2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title South Houston Sidewalks Primary Agency City of South Houston Date Submitted 1/12/2015 3:52:50 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max With a lack of sidewalks in the City of South Houston, residents are forced into narrow roadways with vehicular traffic in order to walk on a paved surface. These dangerous pedestrian conditions have been exacerbated with recent growth in the City’s population, school enrollment, and traffic. Consequently, the City has received numerous requests for sidewalks from citizens over the last several years. South Houston is a low income community, with 22 percent of its families having incomes below the poverty level, compared to 13 percent statewide and 12 percent in the Houston metropolitan area. The City’s families are less able to afford two vehicles. Many residents walk to and from retail stores, and many parents walk their children to and from school (often while pushing younger children in strollers). Further, a higher percentage of South Houston residents walk to work (5.1 percent) compared to the overall metropolitan area (1.5 percent). Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The South Houston sidewalks project will significantly reduce traffic danger to pedestrians along these routes. The project will connect proposed sidewalks with existing sidewalks and help provide a network of safer pedestrian routes to City facilities, including City Hall, the South Houston Branch Library, Avenue A Park, City Hall Park, City softball and baseball fields, as well as the South Houston Community Center, which houses social services such as senior nutrition and transportation programs, GED and ESL classes, Gulf Coast Community Services, Child Protective Services, and a food/clothing pantry. The sidewalks will also provide safer paths to local businesses and shopping, including the largest grocery stores, Mi Tienda/H-E-B and Fiesta Mart. In addition, the proposed sidewalks will provide pedestrian paths from neighborhoods to six public schools, including South Houston Elementary School, South Houston Intermediate School, Matthys Elementary School, Pearl Hall Elementary School, L.F. Smith Elementary School and South Houston High School. Providing safer routes to school is a community priority, since many of the City’s residents are young families. South Houston's median age is 28.6 years of age, compared to 33.6 for the state as a whole and 33.2 for the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. Almost 46 percent of the City's households are families with children under the age of 18, compared to 34 percent for the state and 36 percent for the metropolitan area. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The City of South Houston proposes to construct 5-foot wide concrete sidewalks along several sections of City-owned roadway, totaling 32,900 linear feet: Avenue G from Texas Avenue to Allen-Genoa 5th Street from Texas Avenue to Spencer Highway 14th Street from Avenue N to Avenue G El Paso Street from Richey Street to Spencer Highway Texas Avenue from Spencer Highway to Berry Bayou Austin Street from Nebraska Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue Washington Avenue from Main Street to Dallas Street Iowa Avenue from Austin Street to Dallas Street Minnesota Avenue from Austin Street to Dallas Street 9th Street from Avenue N to Spencer Highway Michigan Avenue from Austin Street to Dallas Street Georgia Avenue from Austin Street to Dallas Street Indiana Avenue from Austin Street to Dallas Street Allen-Genoa from Kolb Road to Avenue A All proposed work will be conducted on City right-of-way, so no acquisition is needed for the project. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max The only alternative to the proposed improvement that has been considered is no action.

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. No Please attach a completed scoping checklist or meeting summary.

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Categorical Exclusion (CE) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? (c)(3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and facilities 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. 03/01/2015 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.). No utility adjustments will be needed. 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. City council members have received numerous requests for sidewalk construction from citizens over the last several years, as traffic has increased on City roadways and conditions have become more dangerous for pedestrians. The City submitted the sidewalks project nomination to the TxDOT Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program Call in December 2012. Although the project was not funded, H-GAC offered support for the project and included it in a list of projects that were considered consistent with the goals and objectives of the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. In addition, public meetings were held on 10-23-12 and 11-13-12 to discuss the specific proposed sidewalk projects. Letters of support for the City's nomination were received from several area schools, community organizations, and residents: Gene Green, US Representative South Houston Chamber of Commerce South Houston Economic Development Corporation South Houston High School Matthys Elementary School Pearl Hall Elementary School Al Thiel, business owner and member of South Houston Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation Shirley Savell, member of South Houston Parks & Recreation Committee and Pasadena Independent School District School Crossing Guard Association Public Involvement Attachment

Project Public Input.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. Please see the attached request for application assistance, along with the transmittal letter and council resolution. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Submittal & App Assistance.pdf

Map/Location

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

Proposed South Houston Sidewalks.pdf

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.

SH Sidewalks Project Budget.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.

Screening Questions

Will the project design meet or exceed AASHTO or equivalent guidelines?
FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Design Flexibility Yes Please explain: AASHTO guidelines for pedestrian sidewalks require that projects follow ADA guidelines. ADA guidelines require sidewalks to be a minimum of 4 feet wide with a five foot square pad every 200 feet. The proposed sidewalks will exceed this guideline and will be 5 feet wide.

Design Standards

Yes AASHTO guidelines for pedestrian sidewalks require that projects follow ADA guidelines. ADA guidelines require sidewalks to be a minimum of 4 feet wide with a five foot square pad every 200 feet. The proposed sidewalks will exceed this guideline and will be 5 feet wide.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

No N/A

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The proposed sidewalks connect to existing sidewalks at 21 connection points. These connections will create a network of safer pedestrian routes to City facilities, schools, local businesses and shopping.

Transit Connections

Is within 0.25 miles of transit connection The sidewalk along El Paso Street from Richey Street to Spencer Highway will provide a pedestrian path from the City's center to its closest transit connection, the Richey Branch Metro stop.

Connections to Regional Destinations

Located outside of an activity center, but directly connects to one or more points of interest?

* Density thresholds for different types of activity centers are defined within the Livable Centers Benefits Calculator, which is available online at http://www.h-gac.com/livable-centers/tools.aspx. Project area is considered within a 1/2-mile radius of the project location.

The proposed sidewalks directly connect to City facilities, including City Hall, City Hall Park, City softball and baseball fields, as well as the South Houston Community Center, which houses social services such as senior nutrition and transportation programs, GED and ESL classes, Gulf Coast Community Services, Child Protective Services, and a food/clothing pantry. The sidewalks also provide direct connections to a US Post Office and the area's largest shopping center, which houses Mi Tienda/H-E-B and Fiesta Mart. Finally, they directly connect from neighborhoods to four public schools, including South Houston Elementary School, Matthys Elementary School, Pearl Hall Elementary School, and South Houston High School.

Pilot Projects

No N/A

Safety

Does proposed facility:

No Yes No No The proposed sidewalks directly connect from neighborhoods to four public schools, including South Houston Elementary School, Matthys Elementary School, Pearl Hall Elementary School, and South Houston High School.

Project will be awarded:
15 points if three or more of the aforementioned characteristics are met.
10 points if two of these characteristics are met.
5 points if one of these characteristics is met.

Existing Plans/Studies

No N/A

Funding Leverage

Neither N/A

Underserved Population Access

Is all or part of the proposed facility located within a Census Tract that has a higher proportion of the following populations than the regional average:
H-GAC to conduct analysis based on the GIS/map project location provided above

Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Although the H-GAC analysis is not complete, the City is expected to have a higher proportion of the checked characteristics above.

Project will be awarded:
3 points if one of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average
7 points if two of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average
10 points if three of the aforementioned indicators is above the regional average