2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title SH 288 Truck Weigh Facility Primary Agency Brazoria County Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:00:17 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Brazoria County has been in a period of great expansion for the last two decades. However, up until recently, this expansion has been mainly in the north end of the County. However, in the last couple of years, the southern part of the County has seen tremendous growth due to petrochemical expansion, oil & gas production, and port expansions. Because of this growth, Angleton, Lake Jackson, Clute and Richwood have seen a residential market surge. There is a considerable amount of heavy traffic going to and coming from Port Freeport and the chemical plants along the SH 288 corridor. State troopers and County sheriff deputies are regularly checking these vehicles on the shoulders of the highway which creates a dangerous situation. Accidents have occurred resulting in injuries to law enforcement personnel. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max Construction of the truck weigh station will provide a safe location to inspect trucks for compliance with safety standards and stage trucks that are not road worthy. Not only will the facility provide a safe place for inspection but the removal of unsafe trucks from the highway has a cascading affect of increasing safety in the entire corridor. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The facility will be located in the TxDOT existing right-of-way which was obtained when TxDOT originally acquired the SH 288 right-of-way. The original planned use of the area proposed to be used by the weigh station is no longer needed. The proposed location is between FM 523 and SH 288 business. The improvements include a deceleration and an acceleration lanes, covered inspection areas, truck stacking areas, and a small office building. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max Alternatives include continuing the unsafe inspection practices that occur today if the facility is not constructed. Other sites along the corridor could be considered but additional right-of-way and more lengthy environmental clearances may be necessary.

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? (d)(5) Construction of new truck weigh stations 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. 30/06/2015 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.). Brazoria County will coordinate utility adjustments with the TxDOT District and Area offices. Procedures will follow TxDOT guidelines. Public utility owners (companies) legally share State right of way, so when major changes are made to roadways, they very likely affect utilities. Brazoria County will formally notify all affected utility owners of proposed work as early as possible and to coordinate utility adjustments with the utility owners. Typically, utility owners are responsible for moving their own facilities, including budgeting, locating existing lines, preparing plans, specifications and estimates, and letting contracts. Under some circumstances, Brazoria County may fund utility adjustments. Furthermore, utility adjustment plans may be made part of the project construction plans. When design of proposed underground features is approximately 60% complete, Brazoria County will send project construction plans to all utility owners so they may begin designing required adjustments. Continuous coordination and involvement of the utility owners throughout project development is essential to maintain the project schedule. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency? Yes Please describe the affect and supply evidence of support from the affected agency. This project is located in TxDOT right-of-way near Angleton. A letter of support of the project from TxDOT is attached. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

SH 288 weigh station letter of no objection.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. Brazoria County held a public workshop to review this project with the public and all members of Commissioners' Court on November 12, 2014. At the meeting the project was presented with opportunity for comments and questions from the Court and the public. Attached you will find a Court Order passed by Brazoria County Commissioners' Court supporting this project. Public Involvement Attachment

Court Order.PDF

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. A proposed conceptual layout has been prepared with assistance from the TxDOT Area office. Weigh station plans from Angelina and Walker Counties have been obtained. Interviews with the project leads in Angelina County have been conducted to provide insight on the "lessons learned" from the construction and operation of their facility. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Weigh Station Revised (1-7-15).pdf

Map/Location

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

TIP.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.

Weigh Station - 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.

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

Safety – Accident Cost Savings

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

SH 288 Truck Weigh - SafetyBenefits.xls

Safety Benefits Criteria.docx

Regional Impact

Designated evacuation route Inspection of trucks and the removal of unsafe trucks from SH 288 results in a safer corridor for all. Yes Inspection of trucks and the removal of unsafe trucks from SH 288 results in a safer corridor for all. Yes Inspection of trucks and the removal of unsafe trucks from SH 288 results in a safer corridor for all.

Design/Corridor Mobility

No This project will address safety inspection of trucks in the SH 288 corridor. No This project will address safety inspection of trucks in the SH 288 corridor. No This project will address safety inspection of trucks in the SH 288 corridor.

Community

No This project has not been included in a planning study.

No This project will address safety inspection of trucks in the SH 288 corridor.