2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Walnut Bend Roadway Reconstruction Primary Agency Westchase District Date Submitted 1/12/2015 12:43:47 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Walnut Bend Lane (Westheimer to Westpark) is a north-south urban collector that connects three major thoroughfares, Westheimer Road, Westpark Drive and Richmond Drive. Walnut Bend Lane is directly served by METRO’s 19 Wilcrest Crosstown & 2 Bellaire Routes. METRO bus service features 1,469 daily boardings within ½ mile radius of the proposed facility. Walnut Bend Lane is a two-way undivided roadway. Currently, the majority of the pavement on Walnut Bend Lane is in extremely poor condition. The roadway is in need of a complete reconstruction as the majority of it has been repaired over the years in a piecemeal fashion. The condition of the roadway would be considered to be "failing" using any current metric. Pedestrian infrastructure is also in poor condition, with sidewalks in some sections either damaged or completely missing. Work completed as part of a 2011 Westchase District Pedestrian-Transit Master Plan demonstrates that the pedestrian level-of-service on Walnut Bend is a "D" (A-F). Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The major purpose of this project is to improve the functional condition of the roadway and the pedestrian realm. Through doing so, the project will facilitate increased pedestrian use, increased transit-ridership (along a corridor that currently see upwards of 400 METRO boardings per day, and will continue to see METRO service after the re-imagined routes are deployed) enhance air quality, and reduce delays and congestion. The project will also serve to improve the state of good repair of the roadway. The grant request is for $7,307,894 in federal dollars to be matched by $1,826,973 in local dollars in order to do a complete reconstruction of the corridor. This grant request is for the reconstruction of both the back-of-curb and a complete roadway reconstruction. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max Reconstruct the back-of-curb environment and roadway along Walnut Bend Lane from Westheimer Road to Westpark within the existing right-of-way. Improvements along the 1.08 mile segment will consist of new and reconstructed roadway, curb, gutter, sidewalks, landscaping, ADA ramps, and pedestrian lighting. Replacement of water and storm water infrastructure will be necessary within the scope of this project. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max The only alternative to this project is the no-build alternative. The no build alternative will result in no improvement to the roadway and continued degradation of infrastructure along the corridor. The continued degradation will result in damage to motorists vehicles, a decreased, pedestrian level of service and the continued need to spend money in an inefficient manner to repair 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)(11) 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.). A utility evaluation is a scope item within our existing agreement with our consultant engineer team and will be completed as part of an effort to bring the project up to a 30% level of design, which is anticipated to be completed by July 2015. Utilities will be adjusted in order to mitigate any potential conflicts in the future. Adjustments will be funded by the Westchase District or through existing franchise agreement between the City of Houston and the private utility provider. 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. Westchase met with City of Houston Planning and Public Works representatives in early October. COH representatives have provided a letter of project support. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

COH Ltr of Support-2015 TIP Applicant projects.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. This project was featured in the Westchase 2011 Pedestrian-Transit Master Plan. This plan featured a robust public input process that included collaboration with residents, business owners, and community leaders. More recently, this project was discussed at several City of Houston City Council meetings and Westchase District board meetings as part of the passage of a wider “380” agreement with the City of Houston. Additionally, the District will be hosting a series of public meetings regarding the plans for Walnut Bend through the months of January, February, and March. Dates and locations for these meetings can be found on the Westchase District website. Public Involvement Attachment

Public Meeting_WCH.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. The back of curb portion fo this project had previously been protected under a c-list categorical exclusion (CE) awarded by the Federal Transit Administration. This CE has recently expired (9/2014). It is anticipated that since this project is a state of good repair project, and will occur entirely within the existing operational right-of-way, that a similar process through TxDOT ENV can be completed relatively easily. The Westchase District has recently contracted with Binkley & Barfield and Design Workshop in order to provide engineering and design services for this project. As part of this contract it is anticipated that 30% plans will be complete by FY16 and 100% plans will be complete by FY17 or earlier. The contract will be ready to be let by FY18, in accordance with the time-table of this Call for Projects. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

~WalnutBend_Readiness_Package.pdf

Map/Location

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

Walnut Bend Roadway.mpk

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.

Walnut Bend - 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)

State of Good Repair – Operating/Life-Cycle Cost savings

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

LifeCycleCBWalnutBend.xlsx

Walnut Bend BC Narrative.pdf

Regional Impact

No Walnut Bend Lane is not a NHS/Principle Arterial or a designated evacuation route. No Walnut Bend Lane is not a designated heavy cargo route. Yes The project corridor is served by METRO's 19 Wilcrest Crosstown and 2 Bellaire Routes. There are 16 bus stops within the project corridor with a combined daily boarding of 438. The proposed project will improve pedestrian access to transit routes along Walnut Bend, Westheimer, Westpark, and Richmond. Service along this corridor will continue as part of the METRO re-imagined network at 15-30 minute headways.

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes The reconstruction will feature innovative features in order to improve safety and improve access along the corridor. Because the project is still in the 30% design phase, specific improvements have yet to be identified. However, tools such as bollards, driveway consolidation, and enhanced crosswalk design may be utilized. Yes The pedestrian environment will feature sidewalks, ramps, and crosswalks built to City of Houston, AASHTO, and ADA Act standards. This means, at a minimum, 5' wide sidewalks. Where it is feasible, sidewalks will be constructed to a 6' minimum. No The project does not contain ITS or any other integrated technology component.

Community

Yes The project has been recommended in the Westheimer Pedestrian-Transit Master Plan, The Westheimer Long Range Plan, and the draft West Houston Mobility Study. http://westchasedistrict.com/pdf/Westchase.pdf

Yes The corridor has sufficient right-of-way according to the City of Houston Master Thoroughfare Plan. However, the reconstruction of the roadway is included within the City of Houston Re-Build Houston +5 Capital Improvement Program. The reconstruction of this roadway is necessary in order to maintain compliance with that plan.