specific objectives would be to: • Provide an extension of FM 528 to service the City of Alvin and the surrounding area. • Improve the operational conditions of the roadway through the application of current FHWA and TxDOT design standards. • Decrease traffic congestion and reduce travel times. • Increase emergency access for emergency vehicles. • Provide an alternate route when flooding occurs at the intersection SH 6 and BNSF Railway. • Provide direct access to SH 6 from FM 528, as SH 6 is a hurricane evacuation route within the project area. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1500 characters max The proposed project is approximately 0.90 miles in length and is located Brazoria County, Texas. The proposed project would extend, partially on new location, existing FM 528 from SH 35B (Gordon Street) to SH 6 in the City of Alvin. The Preferred Alternative would involve the construction of a facility, partially on new location, ultimately consisting of four 12-foot wide lanes (two-lanes in each direction) with eight-foot wide outside shoulders, and a combination of open roadside ditches and a curb and gutter facility within a ROW typically 120 feet wide from the existing FM 528 facility located northeast of the City of Alvin to Davis-Bend Road located west of the City of Alvin. At intersections with existing railroads, the proposed roadway would be elevated to create grade separations. The proposed undivided, curb and gutter facility would include two 14-foot lanes (one 12-foot lane in each direction), accommodations for bicycle traffic and a five-foot sidewalk on the north side of FM 528. The accommodations for bicycle traffic are in accordance with the minimum requirement set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. The proposed facility would also include a grade separation at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, new signalized intersections at SH 35B (Gordon Street) and SH 6, and left turn lanes at SH 35B (Gordon Street). Just under half of the proposed project would be on new location, while the remainder of the proposed project would follow existing roadways. The new location portion would be located from SH 35B (Gordon Street) to approximately 250 feet west of the BNSF Railway (approximately 2,165 feet). The proposed project would then follow an existing caliches road from approximately 250 feet west of BNSF Railway to Heights Road (approximately 1 ,750 feet). The proposed project would then follow existing Brazos Street from Heights Road to SH 6 (approximately 710 feet). The existing right-of-way (ROW) width for the caliches road varies from 65 to 95 feet. The existing ROW width for Brazos Street is 60 feet. The proposed ROW varies from 100 to 120 feet in width. The total amount of ROW required for the proposed project is 12 acres, which would accommodate a future four-lane divided roadway. Approximately ten acres of ROW along the proposed project is currently owned by the City of Alvin. Therefore, approximately two acres of additional ROW would be needed for the proposed project. The two acres of additional ROW are located along the south side of the existing caliches road between BNSF Railway and Heights Road and along both sides of existing Brazos Street from Heights Road to SH 6. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
3000 characters max In addition to the No-Build Alternative, four alternatives were considered and evaluated. Alternative A This alternative, located primarily on new location, would extend across the north and northwestern side of the City of Alvin and would be approximately 5.35 miles in length. The route would begin at existing FM 528 southwest of the northern intersection with existing SH 35 and would extend west past SH 35B (Gordon Street), then would continue west- southwest on new location across Heights Road concurrently with Brazos Street, across SH 6, then concurrently with North 2nd Street across the railroad tracks, then west/northwesterly on new location heading out of town and crossing Mustang Bayou, Davis-Bend Road, and Old Manvel Road, then parallel to the west of Bennett Road, crossing Bennett Road, CR 283, CR 237, and Davis-Bend Road to terminate at FM 1462. At intersections with railroads, the proposed roadway would be elevated to create grade separations. Alternative A would require approximately 31 .7 acres of additional ROW. Most of the existing land use along Alternative A is either agricultural or suburban. Alternative B This alternative route, located primarily on new location and sharing much of the same alignment as Alternative A, would extend across the north and northwestern side of the City of Alvin and would be approximately 5.45 miles in length. The route would begin at existing FM 528, southwest of the northern intersection with existing SH 35 and would extend west to past SH 35B (Gordon Street), then west- southwest on new location across Heights Road, SH 6, Mustang Bayou, the railroad tracks, then west/northwesterly heading out of town and crossing Mustang Bayou a second time, 2nd Street, Davis-Bend Road, and Old Manvel Road, then parallel to and west of Bennett Road, crossing Bennett Road, CR 283, CR 237, and Davis-Bend Road to terminate at FM 1462. At intersections with railroads, the proposed roadway would be elevated to create grade separations. Alternative B would require approximately 58.2 acres of additional ROW. Alternative C This alternative route, located primarily on new location, would extend across the north and northwestern side of the City of Alvin and would be approximately 5.02 miles in length. The route would begin at existing FM 528, southwest of the northern intersection with existing SH 35, and would extend west to past SH 35B (Gordon Street), then would continue west- southwest on new location, crossing Heights Road, SH 6, Mustang Bayou, the railroad tracks, and Old Manvel Road to travel concurrently with Bennett Road, then would turn south/southeast on new location crossing CR 283, CR 237, and Davis-Bend Road to terminate at FM 1462. At intersections with railroads, the proposed roadway would be elevated to create grade separations. Alternative C would require approximately 14.2 acres of additional ROW. Alternative D A fourth alternative was created after the alternatives analysis was completed for the three Build Alternatives. Alternative D is a truncated version of Alternative A. The purpose of this additional Build Alternative was to create an alternative with a substantially lower cost, which would improve the chances of funding a project that would address access and safety on the west side of the City of Alvin. Alternative D involves the construction of a facility, partially on new location, consisting of four 12-foot wide lanes (two in each direction) with eight-foot wide outside shoulders and open roadside ditches within a ROW typically 120 feet wide from the existing FM 528 roadway located northeast of the City of Alvin to Davis-Bend Road located west of the City of Alvin. At intersections with railroads, the proposed roadway would be elevated to create grade separations. This alternative route would follow the existing FM 528 alignment from SH 35 to Smith Village Road, north of the City of Alvin, and would extend west to past SH 35B (Gordon Street), then would continue west- southwest on new location across Heights Road concurrently with Brazos Street, across SH 6, then concurrently with North 2nd Street across the railroad tracks, then west concurrently with Lobitt Street, turning southwest on new location to connect to the existing Davis-Bend Road, west of the City of Alvin. The proposed project length is 0.9 miles. Grade separations are proposed at the two railroad crossings within the proposed FM 528 extension. These grade separations would also cross Mustang Bayou. No Build Alternative The No Build Alternative assumes no extension of FM 528. The No Build Alternative would not address existing or increased traffic demands or regional connectivity. In addition, the No Build Alternative would not provide direct connectivity to SH 6, which is a hurricane evacuation route in the project area. This alternative would not meet the need and purpose of the project. Preferred Alterative Alternative B was eliminated because of the slightly higher estimated cost of extending the FM 528 facility, since it would include greater ROW acquisition and relocation of existing residences and businesses. Alternative C was eliminated because it would have relatively less benefit to traffic efficiency, as it is the furthest alternative from the City center. The remaining alternative was A. All of the Build Alternatives analyzed involved a roadway consisting of four 12-foot wide mainlanes (two-lanes in each direction) with eight-foot wide outside shoulders and open ditches within a typical ROW width of 120 feet. Alternatives A-C and Alternative D, the truncated version of Alternative A, would provide greater improvements to the City of Alvin than the No Build Alternative. Building an extension of the FM 528 facility may help stimulate some growth adjacent to major intersections of the roadway. Please describe any opportunities for staged construction of the project.
1500 characters max Due to funding constraints, the Preferred Alternative would be constructed in phases. The current EA covers the first phase of the Preferred Alternative, which is identified as the following: The FM 528 facility would be extended, partially on new location, from SH 35B (Gordon Street) westerly to existing Heights Road. The existing Brazos Street would be upgraded and become FM 528, where it would terminate at SH 6. The proposed undivided, curb and gutter facility would include two 14-foot lanes (one 12-foot lane in each direction), accommodations for bicycle traffic, and a five-foot sidewalk on the north side of FM 528. A grade separation is proposed at the BNSF Railway. Design speed for the proposed FM 528 facility is 45 miles-per-hour (mph). The second phase of the Preferred Alternative includes the addition of two 12-foot lanes to construct the ultimate four-lane divided facility from SH 35B (Gordon Street) to SH 6. The third phase of the Preferred Alternative includes constructing the remaining project from SH 6 to Davis-Bend Road, which is a divided, curb and gutter facility that would include four 12-foot lanes (two 12-foot lanes in each direction), accommodations for bicycle traffic, and a five-foot sidewalk. Grade separations are proposed at BNSF railroad crossings. The second and third phases of the proposed project would be constructed once funding becomes available. Staged Construction Attachment 1414-02-016 - SCHEMATIC - FM 528 from SH 35BUS to SH 6.pdf

Project Development/Readiness

Has a scoping meeting been conducted with TxDOT or FTA?
Note: A brief scoping meeting will be scheduled during the application review period for any “Major Investment” project which has not already had one. Yes What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Environmental Assessment (EA) Will any permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, railroad, etc. be required before the project can be constructed? Yes Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 06/01/2014 Will additional property, or interest in property (easement), be required to implement the project? Yes Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? Yes Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). A gas pipeline is located within the proposed project limits and runs parallel to the proposed FM 528 facility on the north side of the proposed project. Utilities such as this and water lines, sewer lines, telephone cables, electrical lines, and other subterranean and aerial utilities would require adjustment. Preliminary engineering design has also identified a City of Alvin water tank, located in the southeast quadrant of Brazos Street and Heights Road, which would need to be relocated . Aerial and/or underground utility construction would be adjusted and the required adjustments may or may not be provided for by the affected utility. The extent of utility adjustments is not known at this time and would be determined during final design. Coordination of any utility adjustments would take place during the design phase or before construction begins. All utility adjustments would be in accordance with TxDOT, City, and County design policy guidelines. The adjustment and relocation of any utilities would be handled so that no substantial interruptions would take place while these adjustments are being made. Utilities and all ROW are 100% by City of Alvin. They will handle both and pay for both. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency? No Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. The proposed project is included in the H-GAC 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update. Brazoria County and the City of Alvin support the proposed project. The first public meeting was held on October 23, 2003 for the proposed extension of FM 528 from Smith Village Road, north of the City of Alvin, to FM 1462, south of the City of Alvin. The proposed project encompassed the limits of this proposed project on FM 528 from SH 35B (Gordon Street) to SH 6. The notice of the public meeting was published in the Alvin Sun and the Brazos Facts newspapers, as well as announced on the City of Alvin's internet site and on the Alvin Senior Citizen's Center's sign. At that time, the proposed project was a four-lane undivided rural facility, partially on new location, consisting of four 12-foot wide mainlanes (two lanes in each direction) with eight-foot wide outside shoulders and open roadside ditches. The proposed project was approximately 2.1 miles in length. The second public meeting was held on February 17, 2011 for the proposed extension of FM 528 from SH 358 (Gordon Street) to SH 6 (the Preferred Alternative). Notices for the public meeting were mailed to all adjacent property owners and legal notices in the newspapers were published. The legal notices were published in the Houston Chronicle and the Alvin Sun Advertiser newspaper on January 18, 2011 and February 7, 2011 and the La Voz on January 16, 2011 and February 6, 2011. The Public Hearing was held on November 13, 2014. Public Involvement Attachment Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. The total amount of ROW being acquired for the proposed project is 12 acres, which would accommodate a future four-lane divided roadway. The four-lane divided roadway would be constructed once funds become available. Approximately ten acres of ROW along the proposed project is currently owned by the City of Alvin. Therefore, approximately two acres of additional ROW would be needed for the proposed project. The two acres of additional ROW are located along the south side of the existing caliches road between BNSF Railway and Heights Road and along both sides of existing Brazos Street from Heights Road to SH 6. There is one displacement/relocation associated with this proposed project. The displacement is the relocation of an above ground City of Alvin water tank located in the southeast quadrant of Brazos Street and Heights Road. There are no residential or commercial displacements or relocations associated with the proposed project. There are no permanent or temporary easements required . Environmental for this project is 90% complete. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Map/Location

Please provide a clear and concise GIS coverage or PDF map of the proposed project.
(*.mpk ESRI Map Package file preferred) 1414-02-016 - GIS - FM 528 from SH 35 Bus to SH 6.jpg

Project Budget

Please attach a completed project budget worksheet.
Templates are available on the 2015 TIP Call Website
Uploaded files are limited to Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, PDFs, GIS files, and image files.
File size cannot exceed 30MB. 1414-02-016 Budget - FM528.xlsx Is this application for a transit project, ITS project, or other project that would have a significant ongoing operating/maintenance cost? No Are transportation development credits being requested? No

Benefit/Cost Methodology

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used

BCA Excel spreadsheet 1414-02-016 - BCT - FM 528 from SH 35 Bus to SH 6.pdf Analysis Narrative Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Narrative Benefits

Safety: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The project is needed for upgrading the existing facilities to current design standards, providing improved emergency access, and enhancing mobility along FM 528 and the surrounding roadways. The surrounding area has grown in population with small suburban development and is in need of the connection of FM 528 between SH 35B (Gordon Street) and SH 6. In addition, the proposed FM 528 extension is needed for direct connection to SH 6, which is a hurricane evacuation route within the project area. Safety Narrative Attachment Congestion: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The FM 528 project area has been growing and is expected to continue to grow. More people are moving into the area because of its accessibility to employment in the City of Houston, its less expensive housing and its rural surroundings. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) demographic forecast for the City of Alvin predicts a steady increase in population and employment. Congestion Narrative Attachment Asset Management/Operations: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The project will improve traffic operations and travel times and reduce traffic delay along a congested and developing FM 528 corridor. It will provide an extension of FM 528 to service the City of Alvin and the surrounding area, improve operational conditions of the roadway through application of current FHWA and TxDOT design standards, decrease traffic congestion and reduce travel times, increase emergency access for emergency vehicles, provide an alternate route when flooding occurs at the intersection SH 6 and BNSF Railway, and provide direct access to SH 6 from FM 528, as SH 6 is a hurricane evacuation route within the project area. Asset Mgmt/Ops Narrative Attachment Regional Economic Competitiveness: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The alternatives analysis included an economic impact analysis. The objective of the economic impact analysis was to estimate the impact of the alternatives on business gross sales, land use or economic development, and motor vehicle user costs (benefit-cost analysis). The basic conclusions of the economic impact analysis supported the development and eventual construction of the proposed project. The Build Alternative would generate more economic development than the No Build alternative and increase user benefits on a benefit-per- cost basis. The impact to land use changes would increase from low use to more use as a result of the proposed project. Constructing any of the Build Alternatives may help stimulate land development in and around the City of Alvin. All of the Build Alternatives are predicted to give a substantial benefit to the traveling public. The high return from these Build Alternatives comes from vehicles not having to travel through the City center and being able to cross over intersecting railroads, as opposed to traveling through the City center with numerous intersections and having to cross railroads at-grade. The traffic remaining on the existing roadways also has reduced costs per-mile because of reduced congestion with less traffic after the extension would be built and this benefit is calculated and included in benefits. Econ Competitiveness Narrative Attachment Natural/Cultural Resources: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The project will improve traffic operations and travel times and reduce traffic delay along a congested and developing FM 528 corridor. It will provide an extension of FM 528 to service the City of Alvin and the surrounding area, improve operational conditions of the roadway through application of current FHWA and TxDOT design standards, decrease traffic congestion and reduce travel times. The decrease in congestion will aid in minimizing traffic impacts on air quality in the Houston-Galveston area. Environment Narrative Attachment 1414-02-016 - BIKE - FM 528 from SH 35 Bus to SH 6.jpg