2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title FM 518 Shared Use Path Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 6/5/2015 5:40:57 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Farm to Market Road 518 (FM 518) is an east/west urban principal arterial roadway that traverses Galveston County. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • There is at least one reported accident in which a child was hit while crossing a street near to the school, and another reported accident in the vicinity. There are other non-reported near misses of children crossing the street in proximity to the schools. • Many children currently walk along FM 518, without any sidewalk to protect their safety. • The pedestrians and cyclists walk and ride alongside vehicular traffic with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. • There is no bicycle route connection to Ross Elementary School, League City School and Clear Springs High School Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The purpose of the proposed project is to provide an 8-feet wide shared use path for children and families that is separated from vehicular traffic, create safe and hospitable walking and bicycling conditions, improve connectivity to schools, and encourage mode shift from driving to walking and cycling in non-work trips (between home and school). This project will prevent future incidents of children being hit by vehicular traffic while walking or riding to school. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed shared use path is located on south side of FM 518 from James Ross Elementary School to Palomino Road and on the north side of FM 518 from Ross Elementary School to Magnolia Estates Drive. The project is approximately 2 miles in length. The project scope is to construct an 8-foot wide shared use path, intersection improvements and pedestrian crossings to provide a safe and convenient route to school for children and families, separated from vehicular traffic. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. This project will connect: -schools: Ross Elementary School, League City School, Clear Springs High School -residential communities 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. 01/02/2016 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.). 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. Although a thorough utility evaluation has not yet been conducted, a preliminary evaluation indicates that there would be no relocations. 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 League City Council Resolution commits funds to pay for part of the local match (resolution was emailed). Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. FM 518 Shared Use Path is part of League City's Master Trails Plan. Four public meetings where held for League City Trails Master Plan on September 10, 2009 at 1pm and 6pm, September 14, 2009 at 6pm, September 17, 2009 at 6 pm. On December 14, 2009 the Planning and Zoning/Park Board Meeting at 6:00pm included a presentation of Trails Master Plan followed by comments. January 26, 2010 the City Council Meeting included a presentation of Trails Master Plan followed by comments. Public Involvement Attachment

300534112201522022PM.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. Attached are a detail construction estimate and a typical section. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

300534112201522413PM.pdf

Map/Location

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

300534112201522110PM.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.

FM 518 Project Budget.docx

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).

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).

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

No N/A

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The proposed facility directly connects to an 8’ existing trail on Palomino Ln and existing segment of sidwalk on FM 518 from Magnolia Estate Dr to Palomino Ln,

Transit Connections

None of the Above N/A

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 facility directly connects to three schools: Ross Elementary School, League City School, Clear Springs High School

Pilot Projects

No N/A

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes Yes Yes No There were two pedestrian accidents in 2011, one incapacitating injury and another non-incapcitation injury by vehicles going straight on the roadway and vehicle turning left (crash number 12363164, 12277979). In at least one of the reported accidents, a child was hit while crossing a street near to the school. The proposed facility addresses the safety concern of the two pedestrian accidents by proposing a designated 8' wide shared use path to provide a safe and convenient route to school for children and families, separated from vehicular traffic.

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 on FM 518 aligns perfectly with League City’s Trails Master Plan. In addition, H-GAC’s 2035 Regional Bikeway Plan identifies FM 518 as a bikeway need.

Funding Leverage

Leverages funding through partnerships to meet or exceed the 20% match There is a funding partnership between TxDOT and League City. The League City Council Resolution commits funds to pay for $587,082 of the local match (see attached resolution). There will be a funding partnership between League City and TxDOT to meet the match requirement. TXDOT will pay for $70,450 of the local match, to fulfill the local match requirement.

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 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