2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title SH 6 Access Management Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 1:41:48 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max The existing segment of SH 6 is a six-lane rural roadway with a continuous left-turn lane and shoulders. Existing volumes are expected to nearly double by the year 2038. The high speeds and use of the continuous two-way, left turn lane has led to numerous crashes. The need to accommodate increasing traffic demand along SH 6 is supported by the analyses presented in the H-GAC’s State Highway 6 South Corridor Access Management Plan (2011). Several communities rely on SH 6 as their main retail and commercial corridor. SH 6 also serves as an evacuation route for these communities. An increase in traffic volumes and vehicle crashes has resulted over the past decade due, in part, to development trends in areas south of Houston. Crashes at the SH 288 intersection are some of the highest in the corridor. Traffic on the existing SH 6 facility is expected to increase as a result of anticipated population and traffic growth. This will continue to cause conflicting movements thus increasing crashes. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The proposed roadway would implement access management in order to improvement mobility and reduce crashes; but it would also help the State and local jurisdictions to get out ahead of development and to better plan for curb cuts and turning bays as development ensues. This is one of the first projects that will actually allow the State to determine (or ‘plan’ for) needs based on published Access Management guidelines instead trying to retrofit access management after development has occurred and congestion an crashes are excessive mandating more costly improvements. The improvements will also address key areas along the corridor that are highly congested and are seeing higher than statewide average crashes. The need for continuity in access management treatments is paramount. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed improvements in this application are being implemented on SH 6 from just west of FM 521 all the way to the Galveston County Line. We are submitting one application for the entire corridor; however, we have used the limits that match only the Controlling CSJ - 0192-02-050 (sub-CSJs are: 0192-01-097 and 0192-03-018). The proposed improvements and project benefits identified in this application can be applied to the entire corridor (west of FM 521 to Galveston County Line) and the project budget submitted is for the entire length of the project corridor, not simple the limits within the CCSJ. However, for purposes of writing in other areas of the application, we are writing to the CSJ. We have provided the draft title sheet to demonstrate the entirety of the project. The proposed project would implement access management treatments along SH 6 including the addition of a raised median where the continuous two-way left turn lane exists providing appropriate median opening and channelized left turn queue lanes. Improvements are also proposed for several intersections. These intersection improvements would generally consist of additional turn lanes, traffic signal improvements, and ADA ramps (as needed). Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max Access management is a tool box of treatments to systematically plan how vehicular and other transportation moves and progresses through a corridor. A variety of access management alternatives were considered as part of the study and were phased as short-, medium-, and long-range implementation based on projected growth and development. This phase of the project is the implementation of short-range improvements that do not require ROW or local jurisdiction coordination. Improvements will generally be performed solely within the State’s ROW.

Project Narrative

Has a scoping meeting been conducted with TxDOT or FTA?
Note: A brief scoping meeting will be scheduled during the application review period for any “Major Investment” project which has not already had one. Yes Please attach a completed scoping checklist or meeting summary.

Scoping.docx

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Categorical Exclusion (CE) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? (c)(23) Federally funded projects that receive less than $5 million of federal funding Will any permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, railroad, etc. be required before the project can be constructed? No Please describe the permits needed and the timeline anticipated to acquire them.
1000 characters max Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 10/01/2014 Will additional property, or interest in property (easement), be required to implement the project? No How many parcels or portions thereof remain to be acquired? Please provide an estimated date for the completion of property acquisition necessary for construction activities to begin. Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? No Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). This is to be determined based on the evaluation in progress. If utilities are identified for adjustment, we do not anticipate significant problems or impacts to the project timeline for adjustment. Utility relocations will be handled by the utility companies unless otherwise identified, utility relocations will be paid for by TxDOT. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency? No Please describe the affect and supply evidence of support from the affected agency. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. A SH 6 Access Management Study steering committee was formed composed of representatives from: the Cities of Alvin, Santa Fe, Manvel, and Hitchcock, and the Counties of Galveston and Brazoria, as well as TxDOT and BNSF Railroad. The purpose of the committee was to guide the technical aspects of the study. Three rounds of public meetings were held. Public Meeting #1 – 9/22/2009 & 9/24/2009 – introduced the public to the project and solicited feedback on problem areas and potential solutions. Public Meeting #2 – 3/23/10 & 3/25/10 – presented proposed improvements and solicited feedback. Public Meeting #3 – 9/7/10 & 9/9/10 – presented the final recommendations and solicited feedback. All meeting notices were published in the legal section of the Houston Chronicle, the were posted on HGAC’s website, and 6,000 adjacent properties received a meeting notice in both Spanish and English. E-notices were also provided to local jurisdictions, which were subsequently distributed to their constituencies. In addition, Dynamic Message Signs were placed in the corridor on SH 288 and on IH 45 announcing the meetings. As part of the environmental clearance process, two additional meetings will be held. The potential for controversy does exist with the scope of this project. The State is normally able to work with local jurisdictions and interested parties to resolve concerns. Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. This project was previously submitted for funding. The State wanted to extend the project limits and perform more of the recommended work from the HGAC study; therefore, we are resubmitting the project for consideration. This budget represents the total estimated cost for the project, not a delta from the previously selected project. It is anticipated that upon selection of this project, the previously-selected project would be canceled. Environmental is 30 percent complete and actively on-going, PS&E is 30 percent complete and actively on-going, right-of-way is under investigation and not expected to be significant. Utilities, if adjustments are needed, are not anticipated to hold up the project. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

0192-02-050 - Title Sheet - SH 6.pdf

Map/Location

Please provide a clear and concise GIS coverage or PDF map of the proposed project.
(*.mpk ESRI Map Package file preferred)

0192-02-050 - GIS - Fort Bend CL to BS35-C.jpg

Project Budget

Please attach a completed project budget worksheet.
Templates are available on the 2015 TIP Call Website
Uploaded files are limited to Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, PDFs, GIS files, and image files.
File size cannot exceed 30MB.

0192-02-050 Budget - SH6 (3)010515.xlsx

Is this application for a transit project, ITS project, or other project that would have a significant ongoing operating/maintenance cost? No Please attach a completed 5-year annual operating budget worksheet.
Templates are available on the 2015 TIP Call Website
Uploaded files are limited to Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, PDFs, GIS files, and image files.
File size cannot exceed 30MB.

Are transportation development credits being requested? No Please attach a completed TDC application.
Templates are available on the 2015 TIP Call Website
Uploaded files are limited to Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, PDFs, GIS files, and image files.
File size cannot exceed 30MB.

Benefit /Cost Methodology - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)

Safety – Accident Cost Savings

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and appropriate narrative of analysis used.

0192-02-050 - BCT - SH 6 from FM 521.pdf

Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Regional Impact

NHS/Principal Arterial Yes, SH 6 is on the National Highway System and is functionally classified as Principle Arterial. SH 6 is a designated hurricane evacuation route. Yes This section of SH 6 carries seven percent truck traffic and is considered a freight bottleneck. No No, the area is largely rural in nature and land use varies from commercial to residential.

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes Yes, this project is specifically implementation of access management based on the recommendation from a previous study. Yes Bicycles are already accommodated and will continue to be accommodated through the outside shoulders. These accommodations will tie into proposed and existing bike facilities on the extreme ends of the project at/around SH 288 and IH 45. Existing sidewalks do not exist due to the sporadic development. No No, but signals will be upgraded to coordinate with the proposed improvements thereby ensuring progression.

Community

Yes SH 6 Access Management Study South http://www.h-gac.com/taq/access-management/docs/SH6S_Final_Report.pdf

0192-02-050 - Title Sheet - SH 6.pdf

Yes Yes, SH 6 is on the National Highway System and is also included in the Galveston County Major Thoroughfare Plan and the Brazoria County Thoroughfare Plan.