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Project Information

Loop 494 Widening Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 1:28:46 PM

Project Narrative

Loop 494 extends approximately 10 miles from northern Houston to New Caney, providing service to several communities in northern Harris County and southern Montgomery County. The existing Loop 494 facility consists of a two to four-lane divided/undivided roadway with 11-foot and 12-foot travel lanes, one or two in each direction, with outside turning lanes that vary from 0 to 10.5 feet. Outside shoulders vary from 0 to 4 feet. The facility is currently utilized as a main thoroughfare for residents of Kingwood, Porter, and New Caney. It also provides an alternate route to US 59, which is a highly utilized passenger vehicle and commercial corridor and a designated hurricane evacuation route. The future utilization of Loop 494 is expected to increase as a result of urban expansion and increased residential development in the vicinity of the project area. This project is needed due to rapid population growth and increased traffic in the area and in order to improve safety and facilitate mobility within Harris and Montgomery Counties. Large scale development of the Kingwood area has previously occurred and the proposed project’s primary purpose is to address existing traffic congestion problems, although future traffic conditions area are also being addressed by the proposed project. The need for this project is substantiated by the rapid population growth of the Houston area, specifically Harris and Montgomery Counties. Harris County has seen significant population growth in recent years. According to US Census Bureau’s population estimates, the total population of Harris County was estimated to be 4,336,853 in 2013, a 6% increase since the 2010 Census. The total population of Harris County grew by 20% between the 2000 (population: 3,400,578) and 2010 Census (population: 4,092,459). Montgomery County has experienced even more pronounced growth during this time. According to the US Census Bureau’s population estimates, the total population of Montgomery County was estimated to be 499,137 in 2013, an almost 10% increase since the 2010 Census. The total population of Montgomery County grew by 55% between the 2000 (population: 293,768) and 2010 Census (population: 455,746). Currently within the project limits, Loop 494 is utilized most heavily by local residents who reside in the vicinity of the project area. Traffic moves very slowly through the project limits during peak travel times when commuters utilize the roadways to access US 59, Kingwood Drive, and other local roadways associated with residential communities. Travelers along the roadway experience congestion related to current left and right turning movements. TxDOT proposes to upgrade Loop 494 to a four-lane, divided facility due to safety concerns and mobility needs. The objectives of the proposed Loop 494 improvements are to: improve transportation mobility; reduce congestion; effectively carry increased regional traffic; enhance safety; and implement highway improvements that have minimal adverse effects on the natural and social environment. The widening and reconstruction of the roadway would accommodate future traffic volumes and reduce congestion, improve left and right turning movements (operational efficiency), and upgrade the facility to meet current design and safety standards. The added capacity resulting from the addition of two travel lanes would reduce the number of vehicles per lane per mile of roadway, and the improved turning movements would lead to less interruptions in the flow of travel lanes, thus improving mobility. The proposed project would increase public safety and provide improved service to the greater Houston area, particularly during peak travel times and hurricane evacuation events. The proposed project would reconstruct and widen Loop 494 from the Montgomery County/Harris County Line to Sorters-McClellan Road to a 4 lane divided urban section with a raised center median. The new facility would consist of curb and gutter section with four 12-foot travel lanes, two in each direction. Both sides are developed along this section of Loop 494, so a sidewalk along both sides and a raised median varying from four to 40 feet in width is proposed for the project. Wheel-chair ramps would be included at sidewalk crossing locations. All improvements would be contained within the existing ROW. The facility would be designed for a 45 mph speed limit. Several conceptual alternatives were considered, including a no build alternative, using a systematic, interdisciplinary approach, which included input from the public, as well as federal, state, and local agencies. The improvements outlined in this application represent the preferred alternative. This project is one project of two to improve two contiguous roadway segments: Loop 494, from north of Kingwood Drive to the Harris/Montgomery County Line in Montgomery County (0177-14-010) and Loop 494, from the Harris/Montgomery County Line to Sorters-McClellan Road in Harris County (0177-15-003). It is in the best interest of these projects to let together in order to have the least impact on the travelling public, offer the most improvement in mobility and safety for the roadway, and benefit from construction efficiencies.

0177-15-003 - SL494_Corridor.pdf

Project Narrative

Yes

Scoping.docx

Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes Nationwide Permit 14 received 3/2/2011 05/01/2005 No Yes The adjustment and relocation of any utilities would be handled so that no substantial interruptions would take place while these adjustments are being made. The appropriate entity or utility company would be responsible for the adjustments and relocations, according to standard TxDOT procedures. No

TxDOT held a public meeting March 2007 and a public hearing in November 2010 as a part of the NEPA process. Additionally, this project is listed in the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan and DRAFT 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, and has gone through the public involvement efforts associated with those documents.

0177-15-003 - ECOS.pdf

An Environmental Assessment has been completed and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was received 1/30/2011. A Re-Evaluation is pending at this time. This project is being environmentally cleared with CSJ 0177-14-010. The 90% milestone for PS&E has been met for this project. No ROW is required for this project.

0177-15-003 - Schematic.pdf

Map/Location

0177-15-003 - GIS - SL 494.pdf

Project Budget

0177-15-003 - Budget - SL494.xlsx

No

No

Evalutation Questions - Major Investments

Benefit/Cost Methodology

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used

0177-15-003 - BCT - SL 494.pdf

Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Narrative Benefits

The proposed project would improve roadway safety by bringing Loop 494 up to date with current design standards and implementing operational improvements at turning locations. This project will add sidewalks to this section of Loop 494, thereby removing pedestrians from travel lanes. This project is not anticipated to create safety issues on roadways sections north and south of the proposed improvements, and thus should not force immediate transportation improvements on the remainder of the facility.

Loop 494 is a north-south arterial that connects multiple east-west arterials, including Kingwood Drive and Northpark Boulevard. It is one of the few north-south arterials in the area that makes connections with various east-west arterials. Additionally, the southern and northern portions of Loop 494 connect to IH 69/US-59 frontage roads. Loop 494 has been identified in the City of Houston’s Thoroughfare Plan as a “Major Thoroughfare” and Kingwood Drive has been designated in the plan as a “Principal Thoroughfare” in the vicinity of this project. The proposed improvements would make Loop 494 a more appealing alternative to IH 69/US 59 for local residents, thereby removing a portion of non-through traffic from IH 69/US 59. The added capacity resulting from the addition of two travel lanes would reduce the number of vehicles per lane per mile of roadway, thus improving mobility. The addition of turning improvements will improve congestion at intersections and entrances to various businesses along the roadway. The addition of sidewalks along this portion of Loop 494 expands the Houston region’s multimodal network and could contribute to the increased use of non-motorized transportation by local residents. ADT in the area has held steady over the past three years, with 2013 ADT being 10,406, 2012 ADT being 10,100, and 2011 ADT being 10,400. Truck traffic comprises 7% of the traffic along Loop 494. This project is not anticipated to substantially increase congestion along Loop 494.

Pavement condition scores for Loop 494 in rank as low as “Fair” in some areas. High traffic volumes and congestion have accelerated degradation of roadway surfaces. This project will enhance the state of good repair for Loop 494 through reconstruction of the existing facility. The roadway will be reconstructed with concrete, which will significantly extend the life of the pavement and push back the need for maintenance.

Houston’s strong economy has increasingly driven population growth and suburban development in Harris County and the surrounding five-county area, which includes Montgomery County. In order for the region to continue to remain economically competitive, the transportation system must function as a whole throughout the region. Loop 494 provides a valuable alternative route to IH 69/US-59 for the 80,000 plus residents that live in Kingwood and others in/around northern Harris/southern Montgomery County, and therefore can remove local traffic from the main highway. This improves flow on IH 69/US-59, allowing through traffic such as freight improved mobility while going in and out of the region.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s approach to natural and cultural resources is avoid, minimize, and mitigate negative impacts. The proposed project results in minimal to no effect on: socioeconomics (community impacts, environmental justices, limited English proficiency, low income populations), parklands, vegetation, archeological resources, farmlands, noise, hazardous materials, wildlife and protected species, or water quality. The proposed installation of sidewalks and curb ramps will allow residents in the vicinity increased access to opportunities for outdoor recreation, promote a healthier lifestyle, and provide an alternative to the motorized roadway.

0177-15-003 - BIKE - SL 494.pdf

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