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

West Bellfort Park & Ride Modification Project

2. Project County

Harris County

3. Facility/Street Name

West Bellfort Park & Ride

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

11415 Roark Road, Houston TX 77031

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

The need for this project is due to the growing transit demand at METRO’s West Bellfort Park & Ride. Commuters in southwest Harris County and Fort Bend County increasingly rely on this facility to access employment, primarily in downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center. The West Bellfort Park & Ride facility will also serve the Uptown Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service when it begins operations in 2019. To safely and efficiently meet the increasing demand for public transit, METRO needs to redesign the site to accommodate additional bus bays and parking spaces. The project also proposes to replace facilities that have reached the end of their useful life, such as the bus canopy. Finally, due to the facility being overcapacity on weekdays, cars park illegally throughout the lot, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and vehicles which will be addressed as part of this project’s scope.

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

The project includes: 1. Relocation of the bus platform and demolishing the existing platform to repurpose the area for customer parking. 2. Reconfiguration of the existing site to optimize the efficiency of the current layout of the facility. 3. Modification of the relocated bus bays from four (4) to six (6) bus bays to accommodate future service. 4. Expansion and relocation of existing storm water detention to accommodate the new paving of surface parking. 5. Bicycle and pedestrian bridge connection to the Keegan’s Bayou Trail from the site, as well as vehicular lane restriping to shift the existing northbound lane on Roark Road to reconfigure the egress onto the IH 69/US 59 frontage road for a better line of sight for drivers. 6. Safety enhancements for bicycles, pedestrians, and automobiles, as well as improvements to pedestrian sidewalks, crosswalks, bike parking and amenities, and wayfinding signage for bicycle and pedestrians. 7. Intersection improvements to West Bellfort Boulevard and Roark Road. 8. New and expanded passenger amenities, including seating, information kiosks, trash receptacles, etc. 9. Landscaping, new LED lighting, security cameras, emergency call boxes, and automated gates and fencing. 10. HOV/HOT services in both directions connecting to the existing HOV/HOT ramp. 11. Work with adjacent apartment complexes to provide access to the facility through pedestrian gates. 12. Incorporation of urban design elements to enhance patrons’ experience

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

METRO proposes to reconfigure the West Bellfort Park & Ride lot, within the existing footprint, by expanding surface parking, maximizing operational efficiency, and improving patrons’ access, safety, and security. West Bellfort will also serve the Uptown Transit Center with transfer opportunities to the new Uptown BRT line, currently under construction. The addition of the Uptown service will further increase demand for parking at the site. The purpose of this project is to provide sufficient parking at the site to accommodate current and near-term demand and replace facilities that have reached the end of their useful life. The construction would be strategically phased to allow for the continuation of normal bus operations and safe and efficient patron, vehicular and pedestrian circulation.

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

Yes

A. MPOIDs

16245 and 16246

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) Transit Facility State of Good Repair

11. Please provide the federal funding amount requested.

18661000

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?

12/31/2018

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

C-8

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?

Yes

A. What level of utility coordination is the project currently at?

30%

B. Have utility agreements been completed for the project?

No

C. What was/is the estimated completion date for utility relocation?

12/31/2019

D. Please upload documentation of coordination activities, if applicable. (Optional)

1d West Bellfort Design Coordination Notes.pdf

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

No

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

1a West Bellfort_ DEV TIMELINE.pdf

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

1. The Categorical Exclusion Report was submitted to FTA on September 17, 2018. 2. Awaiting response from FTA. 3. Preliminary design work is underway. 4. Coordination with the City of Houston Traffic Department, Precinct 1, and the Harris County Flood Control has been initiated. 5. METRO was awarded a Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities grant for the West Bellfort project. It is programmed in the 2019-2022 TIP with that funding. The project would be completed within METRO’s right-of-way and is anticipated to be environmentally clear by the end of calendar year 2018 or early in 2019. The additional funding requested by this application would be added to the existing FTA grant.

Map/Location

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

1c West Bellfort MAP.jpg

Project Budget

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

1b West Bellfort BUDGET.xlsx

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

No

Benefit/Cost Analysis

1. Safety Benefits

3 West Bellfort BCA Files.zip

2. Delay Benefits

1031201814343PM.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 attached BCA in #1 Safety Benefits 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 - Includes Facility Maintenance Plan/Strategies

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

Yes

A. Please provide adopted asset management plan.

2. West Bellfort Planning Factors_final - Asset Management 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.

METRO Business Plan and Budget, 2019-2022 TIP, 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/tip/2019-2022-tip.aspx & http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/default.aspx

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.

2. West Bellfort Planning Factors_final - Expected Ridership Growth.docx

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.

METRO provides local and express services at the West Bellfort Park & Ride: one local (8 West Bellfort), one crosstown (161 Wilcrest Express), four park and ride (262 Westwood, 265 West Bellfort, 269 Southwest Freeway, and 292 West Bellfort-Westwood / TMC), as well as METROLift. Fort Bend County Transportation operates one route (Fort Bend Express – Greenway Service). The facility is used by the regional van pools, with many of them originating outside of METRO’s service area.

Years Beyond Useful Life Benchmark

1. Please indicate the number of years the transit passenger facility exceeded beyond useful life.

1-5 years beyond useful life benchmark