2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Brazoria Bicycle Loop Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 7:04:27 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max These roads included in this project do not have a designated bicycle facility. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Many cyclists currently ride along these roads, without any designated bicycle facility. • Currently there are existing barriers to cycling on the shoulder such as raised medians, lack of shoulders in some segments, among others. •There is no inter-city bicycle route connecting Angleton, Lake Jackson, Brazoria and Alvin. • There is no bicycle route connection to TxDOT’s Park and Pool lots: in Angleton at FM 523, in Clute/Richwood at Business 288B, in Lake Jackson, one at CR 288 and another one at CR 856 Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The purpose of the project is to provide a Signed Shoulder Bike Route, improve connectivity for alternative modes of transportation (bicycle and Park and Pool lots) and encourage mode shifts from driving to cycling and carpooling in person work trips and cycling in person non-work trips. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max • FM 1462 from City of Alvin to the Fort Bend County Line • FM 2403 from SH 35 to FM 2917 • FM 2917 from FM 2403 to FM 2004 FM 1462 from Fort Bend County Line to FM 762 • FM 762 from FM 1462 to Brazos Bend State Park • SH 332 from FM 2004 to FM 521 • FM 521 from SH 332 to FM 558 • FM 2004 from FM 523 to SH 332 • FM 523 from SH 35 to FM 2004 • FM 528 from S Friendswood Dr to Brazoria County Like (Please see pdf uploaded in Location Map Section) The Brazoria Bicycle Loop project includes shoulder widening and signal modifications in the intersections as well as removal of some raised medians to provide a signed shoulder bike route. This project does not require additional acquisition of right-of-way. There are no widening projects on any of those roadways in the foreseeable future. H-GAC’s 2035 Regional Bikeway Plan identifies as a bikeway need: FM 1462, FM 2004 from SH 288 to FM 523 and FM 523 from CR 171 to SH 288. This project connects: -cities: Angleton, Lake Jackson and Brazoria - to TxDOT’s Park and Pool lots: in Angleton at FM 523, in Clute/Richwood at Business 288B, in Lake Jackson, one at CR 288 and another one at CR 856 -to existing bike facilities in Lake Jackson on That Way St and T J Dunbar Jr Park 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. 30/09/2014 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 utility adjustments are expected to be minor and were included in the preliminary estimate for this project. Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency? No Please describe the affect and supply evidence of support from the affected agency. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. TxDOT staff has been meeting with the City of Alvin over the last several months and have been in discussions with various bicycle clubs in the Brazoria County area and they are actively pursuing safer bike routes in the area. The City of Alvin had a council metting on November 20, 2014 and passed a resolution supporting TxDOT in the bicycle improvements within their City limits. Public Involvement Attachment

300567112201535814PM.pdf

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. Attached are the detailed construction budgets. City of Alvin passed a resolution in support of the project on Nov 20, 2014. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

300567112201535733PM.pdf

Map/Location

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

300567112201535941PM.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.

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 min width of a paved shoulder is 5 feet. A greater shoulder width is recommended when vehicle speed on the road is greater than 50 mph (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: Design of On-Road Facilities, pg. 4-7). Speed limit on the roads that make up the signed shoulder route Brazoria Bicycle Loop is mph. Narrow shoulder will be widen to 8 feet, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.

Design Standards

Yes Per AASHTO, the min width of a paved shoulder is 5 feet. A greater shoulder width is recommended when vehicle speed on the road is greater than 50 mph (AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: Design of On-Road Facilities, pg. 4-7). Speed limit on the roads that make up the signed shoulder route Brazoria Bicycle Loop is mph. Narrow shoulder will be widen to 8 feet, which exceeds AASHTO guidelines.

Connectivity

Barrier Elimination

Yes The proposed facility aligns with the Regional Bikeway Concept Map since it connects the cities of Alvin, Angleton, Lake Jackson and League City as identified in the regional bikeways.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Facility Connections

Yes The Brazoria Bicycle Loop connects to existing bike facilities in Lake Jackson on That Way St, T J Dunbar Jr Park and the trail along McFadden Bayou in Lake Jackson. The Brazoria County Bicycle Loop will connect to a bike facility on S. Johnson Street in the City of Alvin.

Transit Connections

Direct link to transit connection This bike loop directly links to four of TxDOT’s park and pool lots: in Angleton at FM 523, in Clute/Richwood at Business 288B and, in Lake Jackson, one at CR288 and another at CR 856.

Connections to Regional Destinations

Provides a connection to or within activity centers*?

* 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 bike loop connects the cities of Angleton, Lake Jackson, Alvin and Brazoria.

Pilot Projects

No None

Safety

Does proposed facility:

No No Yes No In 2013 there was one fatal injury on FM 2403 and another fatal injury on FM 1462 in 2011 to pedalcyclists on the roadway by vehicles going straight (crash number 13251923, 12357900). FM 2403 has a narrow shoulder at the location of the fatality. The proposed facility addresses the safety concern of narrow or no shoulders on segments of the Brazoria County Bicycle Loop. Narrow shoulders or lack of shoulders require bicyclists to ride in the traffic lanes.

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 H-GAC’s 2035 Regional Bikeway Plan identifies as a bikeway need: FM 1462, FM 2004 from SH 288 to FM 523 and FM 523 from CR 171 to SH 288. These segments are part of the proposed bike loop that connects the cities of Angleton, Lake Jackson and Brazoria.

Funding Leverage

Neither N/a

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 Yes 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