2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection Primary Agency Houston Parks and Recreation Department Date Submitted 1/12/2015 2:37:21 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max The Uptown District is Houston’s third largest employment center and the 15th largest business district in the US with more than 23 million square feet of office space, 2,000 multi-national companies, and 80,000 employees. It is also the largest dining and entertainment area of Houston with over 100 restaurants. According to the Uptown-West Loop Planning Study, the Uptown-West Loop Corridor is impacted by heavy traffic created by employees, visitor and residents accessing the area predominantly via private automobile. Uptown District is a large and growing market that has been historically underserved by public transit, yet Uptown’s economic health is dependent upon expanded transit services. There is a great need for alternate modes of transportation to connect bus services, sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the corridor for pedestrians and bikers. Memorial Park, a 1,500-acre regional park, provides bikers and pedestrians with access to the frontage roads of IH-610W and IH-10, as well as Memorial Dr. and Woodway Dr. The proposed trail and bridge will extend these connections across Buffalo Bayou to San Felipe Street and METRO’S regional busway network system. Utilizing the CenterPoint Transmission Corridor, the trail will extend 1.35-mile north to connect with the existing shared use path on Memorial Drive. The Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection will improve mobility and access for existing and future transit riders, local residents, commuters, and travelers who have origins and/or destinations in the Uptown-West Loop area. This project supports pedestrian/biker linkages both within the area and to adjacent communities. It is a cost-effective transportation improvement in the corridor that minimizes impacts, contributes to regional environmental goals and improves transit in ways that will encourage and support transit-friendly, pedestrian-oriented development. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection will create an alternate mode of transportation for the Uptown District area to connect bus services, sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the corridor for pedestrians and bikers. These connections will provide easy access for pedestrians/bikers from frontage roads throughout IH-610 W, IH-10, Memorial Dr. and Woodway Dr. The proposed trail and bridge will extend these connections across Buffalo Bayou to San Felipe Street and METRO’S regional busway network system. Utilizing the Center Point Transmission Corridor, the trail will extend 1.35-mile north to connect with the existing TXDOT shared use path on Memorial Drive. The Memorial to San Felipe Connection will improve mobility and access for existing and future transit riders, local residents, commuters, and travelers who have origins and/or destinations in the Uptown-West Loop area. This project supports pedestrian/bikers linkages both within the area and to adjacent communities. It is a cost-effective transportation improvement in the corridor that minimizes impacts, contributes to regional environmental goals and improves transit in ways that will encourage and support transit-friendly, pedestrian-oriented development. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection is a 1.35-mile (7,300 lf) stretch connecting San Felipe Street at Briar Hollow Lane to the existing shared-use path along Memorial Drive at the railroad crossing near the Memorial Park Running Trail Center. The 10-foot wide, concrete trail will run parallel to the Southern Pacific railroad within a CenterPoint Transmission Corridor and will cross Buffalo Bayou via a pedestrian bridge. The project will include allowances to address the Southern Pacific Railroad undercrossing on the south bank of the Bayou. Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection will create an alternate mode of transportation for the Uptown District area to connect bus services, sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the corridor for pedestrians and bikers. These connections will improve mobility and access for existing and future transit riders, local residents, commuters, and travelers who have origins and/or destinations in the Uptown-West Loop area. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max No other alternatives are being considered.

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? Yes Please describe the permits needed and the timeline anticipated to acquire them.
1000 characters max Right of way of the Center Point Transmission Corridor and undercrossing of a Southern Pacific Railroad. Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 30/06/2016 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.). N/A 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. The Uptown Development Authority and Memorial Park Conservancy are developing a master plan that includes the Memorial to San Felipe connections. As part of the overall master plan for Memorial Park, conceptual designs have been developed and presented during public meetings. The proposed project is also part of the City of Houston Bikeway Planning Committee and Uptown-West Loop Planning Study. Public Involvement Attachment

Letter of Support & Resolution - City of Houston.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. N/A Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Letter of Transmittal - MP to SF.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 Hike Bike Trail Memorial to San Felipe.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.

Budget & Letter of Match Commitment.pdf

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: As the Project is a bicycle/pedestrian path with no expected significant impacts or unusual circumstances, and such projects are considered categorical exclusions (CE) under both the FHWA and FTA regulations, we expect to receive a CE for the proposed Project under the regulations noted below. §771.117 FHWA categorical exclusions (c) (3) Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and facilities. §771.118 FTA categorical exclusions(c) Actions that FTA determines fall within the following categories of FTA CEs and that meet the criteria for CEs in the CEQ regulation (40 CFR 1508.4) and paragraph (a) of this section normally do not require any further NEPA approvals by FTA.(2) Acquisition, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and improvement or limited expansion of standalone recreation, pedestrian, or bicycle facilities, such as: a multiuse pathway, lane, trail, or pedestrian bridge; and transit plaza amenities.

Design Standards

Yes Memorial to San Felipe will meet AASHTO design guidelines for pedestrian and/or bicycle facilities.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection provides a safe and convenient alternate route by eliminating a major transit barrier and closing a gap in the regional bikeway network. There is limited north-south connectivity in the bikeway network between Uptown and Downtown, the region's two major activity centers along Buffalo Bayou between IH 610 and Shepherd Drive. Buffalo Bayou and existing land uses limit north to south circulation and thus are a barrier to the City’s transportation network. Interstate Highway 610 and Shepherd Drive are heavily congested and don’t provide a safe bicycle-pedestrian accommodation. The proposed trail and bridge will provide the only off-street, north-south route for bikers and pedestrians within a 2-mile radio. This trail will also connect bikers to a future east-west bike facility on San Felipe Street between Piney Point Village and Willowick Road. Additionally, the new route will connect to the planned shared use facility between Buffalo Bayou Park and Memorial Park. These connections will close an existing gap in the regional bicycle network identified under H-GAC’s Regional Transportation Plan. This new off-road, bike/pedestrian trail will connect bikers to additional shared-used roadways along I-610 frontage road and Willowick Rd. These proposed bike/pedestrian connection will offer the only alternative bikeway route south of Buffalo Bayou that will connect the Galleria/Uptown area with Downtown, two of Houston’s the major activity centers.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection directly connects on the north side to TXDOT Hike & Bike Trail along Memorial Drive. It also will connect bikers, runners and walkers to the newly developed Running Trails Center at Memorial Park. Memorial Park also offers other bike/ped facilities such as restrooms, water fountains, and parking. On the south side, the proposed hike & bike trail will connect bikers to a future shared-used roadway on San Felipe Street. The connection on San Felipe St will lead west to the shared-used roadway along I-610 frontage road. The connection on San Felipe St will lead east to the signed shared-used roadway and bike lane along Willowick Rd. The proposed bike connections on San Felipe Street will offer the only alternative bikeway route south of Buffalo Bayou that will connect The Galleria/Uptown area with Downtown, two of the major employment centers of Houston.

Transit Connections

Direct link to transit connection Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection directly connects on the north side to Memorial Drive where Houston Metro Bus route #6 provides transit services that are accessible to bikers. On the south side, the proposed hike & bike trail will connect bikers through future shared-used roadway on S. Briar Hollow Lane & Post Oak Place Drive that will lead them to Post Oak Park Drive where Houston Metro Bus route #283 provides transit services. Future shared-used roadways on San Felipe will lead bikers on the west side to additional transit connections along I-610 frontage road where Houston Metro Bus route #285 provides transit services.

Connections to Regional Destinations

Provides a connection to or within activity centers*?

* 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.

Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection is within a half mile of the Uptown District, the second largest employment center in Houston. Future shared-used road connectivity along San Felipe Street will help create the only alternative bikeway route south of Buffalo Bayou that will connect The Uptown District area with Houston Central Business District (CBD), two of the major employment centers of Houston. The proposed hike & bike trail and pedestrian bridge over Buffalo Bayou will remove a major access barrier for the Afton Oaks/River Oaks Super Neighborhood. For the first time, this neighborhood will have an accessible, safe bike/ped route to Memorial Park and its many amenities. Interesting to note that the area just west of the trail location on E Briar Hollow Ln, there are several consulates including Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Romania, Greece, Russia and Brazil, as well as several hotels such as The St. Regis Houston, Hampton Inn and La Quinta.

Pilot Projects

Yes Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection will be the first and only north to south, off-road bike/ped route within a five mile radius that will safely connect the Afton Oaks/River Oaks Super Neighborhood to Memorial Park. It will provide 1.35-mile of concrete trail that will be ADA compliant and 100% of off-road access.

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes Yes No Yes Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection will be the first and only north to south, off-road bike/pedestrian route that will safely connect the Afton Oaks/River Oaks Super Neighborhood to Memorial Park. This new route will safely connect high school students zoned to the Lamar High school who live just north of Buffalo Bayou with the only off-road alternate route to school for the neighborhood. This connection will become the only north to south, 1.35-mile ADA compliant concrete trail for the area.

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 Memorial Park Master Plan, Uptown-West Loop Planning Study & H-GAC Regional Transportation Plan

Funding Leverage

Leverages funding through partnerships to meet or exceed the 20% match Memorial to San Felipe Hike & Bike Connection leverages funding through its partnership with the Uptown Development Authority to meet the 20% match.

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

No No Yes No No No No Out of the three main zip codes impacted by the proposed bike/pedestrian trail, two of them 77019 (10.5%) and 77027 (13.7%) reflected higher percentages of individuals 65+ years old living within its boundaries when compare with citywide demographics (9%; Census 2010).

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