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

Dairy Ashford

2. Project County

Harris County

3. Facility/Street Name

Dairy Ashford

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

Westheimer to I-10 Freeway

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

Primary Area Needs: • Safe pedestrian facilities • Adequate transit facilities • Intersection improvements • Capacity for current and future travel demand • Access management The project is approximately 3.4 miles long and located in west Houston between I-10 Freeway and Westheimer in the Energy Corridor. Pavement is in fair to poor condition with 4-foot wide sidewalks, and non-compliant wheelchair ramps and crosswalks. Summary of Problems: • Physical Condition of the Roadway: The pavement condition index (PCI) indicates that the existing pavement between Memorial to Briar Forest falls under medium low to medium range with a rating of 43-70 and the segment between Briar Forest to Westheimer is in medium range with a rating of 74-88. • Capacity: The 2011 and 2035 ADT’s show current and projected volumes at 32,000 to 38,000 vehicles creating a LOS of F. As noted in the H-GAC West Houston Mobility Study, “most roadways in the Study Area are already near or exceeding their designed capacity.” At the time of the H-GAC study, over 5 million square feet of new commercial development was planned for the Energy Corridor and Westchase areas, much of which is already in place. Dairy Ashford connects the two major activity centers and also connects each center to both IH-10 and the Westpark Tollway. Intersection: There are 8 signalized intersections within the study limit. Westheimer • Northbound and southbound through movement peak queue lengths approach 1200’ • Driveways at northeast corner are too close to the intersection. • Outdated signal equipment • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA standards Whittington • Northbound and southbound directions drivers wait 2-3 cycles to pass the intersection • Access management-closely spaced driveways • Outdated signal equipment • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA standards Westella • Capacity issues-northbound left turn traffic • Driveways at northeast and northwest corners are too close to the intersection • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA Standards Briar Forest • Northbound left turners blocked northbound through movement • Driveways at northeast, northwest and southwest corners are too close to the intersection • Outdated signal equipment • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA Standards Briar Patch • Capacity issues-northbound and southbound • Fences on all corners of intersection restrict safe sight distance Memorial Drive • Northbound and southbound heavy traffic • Driveways at northwest and southwest corners too close to intersection • Outdated signal equipment • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA Standards Perthshire Road • Access management issues • Outdated signal equipment • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA Standards Fern Drive • Outdated signal equipment. • Pedestrian facilities do not meet ADA Standards Barry Knoll Lane • Driveways too close to intersection

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

The project includes the widening of Dairy Ashford from 4 lanes to 6 lanes from Buffalo Bayou to Westheimer, reconstruction of the bridge over the bayou and intersection improvements. Intersection improvements include: o Improve Signal Timing and/or Phasing o Upgrade and Modernize Pedestrian Facilities o Eliminate Sight Distance Restrictions o Access Management near Intersections o Install Turn Bays o Modify Lane Assignments Bridge over Buffalo Bayou o Design is considering raising the bridge over Buffalo Bayou above the 500-year floodplain. This roadway was impassible during hurricane Harvey and the upgrade to the bridge will provide emergency and general mobility during extreme events.

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

The final project will enhance the capacity of the roadway for current and future projections. Upgraded traffic signal and intersection improvement will create safe site distances on cross streets, improve through movement, enhance transit mobility and reliability, and create safer pedestrian crossings. Access management will optimize median opening and minimize turning conflicts. Improved pedestrian safety with ADA compliant ramps and crosswalks and significant improvement to roadway resilience with possible bridge elevation.

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

No

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

(Expand) Roadway Added Capacity/New Construction/Complete Streets

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

52333333

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

HPW PreAp letter.pdf

Project Development/Readiness

1. Please select the level of engineering completed.

Schematic

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

Environmental Assessment (EA)

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

12/30/2021

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?

07/22/2021

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

09/17/2021

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

02/17/2023

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

n/a

E. How many parcels have been acquired to date?

n/a

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?

No

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

City of Houston completed a pre-engineering study on the corridor. See attached report. FYI, report discusses option for a grade separation at Wesheimer. This solution is not part of this project scope.

9. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment (Optional)

Dairy Ashford pre-eng_report.zip

Map/Location

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

Dairy Ashford_map.pdf

Project Budget

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

project-budget-DairyAshford.xlsx

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

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

Roadway-Safety-Benefits-DairyAshford.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

1031201831047PM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

Roadway-Emissions-Benefits-DairyAshford.xlsx

4. Additional BCA Documentation (Optional)

Regional_Employment_DairyAshford.JPG

5. Additional BCA Documentation (Optional)

TIP Resolution 2018-0035.pdf

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

Dairy Ashford is being submitted as a Added Capacity/Complete Street project. Benefit factors considered for this project include traffic signal improvements, bridge widening, addition of turn lanes, and safety lighting. The project will also improve the existing bridge over Buffalo Bayou to be more resilient from rising water and provide north-south mobility during extreme events. The proposed project on Dairy Ashford is also consistent with the analysis completed as part of the West Houston Mobility study. The corridor was assessed with severe mobility issues and recommended for added capacity. Dairy Ashford is not on the regional freight network however, it is a direct connector to IH-10 and Westheimer which are designated freight corridors.

Planning Factors - Connectivity to Employment/Eliminates At-Grade Railroad Crossings

1. Does the facility directly connect to or is located within 1/2 mile of employment?

Yes

A. If yes, please indicate number of jobs the facility directly connects to or is within a 1/2 mile?

901 - 1000

2. Does the proposed project eliminate or prevent at grade railroad crossing?

No

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 - Improves Corridor Level of Travel Time Reliability (LOTTR)

1. The proposed project will reduce Planning Time Index (PTI) by:

0.21 – 0.30

2. Please upload your completed LOTTR template.

lottr-estimation-template_DairyAshford.xlsx

Planning Factors - Improves Multimodal LOS

1. Does the proposed project improve highway/freight LOS?

No

2. Does the proposed project improve transit LOS?

Yes

3. Does the proposed project improve bike/pedestrian LOS?

Yes

4. Please provide a brief narrative explaining how proposed project improves multimodal LOS (Auto, Bike/Ped, and Transit).

Transit LOS will be improved with added lane capacity and turn lanes to improve throughput mobility. Stop locations will also be analyzed to improve service. Pedestrian LOS will be improved with upgraded sidewalks providing continuous connections to nearby schools, and buffalo bayou trail network.

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.

City of Houston Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan

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

https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/MTFP.html

Planning Factors - Roadway Hierarchy/Freight System Priority/Evacuation Route

1. Please select the functional classification of the roadway on which the proposed project is located, based on the characteristics of the roadway after the project is implemented. The FHWA Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures is provided in the link below.

Collector

2. Is your project located on one of the following? Greater Houston Freight System

No

Locally Designated Freight Corridor

No

State Designated Evacuation Route

No

None of the Above

Yes