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Buffalo Speedway Resurfacing City of West University Place 1/12/2015 5:42:49 PMProject Narrative
Traffic congestion through West University Place to the Medical Center is at an all-time high, best illustrated by continuous congestion. Partially contributing to this congestion is the broken up concrete pavement along Buffalo Speedway within West University Place’s city limits. With the City of Houston recently reconstructing the roadway on both ends of this project, the difference in pavement quality is readily observed and is causing slower moving traffic through this portion of the road. Buffalo Speedway serves as the main thoroughfare through the City of West University Place between Bissonnet Street and Holcombe Boulevard. Although primarily residential, Buffalo Speedway is a main thoroughfare used by many commuters and should be considered a regional project. A significant amount of through traffic uses this thoroughfare linking the Greenway Plaza area to the north and Holcombe Boulevard to the south for the Medical Center. In addition, a METRO bus route travels the north part of Buffalo Speedway from Bissonnet to University Blvd. and it is proposed that in the near future bus routes will extend the whole length of Buffalo Speedway as the main bus route through the City of West University Place. The addition of bus traffic will accelerate the deterioration of an already deteriorated roadway. Since the roadway was constructed more than 50 years ago, the roadway has reached the end of its useful life. Although some point repairs were performed in 2000, continual point repairs are cost prohibitive, have limited long term value and will continue to create congestion during repair work. A preliminary pavement assessment revealed numerous issues including cracks, spalls, sunken pavement sections, storm inlet damage, joint damage and general disrepair throughout the roadway’s limits. Due to its deteriorating state Buffalo Speedway will require total reconstruction improving efficiency for emergency vehicles to the medical center. The primary goal for this project will be to provide an efficient and safe driving surface for both the citizens of West University Place as well as the thousands of non-West University commuters travelling through the City daily to get to the Medical Center, Greenway Plaza, Bellaire, Midtown, Reliant Park, and numerous other surrounding areas. The roadway reconstruction will improve the mobility for the proposed extension of the METRO bus route through the City along Buffalo Speedway. This project would complete the City’s infrastructure replacement program that was funded entirely by the City and connect to the already completed sections of Buffalo Speedway constructed by the City of Houston. The existing, 4-lane curb and gutter roadway (7,000 linear feet) will be reconstructed including three major intersections at Sunset, Rice and University which are signalized. There are dedicated left turn lanes at each of these major intersections achieved by narrowing of the driving lanes. Replacing the flush medians with raised medians at these major intersections will be considered to provide enhanced traffic safety and efficiency of the intersections. Because properties along the roadway are primarily residential with numerous driveways, there are no medians except at major intersections. An additional consideration will be the synchronization of existing traffic signals to improve traffic flow and ease congestion by incorporating Intelligent Transportation System components. Necessary improvements along Buffalo Speedway include complete removal and replacement of pavement from Bissonnet Street to Holcombe Boulevard within the City of West University Place. The roadway will be a four-lane, concrete curb and gutter roadway similar in width to the existing. The roadway will be designed to TxDOT standards, including stabilized subgrade, stabilized base and reinforced concrete pavement section. Where possible, the flush medians will be replaced with raised medians especially at the three major signaled intersections. Raised medians throughout the length of the roadway are not feasible because of the extensive residential makeup of this portion of the roadway. Drainage inlets will be replaced to meet the drainage requirements of the project and meet current standards. Although not part of this application, the existing underground drainage system will be upgraded, financed by the City. This will include replacement and upsizing of the existing underground storm sewer system which was installed over 50 years ago. Upgrade of the drainage system will have an impact on the incidents of flooding on Buffalo Speedway and adjacent streets, impacting safety. A preliminary pavement assessment was completed that revealed numerous issues within the limits including cracks, spalls, sunken pavement sections, storm inlet damage, joint damage and general disrepair. Three options for pavement improvements were considered: (1) extensive point repairs, (2) complete pavement replacement to a wider section to include a center turn lane and (3) complete pavement replacement with the same cross section as existing. (1) Point Repairs. The preliminary pavement assessment performed in May of 2010 indicated that repairs including complete panel replacement, local point repairs, joint replacement, crack sealing and slab jacking were needed. The cost estimate at that time was $550,750 and with inflation would be approximately $640,000 in 2015 dollars. While this was considered a viable option, it would not provide a permanent solution and would not halt deterioration of the remaining infrastructure and additional repairs would need to be done on a scheduled timeline. (2) Complete Pavement Replacement with Wider Cross Section. This option would be more desirable than point repairs in that it would provide a permanent fix to the rapidly deteriorating pavement. It is also the ideal solution from a transportation point of view in that widening the roadway would allow for a continuous center turn lane. Because Buffalo Speedway is a thoroughfare through a primarily residential area with a significant number of residential driveways on each side or the roadway (approximately 60 on each side), a continuous center turn lane would allow left turns into residential driveways without hindering the through flow of traffic. This would be particularly beneficial when the METRO bus route is extended along the whole length of Buffalo Speedway. However, Buffalo Speedway is lined with mature trees of differing species, mainly live oaks that in some cases are 50 plus years old. The trees are located within the existing right of way but their proximity to the edge of existing pavement precludes widening without tree removal. Both from City Ordinance and public relations points’ of view, removing mature trees such as these is not a viable option. (3) Complete Pavement Replacement with Similar Cross Section. Similar to Option 2, this option would be more desirable than point repairs in that it would provide a permanent fix to the existing rapidly deteriorating pavement. While not as advantageous as a wider cross section this option can be achieved without causing damage to the mature trees. An urban forester would be engaged to provide a tree protection plan and to avoid having to disturb major roots where they fall close to the back of curb a construction process known as “zero curb cutback” would be implemented. This construction process was developed specifically for the City of West University Place during their infrastructure replacement program. In certain areas where excavation and extended stabilized base material beyond the back of curb would damage the root system, the base material would stop at the back of curb and to compensate additional reinforcing steel would be installed along the edge of the pavement. Unlike point repairs this option would provide a permanent, long lasting pavement providing an efficient and safe driving surface accommodating residents, through traffic, and the METRO bus service for many years to come.Project Narrative
No Categorical Exclusion (CE) (c)(22) Projects that would take place entirely within the existing operational ROW No 30/06/2015 No Yes At the start of the design process, all utility companies with services in the project area will be contacted and utility locates will be requested. Water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utilities will be located using record drawings in the City’s possession. 8” and 6” water lines run the length of the project but are not located under the pavement. 8” sanitary sewers run on either side of Buffalo Speedway under the pavement only from University Boulevard south to Cason. Any sanitary sewer that is affected by the construction or is constructed of materials other than PVC will be replaced. Design will be performed to accommodate all existing non-West University utilities where possible but when necessary utility adjustments will be called for from the respective utility company. Any required payment for relocation of utilities, not the responsibility of the utility company, will be the responsibility of the City of West University Place. Yes The Buffalo Speedway project joins already completed sections of the roadway to the north and south that are within the City of Houston. Completion of this project will improve traffic flow which will benefit traffic flow on the City of Houston sections. The City of Houston projects encroached on the West University Place City limits both on the north and south ends so the proposed project is entirely within the City of West University Place City limits. Because the project does not abut or encroach City of Houston right of way a letter of support was not considered necessary. However, the City of Houston were consulted regarding this and agreed that the letter of support was not required. Email correspondence between HDR and City of Houston regarding this is included in this application. Since this is a major thoroughfare through a residential area, public involvement will be an essential part of the project. Of particular importance will be coordination with entities such as schools, emergency services and public transport (METRO). The project will be prominently featured in the City’s quarterly newsletter, City Currents, which is distributed to all City residents (http://www.westutx.gov/index.aspx?page=159) and the weekly West University Examiner. This will keep West University and surrounding residents informed and will highlight progress on the project through the design process as well as through construction. A series of public meetings will be set up to gain input from residents and businesses that may be affected by the construction and in addition City Council meets twice per month which can be used as a public forum for any resident concerns. The City has over the past 18 years successfully completed an aggressive infrastructure replacement program throughout the City and has developed effective procedures for dealing with comments and complaints. These procedures will be put in place throughout this project and an open dialogue among the residents, City staff, engineer and other stakeholders will be maintained. A schematic design has been developed for the pavement replacement portion of the project including typical cross sections showing pavement sections, storm sewer replacement and sanitary sewer replacement. Turning radii have been considered for each intersection and where possible increased to accommodate the increasing traffic volume making right turns into and out of side streets. This will make the road safer and more efficient. The schematic design also includes raised medians at major intersections and at locations that will not adversely hinder resident access to homes. Buffalo Speedway is a main thoroughfare through the City of West University Place and should be considered a regional project. A significant amount of through traffic uses this thoroughfare linking Greenway Plaza to Holcombe Boulevard and to the Medical Center. The Houston Regional Traffic Count Map shows the TxDOT 2006, 24 hour traffic volume on Buffalo Speedway to be approximately 18,500 with an approximate increase of 15% since 2001 or 3% increase per year (http://ttihouston.tamu.edu/hgac/trafficcountmap/TrafficCountMap.html). Assuming the increased traffic trend continued at 3% per year the 2015 traffic count could be as high as 24,000. At an assumed vehicle capacity of 1.5 persons per vehicle this equates to a total population of 36,000 utilizing Buffalo Speedway each day. Since the total population of the City of West University Place is only a little over 15,000 it can reasonably be assumed that the majority of usage of Buffalo Speedway is by non-West University commuters, reinforcing the consideration that this project is a regional as well as City of West University Place project. Utilizing the experience from the City’s infrastructure replacement program, as construction progresses contractor(s) will be required to limit construction activities at any one time to minimize disruption to traffic. A comprehensive traffic control plan will be developed strictly in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) and TxDOT requirements. City ordinance requires that construction materials be stored off site and that rubber tired construction vehicles be removed from the site at the end of the day. In addition any waste construction material such as excavated material is required to be placed directly onto transport for immediate removal from the site. This process has proved in the past to result in a much cleaner and safer construction site. The City employs an Urban Forester who has in preparation for this project reviewed the extent and condition of trees that line the project on both sides. It was through this review that it was determined that the roadway could not be widened without adversely affecting most of the trees and that the “zero curb cut back” construction process would need to be employed at many locations. A comprehensive tree protection plan will be included in the construction plans prepared by the Urban Forester which will include a complete schedule of existing trees on the project, tree protection fencing details, root pruning details, branch pruning details, zero curb cut back details, tree removal and planting schedules and other relevant details pertaining to the project. Preliminary environmental considerations have been reviewed and it has been determined that this project should fall under a C-22 as defined in 23 U.S.C. 101, projects that would take place entirely within the existing operational right-of-way. Existing operational right-of-way refers to right-of-way that has been disturbed for an existing transportation facility or is maintained for a transportation purpose. This area includes the features associated with the physical footprint of the transportation facility (including the roadway, bridges, interchanges, culverts, drainage, fixed guideways, mitigation areas, etc.) and other areas maintained for transportation purposes such as clear zone, traffic control signage, landscaping, any rest areas with direct access to a controlled access highway, areas maintained for safety and security of a transportation facility, parking facilities with direct access to an existing transportation facility, transit power substations, transit venting structures, and transit maintenance facilities. Portions of the right-of-way that have not been disturbed or that are not maintained for transportation purposes are not in the existing operational right-of-way. Existing sidewalks exist along both sides of Buffalo Speedway. The existing sidewalks may not have been constructed in accordance with the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sidewalks will be considered as part of this project and any areas that do not conform with current accessibility standards will be reconstructed to meet them. A bike trail adjacent to or incorporated with the existing sidewalks will also be considered.Map/Location
Evalutation Questions - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS) Projects
Benefit /Cost Methodology - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)
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