2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title CR 288 Roadway Improvements Primary Agency Brazoria County Date Submitted 1/12/2015 3:58:23 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. CR 288 is a roadway that connects the City of Angleton on the north end to the City of Lake Jackson/Clute/Richwood on the south end. CR 288 is currently a 2 lane road with little to no shoulder. Traffic is regularly slowed or stopped due to traffic trying to turn. Further, this area has dense residential through sections and therefore pedestrians utilize the roadway pavement as the only other option is the roadside ditches. Cars routinely need to slow down and go around pedestrians which includes encroaching into the opposite direction of travel. Heavy loads regularly use this road as there is a considerable business community along the roadway as goods move between Lake Jackson and Angleton. Therefore, for both safety and to relieve congestion, Brazoria County is seeking funding to improve the roadway as well as add pedestrian facilities where needed. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max This project will relieve congestion of traffic moving between Angleton and the Lake Jackson/Clute/Richwood area which includes a considerable amount of truck traffic. It will also improve safety at intersection where turning movements are difficult due to a lessen gap between oncoming traffic and the stopped turning traffic impedes cars approaching behind as no shoulder or turns lanes exist today. Pedestrian traffic will be provided a safer route as they currently use the roadway to travel in areas where dense residential exist. This project is highly important to relieve congestion and improve the safety of the vehicular traffic and the pedestrians utilizing the existing roadway. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The project consist of improvements at six various intersection/residential areas along CR 288 from the Angleton City Limits south to the Lake Jackson City Limits. Two intersection are "T" intersections. These intersections are CR 288 at CR 687 and CR 288 at CR 706. At these intersections, turn lanes would facilitate turning movements on CR 288. The proposed section for these "T" intersections is a four lane road with a dedicated right turn lane as well as a dedicated left turn lane wishing to turn onto CR 687 or CR 706 from CR 288. CR 288 at CR 219 is a 4 way intersection with proposed turn lanes to facilitate turning movements on CR 288. The section at this intersection would be a three lane roadway in which the center lane would be a dedicated left to turn onto CR 219 from CR 288. CR 288 at CR 199 & Beechnut is an offset intersection in which the County proposes re-aligning the CR 199 to line up with Beechnut and then provide turn lanes to facilitate turning movements on CR 288. Once the intersection is re-aligned, the section on CR 288 would be a three lane with the center lane being a dedicated left turn lane. The other locations are areas with dense residential development. One being the section from CR 454 to Cossin Road and the other being the section near the Oakridge residential development. Through these areas the County proposes a continuous center turn lane to facilitate turning movements from CR 288. Further, sidewalks on the east side of the roadway should be added to safely allow pedestrian traffic along these two residential areas. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max There are six areas to be improved within this project; four intersections and two longer sections of road with residential along the east side. Each area to be improved is a stand alone project that can be evaluated on specific needs. Alternatives for the two "T" Intersections could be not to include the dedicated right turn lane and only have a three lane section through this area. On the offset intersection at CR 199 and Beechnut, the alternative could be to not realign the intersection. Regarding the sidewalks; the proposal has the sidewalks near the edge of the existing right-of-way, but they could be moved to the edge of the roadway with a curb added to protect the pedestrians from the vehicle traffic. And finally, an alterative for this project is to perform the project in phases such as having the southern section below CR 220 constructed first and then construct the section to the north of CR 220 at a later date. This alternative would focus highly on the residential areas along the roadway.

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)(22) Projects that would take place entirely within the existing operational ROW 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. 01/07/2015 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 County 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? 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. 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 our projects in which CR 288 is one of those projects. Public Involvement Attachment

Court Order.PDF

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. This is a relatively new issue that was raised and therefore only initial scoping research has been performed internally. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Map/Location

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

CR288.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.

Project Budget - CR 288.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.

Safety Benefits - CR 288.xls

Safety Benefits Criteria.docx

Regional Impact

No CR 288 is neither a NHS/Principal Arterial or a designated evacuation route. Yes Heavy truck traffic regularly uses this roadway as there is a considerable amount of commercial properties along the roadway. No CR 288 is not used by any transit services.

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes The main purpose of this project is to improve the roadway with regards to the safety of the travelling public. Therefore, this project does apply significant safety management techniques. Yes Another main purpose of this project is to provide sidewalks along sections of the roadway which have heavy residential. Currently because this is a two lane open ditch roadway, pedestrian traffic either has to walk along the ditch or on the pavement. With little to no shoulder, this creates a dangerous situation. This project does include pedestrian facilities that will meet AASHTO standards. No This project does not have any significant ITS or other integrated technology component.

Community

No CR 288 is a recent important issue that has arisen and therefore has not be studied.

No This project is a major connector that is not part of our Thoroughfare Plan but does connect the City of Angleton to the Lake Jackson/Clute/Richwood area.