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

Main Street Safe Access to Transit Enhancements

2. Project County

Harris County

3. Facility/Street Name

Fulton, North Main, Boundary, Brooks, and Freeman.

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

North Main Street from Burnett St to Henry St, and Morris St to Boundary St (east and west sides); Boundary Street from N. Main St. to Fulton St. (north and south sides); Fulton Street from Boundary St. to Hays St. (east and west sides);Brooks Street from N. Main St. to Freeman St. (north and south sides); Freeman Street from Brooks St. to Burnett St. (east side);Fulton St. from Rebecca St. to Berry Rd. (east side) and from Meadow Lea Dr. to Berry Rd. (west side).

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

Currently, the project area is supported by the North Line LRT but suffers from crime, vagrancy, and an aesthetic that generally feels unsafe, especially in the morning and evening. The lack of appropriate pedestrian-sensitive infrastructure, such as pedestrian lighting influences the perception of safety and deters the use of existing pedestrian and transit facilities. This perception harms ridership and limits pedestrian activity and economic development along this area of the LRT. The METRO Rail Red Line corridor comprised of North Main, Boundary, and Fulton Streets lackpedestrian lighting. These conditions make it difficult for residents and visitors to access the METRO rail and fixed-route bus services in the area.

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

The proposed project consists of the installation of pedestrian lighting, trash receptacles, and bike racks along the following streets: • North Main Street from Burnett St to Henry St, and Morris St to Boundary St (east and west sides); • Boundary Street from N. Main St. to Fulton St. (north and south sides); • Fulton Street from Boundary St. to Hays St. (east and west sides); • Brooks Street from N. Main St. to Freeman St. (north and south sides); • Freeman Street from Brooks St. to Burnett St. (east side); • Fulton St. from Rebecca St. to Berry Rd. (east side) and from Meadow Lea Dr. to Berry Rd. (west side). Note that the sidewalks along these corridors are mostly in good condition. These were updated by METRO with the implementation of the rail line. Lighting is present immediately adjacent to rail platforms, leaving most of the corridor in the dark for pedestrians and transit users.

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

The outcomes to be achieved by the project are multi-faceted: Improve Safety – There was one pedestrian related crash and two bike related crashes between 2015 and 2017 along the project corridor, with one resulting in a fatality. Two of the crashes took place during the evening, under dark conditions. Improving walkability of this segment will lead to a measurable reduction in crashes and thereby improve safety and reduce the economic costs of crashes along the corridor. A major safety aspect to be addressed by this project are the number of crime or violence-related incidents along this area of the LRT. The data that is available indicates that violent incidents happened on average about 62 times per year from 2014 through 2017. The proposed improvements are expected to significantly reduce these incidents. Studies have shown that lighting can improve the sense of security and aesthetic quality, therefore improving quality of life. Improvements to the back-of-curb will bring about the reinvestment of the corridor and elevate foot traffic throughout the entire corridor. Increased foot traffic would help further create a sense of place and safety. Improve connectivity, access, and mobility – Streetscape, sidewalk improvements and related amenities will facilitate connectivity between residential properties along the corridor, nearby schools (six schools within ¼ mile and 5 schools within ½ mile), and other services. Sidewalk facilities will promote connectivity within the regional transit network. There are currently 60 transit stops along 11 routes within a ¼ mile of the project corridor and 64 transit stops along 16 routes within ½ miles of the project corridor. Facilitate economic development – Improvements to the pedestrian environment can increase the property values of residential and commercial properties. Pedestrian improvements would result in $1,438,000 in tax benefits due to the increased property values over the 20-year planning horizon. This will help achieve transit-oriented development goals in this area.

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) Transit Passenger Facilities

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

921865

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

GNMD Local Funding Commitment.pdf.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?

09/30/2020

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

(c)(13) Federally-funded projects: (i) That receive less than $5,000,000 of Federal funds; or (ii) With a total estimated cost of not more than $30,000,000 and Federal funds comprising less than 15 percent of the total estimated project cost

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?

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?

Yes

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

GNMD_COH Concurrence.pdf

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

Main Street Safe Access to Transit Enhancements Timeline.xlsx

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

This project will involve no right-of-way acquisition and can be completed in an expeditious manner. The District desires to implement solar scale lighting which will avoid a significant amount of infrastructure disruption. The District will coordinate with the City of Houston and Houston METRO on the exact placement and design of the lighting to be installed. The District is aware that there is no specific category for a project of this type within the 2018 Call for Projects. However, the District feels that these types of improvements are critical to supporting existing pedestrian-transit infrastructure within the City of Houston. Also note that the Main Street Safe Access to Transit Enhancements project was originally titled "Main-Boundary-Fulton Safe Access to Transit "; therefore the reference to the latter title in some of the letters of support.

9. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment (Optional)

GNMD - Main Street TIP Readiness Materials.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)

Main Street Safe Access to Transit Enhancements MPK.zip

Project Budget

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

Main Street Safe Access to Transit Enhancements Budget.xlsx

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

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

GNS Transit Enhancements_Transit-Active-Transportation-Safety-Benefits.xlsx

2. Delay Benefits

10312018120915AM.xlsx

3. Emissions Benefits

GNS Transit Enhancements_Active-Transportation-Emissions-Benefits.xlsx

4. Additional BCA Documentation (Optional)

GNS Transit Supporting files.zip

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 - Includes Facility Maintenance Plan/Strategies

1. Does the proposed project application include Facility Maintenance strategies/plan?

Yes

A. Please provide adopted asset management plan.

Facility Maintenance Plan.docx

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.

The Houston METRO Transit Oriented Development Study, completed in 2015, recommends the enhancement of lighting to include pedestrian scale lighting along the Northline LRT corridor. The study is attached with the application materials. The Northside District has coordinated with Houston METRO regarding the installation of lighting along the locations identified in this TIP request. This coordination occurred via several teleconferences and meetings in early 2018.

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

a. Houston METRO Transit Oriented Development Study: https://www.ridemetro.org/MetroPDFs/AboutMETRO/CurrentProjects/TransitOrientedDevelopment/METRO_TOD_Report_North_Corridor_Final_022216.pdf

Planning Factors - Project is Part of a Transit Oriented Development

1. Is the transit passenger facility part of a transit oriented development?

Yes

Planning Factors - Provides Safe Ped/Bike Accommodations

1. Does the proposed project provide safe pedestrian and bicycle accommodations?

Yes

Planning Factors - Ridership Impact (Expected Ridership Growth)

1. Will the project provide ridership growth?

Yes

A. If Yes, please provide documentation showing expected ridership and potential growth, backed by supporting data.

Ridership Potential Growth.zip

Supported or Served by Multiple Transit Providers (Max 20 Points)

1. Is the facility supported by or used by multiple transit providers?

Yes

If yes, please explain which transit providers and services the facility is used by.

The facility improvements will primarily be used by Houston METRO. However, the Houston METRO LRT provides access to several activity centers, to include the Texas Medical Center and Downtown Houston. Access to the regional park and ride network can be accessed from these locations, to include The Woodlands Express, the Conroe Connection, and Fort Bend County Transit.