2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title International Management District ("IMD") Bikeways Primary Agency City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:01:47 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max The International Management District (IMD) encompasses 12 square miles in southwest Houston within the Alief area. It is a prime location inside major transit arteries including U.S. 59, the Sam Houston Tollway, Highway 6 and the Westpark Tollway. IMD counts more than 2,500 businesses within its boundaries and enjoys an ethnically diverse population of approximately 100,000 residents. This area has significant traffic congestion and limited access to alternate modes of transportation that connect neighborhoods, businesses, employment, schools and other points of interests. The two main traffic arteries that are parallel to the proposed trail are Bellaire Blvd. and Beechnut St. both of which see an average daily traffic volume of 25,000. Introducing an off-street trail for bicyclists and pedestrians will connect the community to points of interest and help alleviate congestion by providing transportation connections that don't require the use of a vehicle. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The International Management District (IMD) is helping to reshape this area into one of Houston's premiere regional neighborhoods. The proposed hike and bike trail is part of a larger Environmental Design Master Plan produced by the District in 2009. The Plan outlines the vision for redevelopment of the community including transportation connections that create a network of safe on and off street bike/ped paths. The proposed trail will provide an alternate mode of transportation allowing the community to reach destinations without requiring the use of a vehicle. The trail has the potential to l reduce travel time, increase the safety of bikers and pedestrians and promote healthier lifestyles. The proposed trail will also be useable as a viable means of transportation between the various points of interest along the hike and bike trail including three major public parks, and Chambers Elementary School. The proposed trail head and bridge crossing improvements will help to identify access points into the trail system as well as providing areas for rest. This proposed IMD Bikeways project represents a significant extension of the District's efforts to revitalize the Alief area by projecting this new, dynamic vision for the neighborhood and ultimately improving the overall quality of life for its residents. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed IMD Bikeways project is a 2-mile (10,575 lf), 10-foot wide concrete trail between Art Storey Park at the Sam Houston Tollway/Beltway 8 and S. Dairy Ashford Road. The trail will be built along a Harris County Flood Control District conveyance channel and crosses Wilcrest Drive, Boone Road, S. Kirkwood Road and Cook Road before reaching S. Dairy Ashford. Additional improvements include street crossing safety features, trail signage, markers, special paving, benches, trash receptacles, landscape, District wayfinding signage, and access ramps. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max None

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. Yes Please attach a completed scoping checklist or meeting summary.

IMD Bikeways_Kickoff_Mtg_1-3-13.pdf

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? 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. 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.). None are anticipated. 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 proposed hike and bike trail project is part of the attached Environmental Design Master Plan that encompasses the vision for redevelopment of the community. As part of master plan process a public meeting was held to engage the community and gather input as to how to improve upon their neighborhood. The resulting Environmental Design Master Plan represents the collective vision of the District, the community, and the business leaders as to what types of public improvements would best fit the community's needs. A follow-up presentation took place with local land owners, the Alief Super neighborhoods, and the International Management District. Furthermore, On January 7, 2015, City Council voted in favor of a Resolution authorizing the IMD Bikeways project nomination to the 2015 TIP Call for Projects. The executed City Council Resolution is also attached. Public Involvement Attachment

Public Involvement Attachment.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. The proposed project was presented to the City of Houston Review Committee comprised of representatives from the Public Works and Engineering, Planning and Parks and Recreation Departments as well as the Mayor's Office of Economic Development. The Committee's Letter of Support for the project is attached and indicates the project was previously selected for funding in the 2009 Transportation Enhancement Program Call for Projects, but funding was withdrawn in July 2014. The City of Houston and the International Management District remain committed to the project and have executed an interlocal agreement to fund the local match as well as included the project in both entities' Capital Improvements Plan. The International Management District previously conducted a property owner review along the proposed alignment with a title search of non-publically owned land. It was determined by the City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), and the Texas Department of Transportation that there are sufficient approvals and clearances to move forward with this project. The attached matrix and map identifies the property ownership along the HCFCD channel where the IMD Bikeways project is proposed. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Additional Project Development Readiness.pdf

Map/Location

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

Map-Location.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.

Transmittal Letter Project Budget & Funding 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: The project will meet AASHTO design guidelines.

Design Standards

Yes The project will meet AASHTO design guidelines.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes The proposed facility is shown in the draft H-GAC Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan as a segment of a Proposed Shared Use Path/Trail that stretches from Brays Bayou at Beltway 8 where it connects to an existing Shared Use Path/Trail along Brays Bayou. The proposed facility also connects to additional Proposed Shared Use Path/Trails extending West to Eldridge Parkway and South to Keegan's Bayou which also shows Shared Use Path/Trails extending East to Keegan's confluence with Brays Bayou. Further connections from Bellaire are planned at the east end of the trail along the west side of Art Storey Park and will provide an additional connection to Bellaire Boulevard as well as the proposed Westchase District hike and bike trail extension.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes With the exception of short gaps which are in various stages of planning, design and construction thanks to the Bayou Greenways initiative, the Brays Bayou trail extends more than 14 miles east to its confluence with Buffalo Bayou in Houston's East End. The proposed facility is a critical connection for bicyclists and pedestrians in Southwest Houston to reach destinations points in Central and East Houston including the Texas Medical Center, Hermann Park with the Houston Zoo and Museum of Natural Science, University of Houston and Texas Southern University.

Transit Connections

Direct link to transit connection The proposed bicycle facility traverses three existing Houston METRO routes, 67, 132, and 19. Existing bus stops are located adjacent to the proposed trail routes. Based on Houston METRO ridership statistics dates September 2014, 4 out of the top 5 highest, daily ridership boardings are located in the surrounding neighborhood. This accounts for nearly 45,000 ridership boardings on a weekly basis.

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 proposed bicycle facility is located just 1/2 mile south of the Bellaire commercial corridor. An on-street connection to the trail from the Bellaire commercial corridor is planned on Cook Road and an off-street connection is also proposed within a transmission corridor parallel to and between Boone and S. Kirkwood. Future on-street connections are planned from the proposed trail north to the site of the existing Alief Community Center and future Alief Regional Multi-Purpose Center, located on Bellaire Blvd. at Cook Road. Additional on-street connections are planned from the proposed trail to the Henington-Alief Regional Library 1/4 mile south on S. Kirkwood.

Pilot Projects

No Not applicable

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes Yes No No The proposed bicycle facility is located along an existing flood control conveyance channel. The conveyance channel parallels two major thoroughfares, Bellaire Boulevard to the north and Beechnut to the south. In addition to connecting three (3) public parks, the trail alignment indirectly connects to Chambers Elementary school on the east, to Alief Hastings High School via Cook Road to the north and to Alief Elsik High School via Dairy Ashford to the north.

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 proposed hike and bike trail project is part of a larger Environmental Design Master Plan produced that encompasses the vision for redevelopment of the community. This master plan's final draft was approved by the District Board in December of 2009. As part of the master plan process, a public meeting was held to engage the community in their thoughts as to how to improve upon their neighborhood. The resulting Plan represents the collective vision of the District, the community, and the business leaders as to what types of public improvements would best fit the community's needs.

Funding Leverage

Leverages funding through partnerships to meet or exceed the 20% match The project is the result of the partnership between the International Management District and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department. The 20% local funding match is shared between these two entities by interlocal agreement approved by City Council and the IMD Board of Directors.

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

Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Demographic data for zip code 77072 (Census 2010) demonstrated higher proportions of the following populations when compared with city-wide demographics: Minorities are 20% Asian (City-wide = 6%) and 48% Hispanic (City-wide = 44%). Low Income Households are 23% (City-wide = 20%); Female Head of Household is 14% (City-wide = 9%); Limited English Proficiency 41% (City-wide = 23%); Limited Education Attainment or Less Than High School Diploma is 36% (City-wide = 25%).

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