Eco-Corridor Strategic Planning

Resiliency assesses roadways on regional importance and vulnerability to stormwater.

Possible values when assessing resiliency: Low, Moderate, High

Questions to consider when assessing Resiliency Assessment:

• How critical is this corridor for the region? 
• ​How vulnerable is this corridor to flooding?

H-GAC's Regional Resilience Tool can be helpful when assessing resiliency.

Activity Population Density assesses the active population moving through the region during a given day.

Possible values when assessing activity population density: Low, Moderate, High

Questions to consider when assessing Activity Population Density:

• Is this corridor running through an area of high population density?

• Is this corridor running through an area of high economic opportunity?

H-GAC's Activity-Connectivity Explorer web app can be useful for reviewing Activity Population Density.

A critical facilities assessment examines the overall number of regionally critical facilities like police, fire, hospital, etc., on a given corridor. (For the purpose of this assessment, a 100-foot buffer was used along the corridor)  

Possible values when assessing Critical Facilities:

• Exact number of facilities

• What regionally important facilities are located on the corridor?

H-GAC's Ecologoical GIS Tool can be useful for reviewing Critical Facilities.

Vulnerable Populations displays the concentration of population that has been historically disadvantaged throughout the region.

Possible values when assessing Vulnerable Populations: Low, Moderate, High

Question to consider when assessing Vulnerable Populations:

• What percent of vulnerable population live along the corridor?

H-GAC's Ecological GIS Tool can be useful for reviewing Vulnerable populations.

Environmental Justice looks at the overall number of environmental hazards along a corridor (pipelines, gas stations, brownfields, etc.) (For the purpose of this assessment a 100-foot buffer was used along the corridor to assess environmental justice)  

Possible values when assessing Envrionmental Justice: Exact Number

Question to consider when assessing Environmental Justice:

• What environmental issues affect the corridor?

H-GAC's Ecological GIS Tool can be useful when considering Environmental Justice.

An urban heat island is an urbanized area that experiences higher temperatures than outlying areas due to human activities. Heat density is recorded throughout the Houston-Galveston region.  

Possible values when assessing the Urban Heat Island: Low (94.15 Degrees and Lower), Moderate (94.59 to 94.98 Degrees), High (94.99 Degrees and Higher) 

Question to consider when assessing the Urban Heat Island:

• How does heat affect the corridor?

The Heat Watch Houston and Harris County web app can be useful when considering urban heat.

A bikeways assessment evaluates the designated areas along roadways for bikes.

Possible values when assessing Bikeways: Yes, No

Question to consider when considering Bikeways:

• Are there bike lanes, shared use paths or bike markings along the corridor?

H-GAC's Activity-Connectivity Explorer web app can be useful when reviewing bikeways.

The region's freight network should be considered when redesigning a corridor, especially if that is commonly by freight vehicles to move goods throughout the region.

Possible values when assessing Freight Networks: Out Region Trips, Regional Trips, Local Trips

Question to consider when assessing the Freight Network:

• Is this corridor a freight corridor?

A map of the Critical Region Freight Corridors can be useful when considering the Freight Network.

Planners should consider if and where sidewalks are located near and along the corridor as well as their density to other sidewalks.

Possible values when assessing Sidewalk Density: Low (0 to .4), Moderate (.5-.6), High (.7 to 1)

Question to consider when assessing Sidewalk Density:

• Are there sidewalks or paths along the corridor?

H-GAC's Activity-Connectivity Explorer web app can be useful when reviewing sidewalk density.

A transit facilities assessment considers the location of bus stops, park and ride facilities, light rail stops, and/or transit centers located near or along the corridor.

Possible values when assessing Transit Facilities: Yes, No

Question to consider when assessing Transit Facilities:

• Is local or regional transit available on this corridor?

H-GAC's Activity-Connectivity Explorer web app can be useful when reviewing transit facilities.