2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title FM 518 Bypass Hike and Bike Trail Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 6:50:39 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max Majority of the project limits provides a trail where there is no sidewalk today. Currently there is no sidewalk between numerous subdivisions and two schools. For children to walk or ride their bikes to the schools, they would need to utilize several major arterials (FM 2094 and FM 518). As this is not safe, most children are driven to the schools and ball fields. The project is needed to provide a safe area for pedestrians and bicyclists to commute. The shared use path would provide an off road path from these subdivisions to the schools. In addition, FM 270 would have a missing link of bike trail without this project. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max It provides safe travel adjacent to two schools and provides for a safe crossing under FM 2094; a busy thoroughfare adjacent to Clear Creek Intermediate and Clear Creek High school. The separated shared use path proposed along FM 270 connects on the north to a trail being designed by TxDOT and to an existing shared use path along FM 518. The project provides connectivity to the City's existing bike trails and follows the City's master bike plan approved in 2010. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The project is in the City of League City, Galveston County. The project is within TxDOT ROW along FM 270 and along school District, City property, or Centerpoint property in other areas. The FM 518 Bypass Bikeway Project has several shared use path segments including; along FM 270 from 900ft north of Robinson Bayou to FM 2094, adjacent to the hot water canal between FM 2094 to Southshore Blvd, and a leg from the school over to FM 518, and along FM 2094 between Davis Rd and the hot water canal. See pdf location map for more details on the project limits. The proposed improvements include approximately 2.3 miles of shared use path (10' wide usual), a 125' ped/bike bridge across Robinson Bayou (14' wide), and bridge rail improvements on an existing bridge across the hot water canal. The existing bridge is currently not used and would become a ped/brike bridge. The project is at approximately 60% complete with design. A drainage report has been prepared and submitted to TxDOT. The environmental documentation was at approximately 80% when the project was put on hold previously. There is an easement to obtain from the school district and Centerpoint. The City has met with the school district and they are in agreement. After recent legislation passed, Centerpoint has begun granting easements for bike trails There are no railroad crossings or railroad agreements needed. The existing street crossings have ped signals at the intersections. The ramps will be reconfigured where necessary to be ADA compliant. Some of the existing ramps do not have truncated domes. These will be provided. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max An alignment adjacent to the hot water canal between FM 270 and FM 2094 was previously considered. However for this option, the alignment crosses Robinson Bayou further downstream where it is still navigable and utilized by sailboats with high masts. The vertical clearance height requirement made this option unfeasible. Several bridge options were explored (cantilever, drawbridge, etc) that could provide temporary clearance for the boats. After much deliberation with the City and other parties, it was agreed to revise the route and eliminate this issue as there would also be operational and safety issues.

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.

Mtg Min 140129_kickoff.pdf

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? Yes Please describe the permits needed and the timeline anticipated to acquire them.
1000 characters max Since Robinson Bayou at the proposed bridge crossing is not navigable by boats in excess of 21 feet nor used to transport interstate or foreign commerce, FHWA has the ability to exempt the project and it would not require a permit from US Coast Guard. The City has provided the information to TxDOT for them to forward to FHWA and request the exemption. Six months is estimated for TxDOT to coordinate with FHWA and for determination to be made. Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 06/09/2014 Will additional property, or interest in property (easement), be required to implement the project? Yes How many parcels or portions thereof remain to be acquired? 2 Please provide an estimated date for the completion of property acquisition necessary for construction activities to begin. 05/03/2015 Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? Yes Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). In most instances, the private utility companies will be responsible for their relocations. The City of League City will be responsible for utility relocations where utility companies have easements. A Verizon cable has been identified as possibly requiring relocation near the FM 2094 crossing. Verizon will have responsibility for the relocation. Water valve adjustments to grade and sanitary sewer MH adjustments to the new grade will be accommodated within the construction plans. 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. Yes - it will improve access to the schools. Attached is a letter of support from the school District. It will also affect infrastructure owned by TxDOT as the project includes a new shared path within TxDOT ROW along FM 270. As mentioned previously, the project has been coordinated with TxDOT and provides connection to another shared use path on FM 270 designed by TxDOT. Attached is their letter of support. The project also utilizes City of League City ROW. Attached is their letter of support. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

FM518 Hike-Bike Trail TIP Transmittal Letter.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. This shared use path is one part of a multi-path network. The following public meetings took place to discuss the City's network of paths. 01/12/2009 - 4B meeting 03/09/2009 - Parks Board meeting 04/20/2009 - Planning and Zoning meeting 05/12/2009 - Trails Plan Update was approved by City Council 09/10/2009 - Public Hearings 09/14/2009 - Public Hearings 09/17/2009 - Public Hearings 12/07/2009 - 4B; Draft Master Trails Plan 12/14/2009 - Planning and Zoning with Parks Board - Draft Master Rails Plan 5/2010 - City Council approved Trails Master Plan Public Involvement Attachment

2010-15 Supports Trails Master Plan Appendix (A-4).pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. The project is about 60% complete. The survey has been completed. The drainage report and scour analysis report have been submitted to TxDOT. Utilizing existing soil boring for FM 270 bridge. The Design concept conference (DCC) has been conducted. The 30% plans have also been submitted to TxDOT. The bridge layout package has been submitted to TxDOT. Majority of the easements have been acquired for the project. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

FM518 Bypass Bikeway Scour Analysis Report.pdf

Map/Location

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

LeagueCityOverall.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 FM 518.pdf

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: The 2.3 miles of shared use path (10 ft wide) will meet all AASHTO criteria including width, horizontal and vertical alignment, vertical clearance, offset to obstacles, etc. Since the locations of the shared use path are off road, many of the flexibility tools outlined the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide and in ITE's Guide Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares are not needed for this project as they provide options for on road facilities. In addition, the project does not include a road diet (ie reducing the width of traffic lanes) to provide room for a bicycle facility. The specific criteria utilized for this proposed project are listed in response to the next question.

Design Standards

Yes The 2.3 mile shared use path will meet horizontal and vertical alignment requirements as well as vertical clearance requirements. In addition, sufficient offset to obstacles has been provided. Signage and pavement markings have also been provided. The shared use path will be designed in accordance with ASSHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities 2012 (4 ed). Per AASHTO, the typical width of a shared use path is 10 to 14 ft (Chapter 5, pg 5-3). The project's shared use path is proposed as 10 ft in width throughout. Per AASHTO, a clear width of 2 ft should be provided between inside face of rail or barrier (Chapter 5, Pg 5-26). The proposed bridge width from inside face of barrier will be 14 ft to provide 10 ft and 2 ft offset to barrier on either side. The shared path will have the required minimum 2 ft lateral offset from obstructions as outlined on AASHTO pg 5-4. In addition a 3 to 5 ft wide graded area with a maximum slope of 6:1(Pg 5-5) will be provided adjacent to the trail. The project area terrain is very flat. Therefore, vertical curves are a non-issue except at the bridge and the crossing at FM 2094. At these locations, vertical curves are provided. The shared use path shall meet the requirements for the vertical alignment (pgs 5-16 to 5-21). A maximum grade of 5% will be utilized throughout. The length of the crest vertical curves will meet the stopping sight distance The shared use path will meet the requirements for horizontal alignment as outlined on AASHTO pg 5.13 to 5-14. Along the main alignment, all curves shall be based on an 18mph design speed with a minimum radius of 60 ft.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes The proposed shared use paths will provide an underpass at FM 2094, a highly traveled thoroughfare. It also provides a separate ped/bike bridge structure parallel to FM 270 across Robinson Bayou. At another location, the shared use path will utilize and existing bridge to cross the hot water canal. The proposed trails provide connections to existing trails within the City (connects to trail parallel to FM 518) and provides connections to future planned trails by TxDOT and the City. The planned shared use path follows the City of League City Trails Master Plan that was adopted May 2010.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The planned shared use path will provide several connections to existing facilities as follows: 1. To an existing sidewalk on Southshore Blvd 2. To an existing shared use path along FM 518 at the signalized intersection of FM 518/Louisiana St. 3. To existing sidewalk/bike lanes on Louisiana St. 4. To an existing sidewalk on FM 2094. As mentioned previously, it will connect on FM 270 to a shared use path being designed by TxDOT.

Transit Connections

None of the Above No transit connections

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.

Shared use path provides direct access from neighborhoods to two schools (Clear Creek Intermediate and Clear Creek High School). ON FM 270, the planned trail connection will provide access to a park and nature preserve (Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Nature Center) located just to the north of the hot water canal. The nature Center is a 148 acre tract. The first phase of the project included a 1.3 mile nature trail, picnic areas, observation area, and bird viewing.

Pilot Projects

No The City of League City has numerous other bike trails within the City.

Safety

Does proposed facility:

Yes Yes No Yes The proposed shared use path along FM 270 is a separated facility. Currently bicyclists ride in the shoulder of this roadway. The shared use path provides new connections from several neighborhoods to two schools (Clear Creek Intermediate and Clear Creek High School). The intersection of FM 270/FM 2094 and FM 2094/FM 518 do not have ADA compliant ramps that will be corrected with this project. The ramps do not have truncated domes and some exceed the maximum slope.

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 shared use paths are outlined in the City of League City's adopted Trails Master plan (City adopted May 2010)

Funding Leverage

Sponsor has committed to provide more than 20% of local match The City has passed a resolution in support of the project and to support the funding match.

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 No No No No No None of the above apply.

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