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Kingwood Pedestrian/Bicycle Connections Houston Parks and Recreation Department 1/12/2015 2:32:51 PMProject Narrative
There is currently no safe, convenient route for bicycle commuters east of I69/Hwy 59 to access the Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge (ped/bike bridge) which currently allows passage over the west fork of the San Jacinto River and under Hwy. 59. This project, along with a new segment of trail under design by Precinct 4, will allow access to the Townsen Park and Ride. The project will also provide safe passage over a Union Pacific railroad track. The proposed connection would serve the residential neighborhoods south of Kingwood Drive and west of Woodland Hills Drive, such as Trailwood Village and Forest Cove, residents that are too far away to be conveniently served by Kingwood Park and Ride. Allowing safe, convenient access across the I69/Hwy 59 barrier also provides access to miles of existing and planned shared-use path along Spring Creek to Spring Creek Park, approximately 35 miles. The Kingwood Pedestrian/Bicycle Connection will provide a safe and convenient route for bicycles and pedestrians separated from vehicular traffic by a landscaped area. In coordination with adjacent Precinct 4 ped/bike trail projects, this project will provide Kingwood residents east/west access across the Hwy. 59/I 69 barrier connecting residential areas, the Townsen Park and Ride, several parks, schools, and the Kingwood Greenbelt. The project will also provide safe access across a Union Pacific railroad track. Once partner project trails are complete, residents and commuters in Kingwood to the east of Hwy. 59 will have access to the Townsen Park and Ride and several destinations to the west including Jesse Jones Park and the existing Spring Creek Greenway. Future connections could provide access to Deerbrook Mall 2,500 feet south of Townsen Park & Ride. The immediate Kingwood population is 65,000, with 150,000 within a 10-mile radius of Kingwood. Surrounding the project area is primarily single family residential and townhomes. The completed project will connect to the Kingwood Greenbelt, a 75+ mile greenbelt trail system which winds throughout the Kingwood community and provides safe access to schools, parks and shopping without having to cross major roads. The project proposes to build 15,000 linear feet of 10 foot wide concrete trail, separated from vehicular traffic by a landscape area, along Hamblen Road from Woodland Hills Drive (which connects to the Kingwood Greenbelt system) to Hwy 59. Between Woodland Hills Drive and Riverbend Drive, the trail will follow the undeveloped city street ROW. Beginning at Riverbend Drive, the trail will be on the north side of Hamblen Road to Forest Cove where it will switch to the south side at the 4-way stop. The trail will continue on the south side of Hamblen Rd. until it meets Hamblin Rd. West where the path will turn south with Hamblin Rd. West until it meets Hwy. 59. At 59 the proposed trail connects to existing ped/bike trail and over the west fork of the San Jacinto River on the Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge (ped/bike bridge) and under Hwy. 59 to provide east/west access. At this point, the existing trail will connect with a 2-mile Precinct 4 trail (at 90 % design) which will connect to Jesse Jones Park, and existing trails that extend approximately another 8 mi to John Pundt Park. Another segment of the Precinct 4 trail (at 30% design) will extend down to the Townsen Park and Ride. No alternatives have been considered or evaluated.Project Narrative
No Categorical Exclusion (CE) (c)(3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and facilities Yes Union Pacific - 3 Months TxDOT- 5 Months COH - 1 Month 07/01/2016 No No Approvals from the utility providers will be necessary to determine that construction has no adverse affects on their assets. Any adjustments will be included in project budget and added to the project match coming from bond funds. Special consideration will be taken with Union Pacific to determine the best course in crossing the railroad tracks between Laurel Springs Ln and Hamblen Rd. West. No The project is part of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project which was supported by the citizen's of Houston in the November 2012 bond election. Houston voters overwhelmingly approved a major bond referendum providing $100 million to Bayou Greenways 2020. The bond passed with 68% of the votes – the most positive referendum in the city’s history. A CIP meeting was held in the council district in February of 2014 to get public input on all matters. City of Houston is currently surveying communities regarding the Parks Master Plan.Kingwood Connection- Transmittal ltr, Support ltr.pdf
Partner connections trails are underway, including Precinct 4's 2-mile trail (at 90 % design) which will connect to Jesse Jones Park, and the segment that will extend down to the Townsen Park and Ride is at 30% design. The project is part of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project and is shown on Bayou Greenway conceptual drawings completed in 2013.Kingwood Transmittal Letter, Letter of Support and West San Jac plan.pdf
Map/Location
Screening Questions
Yes The project will build a shared-use concrete path adjacent to a roadway and separated from roadway by a landscape area. Trail is a predominately straight path with limited curves and no hills. Project will fulfill the standard of at least 10 feet wide for bicyclists. Project design will follow AASHTO guidelines for pedestrian and bicycle facilities and AASHTO and UPRR requirements will be followed for Ped/Bike crossings of the railroad tracks.Evalutation Questions - Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects
Design Standards
Yes The project will build a shared-use concrete path adjacent to a roadway and separated from roadway by a landscape area. Trail is a predominately straight path with limited curves and no hills. Project will fulfill the standard of at least 10 feet wide for bicyclists. Project design will follow AASHTO guidelines for pedestrian and bicycle facilities and AASHTO and UPRR requirements will be followed for Ped/Bike crossings of the railroad tracks.Connectivity
Barrier Elimination
Yes The project will provide safe and convenient access across a railroad track and connects to the existing Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge and path allowing access across the west fork of the San Jacinto river and I69/Hwy 59 barrier, connecting Kingwood residents and the Kingwood Greenbelt to destinations west of I69/Hwy 59. The project is part of the Bayou Greenways project which aligns with the regional Bikeway Concept Map.Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections
Yes Project fills a gap between the Kingwood Greenbelt - a 75+ mile greenbelt trail system which winds throughout the Kingwood community and provides safe access to schools, parks and shopping without having to cross major roads - and the existing Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge. The Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge is a bike/ped bridge providing access over the west fork of the San Jacinto River with an extending path under I69/Hwy 59 to connect with a 2-mile Precinct 4 trail (at 90 % design) which will connect to Jesse Jones Park, and existing trails that extend another approximately 8 mi to John Pundt Park and the Spring Creek Greenway. Another segment of the Precinct 4 trail (at 30% design) will extend down to the Townsen Park and Ride.Transit Connections
Direct link to transit connection Project connects residents and commuters in Kingwood to the existing Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge. This bike/ped bridge provides access over the west fork of the San Jacinto River with an extending path under I69/Hwy 59 to connect with the Precinct 4 trail (at 30% design) that will extend south and connect to the Townsen Park and Ride.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 project connects directly to Northeast Christian Academy, Kingwood Cove Golf Club and Kingwood Greenbelt - a 75+ mile greenbelt trail system which winds throughout the Kingwood community and provides safe access to schools, parks and shopping without having to cross major roads. The project is within 1/2 mile of Deer Ridge Park and River Grove Park. Once partner project trails are complete, residents and commuters will have access to the Townsen Park and Ride and several destinations to the west including Jesse Jones Park and the existing Spring Creek Greenway. Future connections could provide access to Deerbrook Mall approximately 1/2 mile south of Townsen Park & Ride.Pilot Projects
No The project is not a pilot project.Safety
Does proposed facility:
Yes Yes Yes No 1. At the west end of the project, the path will turn south with Hamblin Rd. West which parallels I59 and the service/feeder roads. A landscape barrier will continue along this segment to provide separation from vehicular traffic. 2. The project provides pedestrian and bicycle path along Hamblin Road separated from vehicular traffic by a landscape barrier and connects directly to Northeast Christian Academy - a private school providing approximately 260 students college preparatory education for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. 3. During the design process, we will include exceptional accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists at street intersections along Hamblin Road and where the path crosses driveways. These may include added warning signage and striping when crossing side streets at existing stop signs, private drives and parking lots. Accommodations will be determined during design for crossing to the south side of Hamblin Road at the 4-way stop at Forest Cove. All ASHTO and UPRR requirements will be followed for Ped/Bike crossings of the railroad tracks at the Union Pacific RR crossing, and will be separated from vehicular traffic.
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
Yes The project is part of the Bayou Greenways initiative, segments of which have been identified in several studies and plans including HGAC's Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Case Study - Cypress Creek Greenway. Two projects (Hunting Bayou Greenway and Halls Bayou Greenway) are included in the 2015-2018 TIP. The Bayou Greenways Initiative is referenced several times in the HGAC 2040 Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. Several segments also align with the regional Bikeway Concept Map. Bayou Greenways 2020 was approved by Houston voters in the November 2012 bond election in which $100 million in park funding was dedicated to Bayou Greenways projects inside the city limits, and is now part of the City's CIP budget. In 2011, Dr. John Crompton, University Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor at Texas A&M University, completed the Benefits Analysis Study, BAYOU GREENWAYS --A KEY TO A HEALTHY HOUSTON.Funding Leverage
Sponsor has committed to provide more than 20% of local match The Houston Parks Board will provide a 21% match from voter approved bond funds for Bayou Greenways 2020. Once complete, trail will be maintained by the Houston Parks Board in accordance with the Bayou Greenways 2020 Economic Development Agreement with the City of Houston.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
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