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IH 45 South Widening Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 1:43:18 PM

Project Narrative

The need for the project is based on existing and anticipated congestion, safety, operations/state of good repair, and economic conditions of the area, including: • Demand exceeds capacity during both of the daily commute periods • Many of the critical IH 45 bridge crossings require replace or major reconstruction • Many section of IH 45 need major pavement maintenance • Improved operational efficiency and safety, • Correct roadway deficiencies, • Added capacity for project population and economic growth; • Improved mobility for hurricane evacuations due to IH 45’s designation as a hurricane evacuation route is a documented concern; • Roadway flooding contributes to reduced highway capacity and increased congestion • Current truck traffic is at four percent and expected to increase; • Facility is considered a freight bottleneck; • Improved connectivity is needed for major employment generators such as Galveston Island, NASA communities, and the nearby ports. IH 45 is the primary north-south corridor leading from Galveston Island to the Houston metropolitan area. IH 45 is on the national highway system and is functionally classified as 1: Interstate. It is a designated hurricane evacuation route and, in general, provides the primary exit from Galveston Island. The need for the project is that demand exceeds capacity during the daily commute periods, bridge crossings require replacement of major reconstruction, many sections need major pavement maintenance or overlay construction, improvements are needed at various locations due to non-standard design configurations, transit services are needed, hurricane evacuation is needed, roadway flooding issues need to be addressed, and improvements needed to provide better access to major employment generators. The purpose of this project is to support the goals of the Interstate system, which is to provide safe and efficient transportation for the movement of persons and goods. It is in the national interest to maintain the Interstate System and to provide the highest level of service in terms of mobility and safety and to maintain a quality driving surface. The purpose of the project is to reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility, correct design deficiencies, and reduce hurricane evacuation times, while protecting the human environment. The desired design benefits of the project include: Reduced congestion/improved mobility Reduce potential for flooding Improved travel options and improved access to alternative modes of transportation Avoid, minimize, mitigate potential environmental and community impacts In general, the improvements will widen IH 45 to 10 main lanes, add two high occupancy vehicle lanes, and two, 3-lane frontage roads. Within this section (South of NASA Road 1 to FM 518), the initial access to the HOV lane would be provided. Northbound AM traffic would be provided access to the reversible HOV lane just south of NASA Road 1. Southbound PM traffic in the reversible HOV lane would merge with the proposed five-lane section and continue southward. This segment of the Build Alternative is approximately 2.0 mi in length. Unlike the continuance of the southbound five-mainlane section to the south, four northbound mainlanes are proposed from FM 518 approaching to the north until the location of two lane entrance ramp just north of FM 518 where the five proposed mainlanes would begin and continue onward to the north. Just south of the proposed NASA 1 Bypass interchange, Forest Park Cemetery is located along approximately 0.6 mi of the southbound frontage road. In this area, the IH 45 alignment is shifted to the east to avoid impacting the cemetery. The only significant water crossing within the project corridor is located within this segment. Clear Creek crosses the existing IH 45 South facility between NASA Road 1 and FM 518 from the west and flows to the east. Currently the existing mainlanes span across Clear Creek utilizing a 451.5 ft bridge. The existing frontage roads each span Clear Creek on individual 450 ft bridges. Due to the satisfactory condition of the existing mainlane bridge, it is anticipated at this time that these bridges can be widened versus replacement to accommodate the proposed recommendations. The frontage road bridges would be replaced with wider bridges of similar length. The proposed mainlane and frontage road bridges would be 158ft and 58.5 ft wide, respectively. More than 30 alternatives were investigated for the IH 45 roadway improvements as part of the MIS. The investigation was based on an analysis of the existing traffic conditions, forecasts of future travel demand, and projected population growth. 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 no-build alternative was also considered. Both design and environmental constraints were evaluated in determining the preferred alignment. The improvements outlined in this application represent the preferred alternative. The No-Build Alternative would not improve the roadway. Only routine maintenance would occur within this area, therefore, congestion would continue and safety problems may increase and evacuation would be compromised. The Environmental Assessment for this segment of IH 45 South widening concerns the portion from BW 8 to FM 518. The northernmost segments (North of BW 8 to South of NASA 1 Bypass) have already let to construction. The two CSJs in this Call for Projects, 0500-03-107 and 0500-04-117, are the remainder of the staging of construction, and MUST LET TOGETHER.

IH45S_Corridor.pdf

Project Narrative

Yes

Scoping.docx

Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes Individual Permit is in progress. Can be acquired by the time the project is ready for letting. 08/01/2006 Yes 3 01/03/2017 No Project is on an interstate. Utility adjustments will be by provider, with TxDOT reimbursement. No

A MIS was conducted for this corridor. The MIS team included representatives from TxDOT, HGAC, METRO, FHWA, FTA, TNRCC (TCEQ), as well as Harris and Galveston Counties. MIS Public Meeting - April 28, 29, and 30, 1998. These meetings gave the public the opportunity to provide input about transportation problems and needs within the IH 45 South Corridor. Public comments from this meeting helped the MIS team establish its corridor goals and objectives. MIS Public Meeting - September 15 and 16, 1998. Public input at these meetings was used to help in the development of six viable alternatives for improving the corridor. MIS Public Meeting - March 23 and 24, 1999. These meetings gave the public an opportunity to comment on the six viable alternatives, which emerged from the MIS. This public input was used to help to select the preferred alternative. MIS Public Meeting - June 22 and 23, 1999. The public commented on the recommended preferred alternative of the MIS. Public input from the forth series of public meetings was used in finalizing plans for the corridor. Public Meeting - December 11, 2002, to present the proposed action within the project limits to be discussed in this EA. Public Meeting on May 19, 2005, Public Hearing on October 27, 2009.

0500-03-107 - ECOS - approved IH 45 S.pdf

The EA is complete and FONSI was received on 8/2010. A re-evaluation is in progress. PS&E and ROW are at 30%.

0500-03-107 - Schematic - IH 45 S.pdf

Map/Location

0500-03-107 - GIS - IH 45 S from S of NASA 1 Bypass.jpg

Project Budget

0500-03-107 Budget - IH45.xlsx

No

No

Evalutation Questions - Major Investments

Benefit/Cost Methodology

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

0500-03-107 - BCT- IH 45 S.pdf

Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Narrative Benefits

The lack of hurricane and other evacuation options between Galveston Island and the mainland is a documented safety concern that needs to be addressed. Also, currently, roadway flooding along IH 45 contributes to reduced highway capacity and increased levels of congestion. Many of the critical IH 45 bridge crossings require replacement or major reconstruction. Many sections of IH 45 need major pavement maintenance or overlay reconstruction. Improvements are needed at various locations throughout the IH 45 corridor due to non-standard design configurations.

TxDOT is proposing roadway improvements to existing IH 45 to improve the operational efficiency and safety of the facility, a designated hurricane evacuation route. Existing IH 45 is generally a north/south facility that connects many small south Texas coastal communities to a major metropolitan area. The existing facility would generally be widened to 10 main lanes, with two high occupancy vehicle lanes, and two, 3-lane frontage road. This is necessary because current capacity is not sufficient to meet the roadway and safety standards required for a hurricane evacuation route and also will not accommodate future growth and commerce. While Galveston County’s population declined after Hurricane Rita, the area continues to be bolstered by a strong economy and a growing metropolitan area. Its proximity to Houston makes it a suburban county from which many residents commute to jobs in Houston and Harris County.

IH 45 south is a designated hurricane evacuation route and serves as the primary north-south route between Galveston Island and the metropolitan area. The proposed improvements are intended to improve the capacity and efficiency of the roadway for daily commuters and for use as a hurricane evacuation route. Some bridges along IH 45 and various port access roads do not meet truck clearance requirements; some bridges have inadequate clearances for marine needs, particularly bridges that cross navigable channels such as Clear Creek. Growth in port activities will contribute to the need to improve freight movement to and from the ports of Galveston and Texas City and within freight corridors in the IH 45 study area. Many sections of IH 45 need major pavement maintenance or overlay reconstruction. Improvements are needed at various locations throughout the IH 45 corridor due to non-standard design configurations.

A number of attractions, businesses and events are important to the economy of the corridor and the improvements are anticipated to provide adequate accessibility. There is a need to improve access to major employment generators such as Galveston Island, NASA communities, and nearby ports, as well as the recreational and scenic resources within the IH 45 corridor. Improve ground access for the Ellington and Galveston Island Airports while maintaining adequate vertical clearances for landing aircraft. With IH 45 noted as a freight bottleneck, growth in port activities will contribute to the need to improve freight movement to and from the ports of Galveston and Texas City and within freight corridors in the IH 45 study area.

The Department’s modus operandi related to natural and cultural resources is: avoid, minimize, mitigate. This project/preferred alternative is not anticipated to result in unmitigated negative affects to the natural, cultural, or human environment. The preferred alternative would have minimal impact on noise, air, and water quality. The preferred alternative represents an optimal gain in roadway efficiency, LOS, and safety and minimizes construction costs and environmental impacts. The No Build scenario will, however, have a negative impact on the community as traffic will increase, causing congestion, and a general deterioration of mobility and pavement conditions. In addition, hurricane evacuation will be impaired because of facility constraints. In addition, law enforcement and emergency services would have a more efficient facility with which to perform their duties and freight will move more efficiently in/out of the Port. The improvements will also service several environmental justice areas include: low income, Female Head of Household, no auto households, and limited education. Easing congestion would reduce adverse impacts to air quality in our nonattainment area. Improvements to this corridor will assist the many visitors to the area’s cultural and natural resources, including Galveston Island, NASA, Ellington Airport, and other cultural, recreational and scenic destinations along the upper Gulf Coast. Easing congestion in this corridor will reduce impacts on air quality in our non-attainment area.

0500-03-107 - BIKE- IH 45 S from S of NASA 1 Bypass.jpg

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