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

Gelhorn Drive

2. Project County

Harris County

3. Facility/Street Name

Gelhorn Drive

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

IH610 to IH10

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

The City of Houston is participating in a FEMA Technical Assistance Initiative to promote Supply Chain Resilience related to the Grocery Sector. Supply Chain Logistics is extremely complex, and its integrity can be impacted during weather related and other significant events. The purpose of the technical assistance program is to equip participating jurisdictions with the skills and tools to maintain grocery distribution within communities that become “land locked” from uncontrollable events. Studies show that most jurisdictions have ample stockpiles to meet the demand accrued from extreme events, but aging or overburdened infrastructure hinders access to distribution routes. Emergency Preparedness Models are being challenged to include Grocery Resilience as a core necessity similar to Water, Power, Shelter and Transportation. Cities are encouraged to identify distribution centers and evaluate their capability to meet the demand and identify any hindering effects to transportation routes. Gelhorn is a 0.7 mile 4-lane roadway that serves an industrial/commercial distribution area between IH610 and IH10. The pavement has severe cracking and potholes. There is a narrow 4ft sidewalks that is not continuous along the proposed limits and no ADA compliant crosswalks. The area serves a major grocery chain distribution center, Food Bank, and other commercial distributors. 28% of the traffic is from heavy trucks that serve the adjacent businesses. The road is also in poor condition and has had several maintenance repairs. Flooding occurs frequently during heavy storms causing disruption to business delivery and daily operations. Channel improvements have been identified by HCFCD to improve conveyance.

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

The proposed project would reconstruct the roadway with the existing 4-lanes, median turn lanes, and on-street buffered bicycle facility. The project would also include 6ft sidewalks, and ADA compliant ramps and crosswalks creating better pedestrian connectivity and improved accessibility to existing transit. The project will upgrade underground utilities. Improvement to the H-103-00-00 tributary by Harris County Flood Control District has been listed on the HCFCD bond package. Construction of the drainage and roadway improvements will improve the resilience of this grocery center distribution network and nearby industrial businesses.

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

Improved grocery distribution resilience. Improved freight connector between IH-610. and IH-10 Improved Intersection Operation through turn lanes at medians. Improved pedestrian safety, pedestrian mobility, and transit access with continuous 6ft sidewalks. Bicycle mobility will also be improved with added 5ft buffered bicycle facility and connections to adjacent bike corridors per the Houston Bike Plan. Improve pavement surface, and more durable pavement standard for heavy truck traffic and extended service life.

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

(Maintain) Infrastructure Resiliency

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

5713782

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.

Not Started

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?

01/21/2022

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

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

Yes

None of the Above

No

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

No

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 conducted a pre-engineering study on the roadway. See attached report. Support Letters: Kroger's, Houston Food Bank Channel Improvements have been identified on Harris County Flood Control District bond election for Channel H-103-00-00, see page 7 of bond list

9. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment (Optional)

Gellhorn_report_HEBletter.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)

Gelhorn_map1.pdf

Project Budget

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

project-budget-Gelhorn.xlsx

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

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

Roadway-Safety-Benefits-Gelhorn.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

10312018110038AM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

Roadway-Emissions-Gelhorn.xlsx

4. Additional BCA Documentation (Optional)

TIP Resolution 2018-0035.pdf

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 - Frequency of Hazard Impacting Roadway Usage

1. Was the roadway usage impacted by a hazard in the last five years?

Yes

A. If yes please explain what type of hazard impacted roadway usage, has the roadway been closed for traffic and how often (number of days in year the roadway was closed to traffic).

The roadway is in much need of repair due heavy truck traffic. Additional, heavy rainfalls in the area frequently flood the roadway causing impediments to logistics from the adjacent distribution centers. The combination of this roadway improvement project and Harris County Flood Control District bond project will improve grocery resilience and overall resilience of the region during storm events. Gelhorn is not listed on a designated freight system, but does connect to both IH-10 and IH-610 which are on the National Highway Freight Plan.

Planning Factors - Hazard Identified in the County Hazard Mitigation Plan

1. Was the Hazard Identified in the regional or local (County) Hazard Mitigation Plan?

Yes

A. If yes please provide documentation including links to the adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan.

BCA_doc_supportletter.zip

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 - Preventative Activities

1. Does the project include preventative activities to keep the hazard problems from worsening (e.g. floodplain regulation, open space preservation)?

Yes

A. Please provide appropriate documentation showing preventative activities strategies and planned to reduce the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme flooding, storm surges, or erosion.

HCFCD_bondmap.JPG

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