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Project Information

FM 646 Widening TxDOT 1/12/2015 6:59:17 PM

Project Narrative

The following items are the focal points regarding the need for this project: • Improved mobility both locally and regionally due to the projected increases in Traffic, population, and development • Decreased congestion during hurricane evacuations • Improved safety and operational efficiency • Reduced congestion and address safety concerns at the at-grade railroad crossing The purpose of the project includes: Increase safety and operational efficiency (mobility) Reduce congestion during evacuation events Provide added capacity for future traffic volumes Addition of an overpass at the Union Pacific railroad crossing Reconstruction of the roadway and the addition of travel lanes will improve mobility and provide additional capacity for future traffic. Widening the shoulders and adding a raised center median would improve the safety characteristics of the roadway. Construction of a new overpass at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing will also improve mobility and increase safety along the corridor. The FM 646 roadway improvements are being proposed by TxDOT under five Control Section Job (CSJ) numbers: 3049-01-027 (Benson Gully to IH 45, let in August 2011), 3049-01-022 (Edmunds Way to FM 1266), 3049-01-023 (FM 3436 to FM 1266), 0978-02-053 (FM 3436 to SH 146), and 0978-02-034 (SH 146 (N) to 1 mi east of SH 146). The last section of the roadway that passes through the unincorporated community of Bacliff is also referred to as Grand Avenue. The proposed project is to widen FM 646 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway, widen the shoulders, and add a raised center median to the roadway. A new overpass will be constructed at the UPRR crossing. Several roadway design concept alternatives were developed by the project sponsor. During the alternatives analysis process, described in detail in the EA. five preliminary alternatives were initially proposed to determine whether any of them meet the stated need and purpose of the project. The preliminary alternatives studied include the No-Build Alternative, widening to the north, widening to the south , widening to center and a combination of these. Following the public meetings. public input was taken into further consideration. As a result, a combination of the north and center alignments (Alternatives A and C) is considered the Preferred Alternative (Alternative D). The majority of the proposed project area would have equal amounts of ROW acquired from the north and south sides of the roadway except in the vicinity of Elva Lobit Parle The park is adjacent to the roadway on the south side of FM 646, approximately 1.2 mi east of SH 3. To completely avoid this park. the alignment is proposed to shift to the north from Wyoming Street to approximately 1.0 mi east of the park limits and then return to the center alignment. Like Alternatives A. B. And C. this alternative would also not acquire additional ROW in the Bacliff area. This alignment was preferred by the public because of the design modifications that avoided the park. The Preferred Alternative would meet all the project needs by improving mobility, decreasing congestion during hurricane evacuations, and improving safety and the operational efficiency of the roadway as well as incorporate the public involvement. The corridor is being staged as shown in the attached Corridor map.

01-12-2015 - FM646_Corridor.pdf

Project Narrative

Yes

Scoping.docx

Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes NWP 14, environmental document was 100% complete; re-eval was approved November 2013. 08/01/2010 Yes 50 08/01/2020 Yes Utility adjustments are typically made by the provider, with TxDOT reimbursement where eligible. Entity is responsible to present TxDOT the adjustment plans and get it approved before begin any adjustments. Since this is an interstate project, the adjustments are fully reimbursable. No

PM November 17, 2005 PM September 7, 2006 Public Hearing was held on July 13, 2010. Information regarding the project was posted on the TxDOT Houston District website. Copies of the EA and proposed design were made available to the public at the TxDOT Houston District office and the TxDOT Galveston Area Office.

The environmental document was completed and a FONSI awarded May 23, 2011. A Re-evaluation was approved November 15, 2013. The ROW mapping is 100% complete. The project can probably let prior to complete ROW acquisition.

0978-02-053 - SCHEMATIC - FM646 from Gum Bayou to SH 146.pdf

Map/Location

0978-02-053 - GIS - FM 646 from FM 3436 to SH 146.jpg

Project Budget

0978-02-053 - Budget - FM646.xlsx

No

No

Evalutation Questions - Major Investments

Benefit/Cost Methodology

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used

0978-02-053 - BCT - FM 646 from FM 3436 to SH 146.pdf

Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Narrative Benefits

FM 646 would be upgraded from a two-lane rural roadway to a 4-lane divided roadway in order to accommodate current and future predicted traffic demands on this portion of FM 646. Failure to accommodate the increase in traffic volumes would result in a safety hazard. Improvements to the corridor will assist in hurricane evacuation. The improvements would also address the need for a new railroad overpass at the UPRR crossing.

The proposed improvements will ease congestion in this rapidly growing area, thus improving air quality. FM 646 was originally designed as a 2-lane, minor arterial roadway to serve a rural area dominated by farmland. The existing typical section consists of a two-lane (one lane per direction) with a continuous two-way left turn lane. The facility is a major east-west corridor bringing residents to IH 45 south. Development along FM 646 to the south of IH 45 has been substantial within the past several years.

The proposed improvements are necessary to support State of Good Repair, and the increase in capacity is necessary to support the anticipated increase in demand. Because of current and predicted future traffic demands, the existing roadway is in need of infrastructure improvements. Existing deficiencies for the roadway include insufficient through traffic lanes, the need for a continuous left turn lane or center median, and additional left and right turn lanes. Development along FM 646 is largely residential. Because of current and predicted future traffic demands, the existing roadway is in need of infrastructure improvements. Existing deficiencies for the roadway include insufficient through traffic lanes. Much of the roadway is in good condition, with portions rated as low as poor. Sections in poor condition will continue to deteriorate rapidly under the anticipated increased load of traffic if improvements are not made.

Development near FM 646 south of IH 45 has rapidly increased, and is anticipated to continue to increase rapidly. There is real need to support these changes from rural farmland to developed area, both residentially and commercially.

Congestion has increased along FM 646 in recent years, and is anticipated to continue to increase rapidly. Air quality will continue to suffer, if changes are not implemented to accommodate the increase in traffic demand. The H-GAC was contacted regarding input on potential air quality concerns for this project. The following response was received: “The Houston-Galveston Area Council, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Houston-Galveston Area region, supports this project as a regionally significant project that would improve mobility and reduce travel time delays in Galveston County.” The No Build scenario would have a negative impact on the community as traffic will increase, causing congestion, and a general deterioration of mobility. The build alternative will provide more capacity and improved travel time to handle increasing congestion and provide better linkages to key cross streets. Easing congestion in this corridor will reduce adverse impacts to air quality in our non-attainment area.

0978-02-053 - BIKE - FM 646 from FM 3436 to SH 146.jpg

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