2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Buffalo Bayou Heritage Corridor, from McKee Street to west of UPRR Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:52:31 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max There are pedestrian/bicycle paths along the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou that terminate at McKee Street and west of the UPRR bridge, within close proximity of where US 59 crosses the bayou. Currently, the pedestrian/bicycle paths along the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou near US 59 do not have convenient or safe connections to one another. These portions of unlinked and unfinished paths do not provide a cohesive network for bicyclists and pedestrians. To cross Buffalo Bayou while using the paths within the vicinity of US 59, bicyclists and pedestrians must utilize the McKee Street Bridge, which does not directly link to the path along the north bank of the bayou. The existing Strauss Trunnion Bridge below US 59 is unusable as a bicycle/pedestrian connection between the north and south banks at this time. This bridge is a historic structure that is currently in an unsafe condition. The existing 10-foot wide pedestrian/bicycle path on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou from McKee Street to the Strauss Trunnion Bridge is not currently complaint with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guidelines. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max This project will provide a gap-filler in the existing pedestrian/bicycle network and improve the ability of citizens to utilize alternative modes of transportation. The project will create a safe and convenient link between existing paths on the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou through rehabilitation of the Strauss Trunnion Bridge and its conversion to a pedestrian/bicycle facility. Rehabilitating this bridge will create a safe structure and provide pedestrians and bicyclists with a facility separated from vehicular traffic that traverses the barriers of Buffalo Bayou and US 59. This project will also fill a gap by constructing a connection to an existing pedestrian/bicycle path on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou that currently terminates west of the UPRR bridge. Additionally, this project will provide an important link from the pedestrian/bicycle path on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou to the pedestrian/bicycle facilities on McKee Street. This project will bring the existing trail on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou between McKee Street and the Strauss Trunnion Bridge into compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guidelines, and utilize these standards and design guidelines on newly constructed portions. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max This gap-filling project will make the necessary links between existing bikeways on the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou and on-street pedestrian/bicycle facilities. The limits of the project are from McKee Street to west of the UPRR. This project will construct retaining walls and add railing as needed to make the existing 10-foot wide shared use path on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou from McKee Street to the Strauss Trunnion Bridge compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guidelines. Additionally, this project will rehabilitate the abandoned Strauss Trunnion Bridge over Buffalo Bayou for pedestrian and bicycle use, construct a ramp to McKee Street (to provide connection of the path to the existing on-street bike route on McKee), and construct a 10-foot wide shared use path on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou from the Strauss Trunnion Bridge to west of the UPRR bridge. Additional improvements include landscape materials, pedestrian furniture, and way finding signage. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max Currently, only a no-build alternative has been considered.

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.

Scoping.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)(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. 02/01/2012 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.). The adjustment and relocation of any utilities would be handled so that no substantial interruptions would take place while these adjustments are being made. The appropriate entity or utility company would be responsible for the adjustments and relocations, according to standard TxDOT procedures. 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 project is on the property of a private developer (Buffalo Bayou Partnership has easement for this portion), property owned by Buffalo Bayou Partnership near Clayton homes, and ROW owned by TxDOT. A letter of support from Buffalo Bayou Partnership is attached. TxDOT is currently working with the City of Houston to seek their concurrence on this project. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Support_BuffaloBayouPartnership.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. A Meeting with Affected Property Owners (MAPO) was held on October 21, 2011. Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. A PCE was completed on April 17, 2012. The project was not environmentally cleared when this PCE was completed, and will therefore need to comply with current guidance. The project will likely require a C-3 level of documentation, which can be completed by TXDOT in-house using much of the information gathered in preparation of the previous PCE. Environmental clearance is currently at 80%. This project has received a “non-navigability determination” and U.S. Coast Guard permit exception from FHWA. PS&E is currently at 70%. TxDOT is currently working on Right of Use Agreement with Centerpoint Energy for connection to McKee. Agreement anticipated by 9/01/2015. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Map/Location

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

0912-71-799 Map Attachment.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.

0912-71-799 Buffalo Bayou 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.

Screening Questions

Will the project design meet or exceed AASHTO or equivalent guidelines?
FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Design Flexibility Yes Please explain: This path will be constructed according to AASHTO design guidelines. Additionally, the project will bring an existing path into compliance with AASHTO design guidelines.

Design Standards

Yes This path will be constructed according to AASHTO design guidelines. Additionally, the project will bring an existing path into compliance with AASHTO design guidelines.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes This path will provide a safe and convenient route across Buffalo Bayou at US 59. Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists must utilize McKee Street to cross Buffalo Bayou in the vicinity of this project, which does not have safe or convenient linkages to the surrounding existing paths. Additionally, this project will link several existing paths in the area, further improving connections in Houston’s multimodal network. This project falls within the “Houston” Existing/Potential Active Transportation Network on H-GAC’s Regional Bikeway Concept Map.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes There are existing paths on the north and south sides of Buffalo Bayou that this proposed path will connect to. These paths are included in the map attachment to this application.

Transit Connections

Is within 0.26-0.50 of a transit connection On the south side of Buffalo Bayou where the proposed project ties into an existing path, the distance to bus stop at Jensen/Kennedy is approximately .25 miles. This link is show in the map attachment to this application.

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.

This path is adjacent to Buffalo Bayou, which is a major point of interest in downtown Houston and adjacent neighborhoods. Additionally, the area where this project is located is shown as a "connection opportunity" in H-GAC's "East End Livable Centers Plan."

Pilot Projects

No Other shared use paths and waterway crossings exist within the area.

Safety

Does proposed facility:

No No No Yes The proposed project upgrades an existing path (between McKee and the Strauss Trunnion Bridge) to be compliant with AASHTO and ADA guidelines.

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 This project is within the limits of H-GAC's "Fifth Ward Pedestrian and Bicyclist Special District Study." The study identifies on page 6 and 7 a "Rail Bridge under US 59 and New Bike Trail from bridge to Jensen". The project is discussed further in the study as providing a safe off-street crossing of Buffalo Bayou in an area where there are not ideal crossings of the bayou for pedestrians and cyclists. http://www.h-gac.com/community/qualityplaces/pedbike/special-districts/documents/fifth_ward_study.pdf ; In H-GAC’s “East End Livable Centers Plan”, the area where US 59 crosses Buffalo Bayou is identified as a “Connection Opportunity.” This study also highlights the existing and planned multi-use trails in the vicinity of this project (one of which this project would construct – the path on the south side of the bayou near Clayton homes). http://videos.h-gac.com/ce/livablecenters/east_end_livable_centers_study.pdf ; The Buffalo Bayou Partnership also identifies the crossing on their website as a portion of the system of continuous trails they aim to construct along the Buffalo Bayou. ; http://buffalobayou.org/our-vision/hike-and-bike-trails/

Funding Leverage

Leverages funding through partnerships to meet or exceed the 20% match The 20% match for this project is provided by Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the Texas Department of Transportation.

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 No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Submitted GIS shapefile to H-GAC for analysis on 12/1/2014. Utilized H-GAC Environmental Justice map to input Underserved Population Access information.

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