2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title SH 3 Bicycle Facility Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 6:47:08 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max State Highway 3 (SH 3) is a major north/south principal arterial roadway that traverses Harris and Galveston counties. It does not have a designated bicycle facility. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many cyclists currently ride along SH 3, without any designated bicycle route to protect their safety. • The cyclists ride alongside vehicular traffic, with an average daily traffic count of 12,800 vehicles and a posted speed limit ranging from 35 to 55 miles per hour. • There are gaps in the existing bicycle network; there is no bicycle route connection to Bay Area Park and Ride with bus service to Downtown. • There is no inter-city bicycle route connecting the cities of South Houston, Clear Lake City, City of Webster, and League City. 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 bicycle facility separate from vehicular traffic by a buffer area, create a safe and hospitable bicycle route, 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 bike facility is located on SH 3 from South Richey Street to FM 518. The project is approximately 14.1 miles in length. The SH 3 project includes milling and asphalt overlay of shoulders, shoulder widening, pavement markings, striping, and signage as well as associated intersection improvements for the bike facility. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. SH 3 is a regionally significant bikeway facility as indicated in H-GAC’s Regional Bikeway Concept Map. This concept map is part of H-GAC’s Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. In addition, a SH 3 bike lane has been identified in the Clear Lake Pedestrian and Bicyclist Study along with shoulder and intersection improvements. SH 3 bike facility will connect: - South Houston, Clear Lake City, the City of Webster and League City - Bay Area Park and Ride, which provides bus service to Downtown Houston - Wilson Memorial Park, Village Evergreen Trail and Walter Hall Park Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max - A raised facility. This would not be a good treatment since we anticipate that it would tend to block drainage from the roadway to the ditch and cause ponding issues. During rain events, this would cause a potential hazard to traveling vehicles. - A bike lane without a stripped buffer area was considered. Given the posted speed limit ranging from 35 to 55 miles per hour on SH 3, a 5 feet stripped buffer area was included in the project design to separate the bike lane from vehicular traffic. 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. 30/08/2015 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. State-owned facilities would be relocated by TxDOT as part of the contract. 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 facility is part of League City’s Trails Master Plan, which included includes public involvement. • September 10, 2009: League City Trails Master Plan - Public Meeting – 1:00 p.m. • September 10, 2009: League City Trails Master Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • September 14, 2009: League City Trails Master Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • September 17, 2009: League City Trails Master Plan - Public Meeting – 6:00 p.m. • December 7, 2009: League City Trails Master Plan - Planning and Zoning/Park Board Meeting-6:00pm • January 26, 2010: League City Trails Master Plan - City Council Meeting • March 8, 2010: League City Trails Master Plan - 4B Board Meeting-6:00pm The proposed facility is also part of City of Webster Comprehensive Plan, which included includes public involvement. • October 30, 2013: City of Webster Comprehensive Plan - Citizens Advisory Committee – 6:00 p.m. • August 14, 2014: City of Webster Comprehensive Plan - Open House Public Comment • September 3, 2014: City of Webster Comprehensive Plan - Public Hearing • September 16, 2014: City of Webster Comprehensive Plan - City Council - Adopted • October 14, 2014: League City Bike Loop – City Council Approved Public Involvement Attachment

300531112201550043PM.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. Both, City of Webster and League City passed a resolution that they would provide the 20% local match within their city limits. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Signed Res 14-20 SH3.pdf

Map/Location

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

SE Harris_SH 3_GIS.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.

SH3Budget.xlsx

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, Chapter 5: Design of Shared Use Paths, pg. 5-3). The proposed facility will have a 5’ offset to the vehicular lane line. The 5’ buffer area will include object markers, as needed, to separate the 8’ wide path from the vehicular lanes, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.

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, Chapter 5: Design of Shared Use Paths, pg. 5-3). The proposed facility will have a 5’ offset to the vehicular lane line. The 5’ buffer area will include object markers, as needed, to separate the 8’ wide path from the vehicular lanes, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes The SH 3 proposed facility aligns with a regionally significant bikeway as indicated in H-GAC’s Regional Bikeway Concept Map.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The SH 3 proposed facility creates a ‘spine’ in relation to: • Existing ped & bike facilities: along West and East NASA Parkway • Proposed ped & bike facilities: such as the shared use paths along Egret Bay Blvd (FM 270), East and West Walker Street, 7th Street, and Clear Creek, the shared use bike facility along the railroad tracks that run parallel to Dickinson Ave, and others.

Transit Connections

Is within 0.26-0.50 of a transit connection The SH 3 proposed facility connects to transit through the Bay Area Park and Ride, which provides bus service to Downtown Houston.

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 SH 3 proposed facility connects Clear Lake City, the City of Webster and League City. This facility will create a ped & bike ‘spine’ that connects: Sylvan Rodriguez Park, Village Evergreen Trail and Walter Hall Park.

Pilot Projects

No No, the facility is not a pilot or first-time facility

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes No Yes No There were three pedacyclist accidents in 2012, one incapacitating injury and two non-incapcitation injury by vehicles going straight on the roadway (crash number 12701148, 13474167, 13632390). In 2013, there was one non-incapacitating pedestrian injury on the roadway (crash number 13490074). The proposed facility addresses the safety concern of the pedacyclist and pedestrian accidents by proposing a designated shared use path to potect the safety of the many cyclists that currently ride along SH 3. The 8' wide shared use path will have a 5’ offset to the vehicular lane line. The 5’ buffer stripped area will include object markers, as needed, to separate the 8’ wide path from the vehicular lanes since this facility would be at grade with vehicular lanes. SH 3, within the limits of this project doesn't have a designated bicycle facility. The facility will be on the east side of SH 3 on the side of the rail road tracks on TxDOT right-of-way, to minimize the number of intersections along the shared use path.

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 SH 3 is a regionally significant bikeway facility as indicated in H-GAC’s Regional Bikeway Concept Map. This concept map is part of H-GAC’s Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. In addition, SH 3 bike lane has been identified in the Clear Lake Pedestrian and Bicyclist Study. The need to construct bicycle facilities on Highway 3 has also been identified in City of Webster’s Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the proposed facility on SH 3 also aligns perfectly with League City’s Trails Master Plan.

Funding Leverage

Leverages funding through partnerships to meet or exceed the 20% match League City and City of Webster are contributing the 20% cost share match in their respective city limits from FM 518 to Bay Area Boulevard. TxDOT will contribute the 20% cost share match from South Richey to Bay Area Boulevard.

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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 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