2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Intersection Capacity Improvements Primary Agency Harris County Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:45:16 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Northwest Harris County is experiencing increased development and population due to the region's vibrant economy. Increasing traffic as a result of this growth is causing a degradation of traffic operations on Harris County roadways. The problem is often acute at major intersections, especially at the intersections with state highways. The locations identified for these improvements have been identified over the years by observation and citizen feedback, and it has been confirmed that additional capacity for turning movements would provide relief from localized congestion.. They are considered "hot spots" in Harris County Precinct 4 which would benefit greatly by the improvements. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The proposed geometric improvements at intersections will increase overall intersection capacity as well as alleviate delay on bottleneck approaches. This in turn will have a net positive effect on the overall roadway network by lessening choke points along state highway and Harris County arterial roadways. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The improvements are proposed at 38 signalized intersections in Precinct 4, the majority of which intersect TxDOT-owned and maintained roadways. They consist of; adding new left turn and right turn lanes, extending existing left turn lanes, addition of auxiliary lanes, and access management via installation of a raised median. Additionally, geometric improvements along two relatively short (1/4 mile +/-) segments of majors thoroughfares which cross TxDOT facilities are included in the proposed package: West Little York Road from east of SH 6 to west of SH6, and Spring-Cypress Road from SH 249 to Hufsmith-Kohrville Road. Added capacity and lane realignments will alleviate congestion on both of these heavily-traveled arterials. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max At signalized intersections, traffic signal timing has been adjusted to optimize the efficiency with the existing geometry. No further improvement can be achieved without the proposed geometric modifications.

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.

Coordination Summary Pct Four intersections.docx

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Categorical Exclusion (CE) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? (c)(22) Projects that would take place entirely within the existing operational ROW 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. 11/12/2015 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? Yes Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). A site-by-site reconnaissance-level review reveals that only minor utility adjustments will be required. Once utilities are identified as conflicts, each affected owner will be notified that their facilities will need to be relocated. This is typically done at the owners expense if the utilities are located in public rights-of-way. 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 majority of the proposed improvements are at County road intersections with TxDOT highways. Improving the county-maintained approaches to these intersections will reduce overall delay for the entire intersection. Additionally, several of the proposed improvements are located on TxDOT facilities (SH 249, FM 529, Beltway 8). Discussions with TxDOT staff have been positive and in support of the proposed improvements to their infrastructure, including TxDOT providing a share of local match funding for improvements within their rights-of-way. (See attachment uploaded under "Scoping Meeting" section.) Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Approved_Court_Letter_Pct_4_Capacity_Improvements.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. No public involvement activities have occurred, nor are any anticipated. Any future public involvement will comply with TxDOT policies and procedures. Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. No additional right of way is required. None of the individual projects will require floodplain evaluations. Utility relocations are expected to be very minor. The selected locations each have independent utility and benefits, therefore functionally equivalent substitute locations could be identified if issues negatively affect scope, schedule or budget at particular sites. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Various.pdf

Map/Location

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

Pct_4_Maps.zip

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.

300354 - Project Budget.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.

Benefit /Cost Methodology - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)

Congestion – Travel Time Savings

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and appropriate narrative of analysis used.

Ptc_4_Capacity_Improvements-Delay Benefits.xlsx

Pct_4_Capacity_Improvements-Delay Benefits Methodolgy.docx

Regional Impact

NHS/Principal Arterial Beltway 8, SH 6/FM 1960, SH 249, and FM 529 are all designated as "Other NHS Routes" by USDOT. Yes FM 529, Beltway 8, Hwy 6 / FM 1960 and SH 249 are all identified as freight-significant corridors in the HGAC 2013 Regional Goods Movement Study. See Exhibit 2.9 in the report. Yes Fixed route transit service is currently provided by METRO on FM 1960, SH 249 and on Veterans Memorial/Stuebner Airline Road. All facilities are within METRO's service area for Paratransit services.

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes The proposed Spring-Cypress project from SH 249 to Hufsmith-Kohrville Road incorporates raised medians for the entire length to improve safety and mobility. Channelized "Hooded left" turn lanes are proposed at several other locations in close proximity to TxDOT facilities for access/congestion management. Yes All pedestrian facility modifications to existing crosswalk and sidewalk segments will meet AASHTO, FHWA, TxDOT and TDLR requirements for accessibility of persons with disabilities. Accommodation pedestrian impacts to the scope and budget will be minor and incidental, as the majority of the sites include only improvements involving traffic signals, medians, left turn lanes or intersection corners. Yes The majority of the intersections are located along TxDOT corridors with Computerized Traffic Management System (CTMS) capabilities or similar arterial management infrastructure. All traffic signal improvements included in this project will maintain or enhance the ITS system capabilities already in place.

Community

Yes The HGAC Congestion Management Plan designates freeways and principal arterial roadways on the "CMP Network". See Figure 2.1 in the Plan report. All of the project sites are located on designated facilities. As defined in the CMP, all of the proposed intersection improvements are categorized as "TSM / TDM" projects . As "bottleneck removal" projects of less than one mile length, they are eligible for expedited evaluation and implementation without need for a formal Congestion Management Analysis (CMA). http://www.h-gac.com/taq/congestion_management/docs/H-GAC-CMP-Adopted%2001252013.pdf

Yes Each of the affected major roadways is an existing and is currently designated as a major thoroughfare by the City of Houston and as a principal arterial by TxDOT and HGAC.