2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title W Beltway 8 Shared Use Path Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 6:58:00 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max West Beltway 8 (W BW 8) is a north/south urban principal arterial roadway, a frontage road to West Sam Houston Toll Road. It does not have a designated bicycle facility on the east side of the beltway's frontage road, along the limits of the proposed facility. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many cyclists currently ride along the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail from the Energy Corridor, without any designated bicycle route to connect to CityCentre and Town and County Village, major commercial and residential centers. • The cyclists ride alongside vehicular traffic, with an average daily traffic count of 38,000 vehicles and a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. • There is no bicycle route connection between the Energy Corridor District and Memorial District. • There is no bicycle route connection from residential communities (Memorial Bend east side of the beltway) to the Terry Hershey Park or CityCentre and Town and Country Village nor from the high-density housing development in CityCentre to the Terry Hershey Park. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a shared use path, create a safe and hospitable pedestrian and bicycle route, improve connectivity between Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail and CityCentre and Town and Country Village, provide connections between management districts (Energy Corridor, Memorial District), improve connectivity for alternative modes of transportation (bicycle and bus), and encourage mode shifts from driving to cycling in both person work and non-work trips. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed shared use path is located on W BW 8 northbound frontage road from Memorial Drive to Terry Hershey Park and from Terry Hershey Park to Briar Hill. The W BW 8 project scope is to construct an 8-feet wide shared use path to provide a safe designated route for cyclists and pedestrians that is separated from vehicular traffic and intersection improvements. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. The W BW 8 Shared Use Path connects the mixed-use high density development in CityCentre and Town & Country Village to approximately 16 miles of hike and bike trails along Terry Hershey Park, which connects to the Energy Corridor, a cluster of Oil and Gas Companies. This Shared Use Path also connects the Briar Grove Park and the Memorial Bend residential community to CityCentre and Town & Country Village. This proposed shared use path may cause a mode shift in person non-work trips between Energy Corridor, Briar Grove Park residential community, Memorial Bend residential community and CityCentre and Town & Country Village, changing their mode choice from driving to walking or cycling. There may also be a mode shift in person work trips from those who live in the mixed-use high density development in CityCentre and Town and Country Village but work in the Energy Corridor from driving to cycling. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max No other alternatives have been considered or evaluated.

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? 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. 14/08/2015 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.). Privately owned utilities in conflict would be relocated by the respective owners at their expense. Government-owned facilities will be relocated by TxDOT as part of the contract. Although a thorough utility evaluation has not yet been conducted, a preliminary evaluation indicates that the only utility conflicts will be with state-owned light poles and one city-owned fire hydrant, which can be relocated by TxDOT as part of the contract. Costs for these relocations was included in the preliminary construction estimate for this project. 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. The location of the proposed shared used path is adjacent to Hershey Park, which is a popular park for bicyclists and is owned by Harris County. Installation of a shared path at this location will improve bicyclists ability to travel to and from this park. Improving the ability for both pedestrians and bicyclists to travel along this route will have also have a positive affect on the adjacent properties within Harris County and the City of Houston. 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 is included in the West Houston Mobility Plan. The West Houston Mobility Plan includes public involvement. • October 15, 2013: West Houston Mobility Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • January 15, 2014: West Houston Mobility Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • July 22, 2014: West Houston Mobility Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • December 18, 2014: West Houston Mobility Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • December 2, 2014: TIRZ 17 Board Meeting - Board Approval • October 4, 2014: TxDOT and Energy Corridor District staff met to discuss Ped/Bike accommodations on W BW 8. • November 6, 2014: TxDOT and City of Houston staff met to discuss Ped/Bike accommodations on W BW 8. • November 13, 2014: TxDOT and Memorial District staff met to discuss Ped/Bike accommodations on W BW 8. • November 19, 2014: TxDOT and Westchase District staff met to discuss Ped/Bike accommodations on W BW 8. Public Involvement Attachment

COH Ltr of Support-2015 TIP Applicant projects.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. find detailed construction budget Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

bw8north_estimate2.xlsx

Map/Location

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

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.

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: Per AASHTO, the width of a shared use path, in constrained situations, can be 8 feet if there is no constant heavy bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic is expected to be occasional, maintenance vehicles will not use the share use path regularly, and there are resting and passing opportunities. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition pg. 5-3). Current width of sidewalk is 4 feet.

Design Standards

Yes Per AASHTO, the width of a shared use path, in constrained situations, can be 8 feet if there is no constant heavy bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic is expected to be occasional, maintenance vehicles will not use the share use path regularly, and there are resting and passing opportunities. (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition pg. 5-3). Current width of sidewalk is 4 feet.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes The proposed facility closes a gap in the existing bicycle transportation network by connecting the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail with CityCentre, Town and Country Village, as well as to the communities of Memorial Bend and Briar Grove Park residential community. The proposed facility will connect Memorial District and the Energy Corridor District via the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail. In phase two, Westchase District will also be connected via the proposed W BW 8 shared use path.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The W BW 8 Shared Use Path connects to approximately 16 miles of hike and bike trails along Terry Hershey Park Hike and Bike Trail.

Transit Connections

Direct link to transit connection The Shared Use path directly links with a Transit Connection, METRO’s Bus Stop on Memorial Drive at Sam Houston Parkway.

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.

The W BW 8 shared use path project provides connectivity and access from increasing high density development (CityCentre and Town & Country Village) to the existing Terry Hershey Park Hike and Bike Trail that connects to the Energy Corridor, a cluster of Oil & Gas companies. The W BW 8 shared use path project connects via Terry Hershey Park Hike and Bike Trail the Energy Corridor District with Memorial District. This shared use path also connects the Briar Grove Park and Memorial Bend residential community to CityCentre and Town & Country Village, an important retail and commercial hub.

Pilot Projects

No N/A

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes No No Yes no comments

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 facility has been identified in the West Houston Mobility Plan.

Funding Leverage

Neither n/a

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 Yes No Source H-GAC's Environmental Justice GIS Maps.

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