2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title FM 526/IH-10 Shared Use Path Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 6:40:41 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Farm to Market Road 526 (FM 526) is a north/south urban collector. It does not have sidewalks nor a designated bicycle facility. There are gaps in the existing sidewalks along IH-10 frontage road from FM 526 to Freeport St. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many pedestrians currently walk along FM 526 with no sidewalks, or on IH-10 with gaps in the existing sidewalks. • The pedestrians and cyclists walk and ride alongside vehicular traffic with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. • There is no bicycle route connection to Maxey Road Park and Ride with bus service to Downtown. • There is no pedestrian and bicycle route connecting the residential development east of Greens Bayou to Maxey Road Park and Ride, Herman Brown Park, Maxey Park and Post Office located west of Greens Bayou. 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 pedestrians and cyclists that is separated from vehicular traffic, create a safe and hospitable pedestrian 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 shared use path is located on FM 526 from IH-10 to Woodforest Dr and along the IH-10 frontage road from FM 526 to Freeport Street. The project is approximately 13 miles in length. The project scope is to construct an 8-feet wide shared use path to provide a safe and convenient route for pedestrian and cyclists across Greens Bayous to access the Park and Ride, parks and post office, as well as associated intersection improvements for the pedestrian and bike facility. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. The FM 526 Share Use Path connects the residential communities east and west of Greens Bayou to: -existing hike and bike trail in Herman Brown Park -activity centers: Maxey Park, Post Office and retail and shopping along FM 526 and IH-10 -transit: Maxey Road Park and Ride as well as METRO’s Bus Stops on IH-10 Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max The project originally was only on FM 526 from IH-10 to Woodforest Dr . However, since a large residential community lives east of Greens Bayou, accessibility to Herman Brown Park, Maxey Park, Maxey Road Park and Ride as well as the post office and shopping area for a greater number of residents was prioritized. As a result, the project limits included IH-10 frontage road from FM 526 to Freeport St. 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. Yes 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. 02/01/2016 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 own 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 the only utility conflicts will be state-owned lighpoles, which can be relocated by TxDOT as part of the contract. Costs for these relocations were included in the preliminary 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. Will improve pedestrian and cyclists movement in a safe manner to adjoining city parks: Herman Brown Park and Maxey Park. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. This project will include public involvement. No public meetings have been scheduled as yet. Public Involvement Attachment

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

FM 526_Estimate-2.xlsx

Map/Location

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

FM_526_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.

Template - Project Budget 526.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 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

Yes This facility provides a pedestrian and bicycle route across Greens Bayou a waterway. Currently the residential community east of Greens Bayou has limited access to Herman Brown Park, Maxey Park, Maxey Road Park and Ride and post office, all of which are located west of Greens Bayou.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The proposed facility directly connects with Woodforest Blvd a City of Houston signed bike route, which leads to Herman Brown Park that has several shared use paths.

Transit Connections

Direct link to transit connection The proposed facility directly connects to the Maxey Road Park and Ride as well as METRO’s Bus Stops on IH-10.

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 provides a connection to Maxey Park, Post Office and retail and shopping along FM 526 and IH-10.

Pilot Projects

No This project is not a first-time facility.

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes No Yes Yes On FM 526 (Maxey Rd), there were six pedestrian accidents. In 2013, one incapacitating injury and an non-incapacitating injury to pedestrians by vehicles going straight on the roadway (crash number 13428108, 13157553). In 2012, one non-incapacitating injury to pedestrian on the roadway by a vehicle going straight (crash number 12761370) Also there was one non-incapacitating injury and a fatal injury in 2011 to pedestrians on the roadway by a vehicle (crash number 12353393, 12408610).

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

No It's not in a plan.

Funding Leverage

Neither No additional funding.

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 No 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