2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title FM 1960 Reconstruction Primary Agency TxDOT Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:04:02 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following congestion, safety, operations/state of good repair, and economic problems with the current facility conditions: • Project is on TxDOT Top 100 most congested corridors – ranked #55 • Project is on TxDOT Top congested freight corridors – ranked #193 • Demand exceeds or approaches capacity for both a.m. & p.m. daily commute periods. • Congestion due to competing uses (i.e. local traffic use and through traffic use). • Roadway design deficiencies. • Predicted increases in truck traffic due to growth, currently at 4% The existing intersection ties two major roadways together in the growing Northwest Houston area. Existing demand regularly exceeds capacity at this intersection with existing volumes (52,900 adt) expected to nearly double (101,362 adt) by the year 2038. The high levels of congestion reduce mobility along these two regionally significant corridors that both tie to US 290 approximately one mile away from the intersection. The existing FM 1960 facility has a continuous left-turn lane which is prone to high crash rates in a developed area with multiple driveway access points. A raised median will be installed as part of the project. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max The proposed project would reduce congestion, improve mobility and improve safety by reconstructing the intersection and adding raised medians, a noted access management treatment. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed project would reconstruct the intersection and approach roadways to add dual left-turn and right-turn bays, an additional through-lane on FM 1960 and raised medians. The proposed project would also accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic signals would be upgraded. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max Development in the area, plus proximity to US 290, limits the amount of major alternatives that could be considered. Various design alternatives were evaluated and fatal flaws were quickly flushed out. The recommended alternative satisfies the need and purpose.

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)(26) Modernization of a highway which meets constraints in paragraph (e) 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. 02/01/2011 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? 30 Please provide an estimated date for the completion of property acquisition necessary for construction activities to begin. 08/01/2016 Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? No Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). Any utility adjustments would be handled by the utility company with TxDOT reimbursement. Approximately 30 feet of additional ROW is needed; number of parcels is to be determined when mapping is complete. 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. • Eldridge Parkway is a Harris County facility. The project team has coordinated with Harris County on these proposed improvements. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. • Public Meeting – 3/24/2011 • NAO Public Hearing Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. PS&E is 30% complete, needs inclusion in TIP to complete. No permits required. No known controversy. Approximately 30 feet of additional right-of-way is needed along the proposed project and impacts multiple properties. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

1685-01-092 - SCHEMATIC - FM 1960 at Eldridge Pkwy.pdf

Map/Location

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

1685-01-092 - GIS - FM 1960 at Eldridge Pkwy.jpg

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.

1685-01-092 Budget - FM1960_Filled.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.

Benefit /Cost Methodology - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)

Congestion – Travel Time Savings

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and appropriate narrative of analysis used.

1685-01-092 - BCT - FM 1960 at Eldridge Pkwy.pdf

Life-Cycle Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology.docx

Regional Impact

NHS/Principal Arterial The roadway is classified as a principal arterial, and ranks #55 on the Top 125 Most Congested Roadways list. Yes Yes, the intersection is on TxDOT’s top most congested freight corridors and is ranked #193. In addition, the intersection has four percent truck traffic primarily for commercial deliveries that will increase and development continued to increase. No No fixed route transit stops are located in the vicinity of this project

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes The proposed project would reconstruct the intersection and approach roadways to add dual left-turn and right-turn bays, an additional through-lane on FM 1960 and raised medians. The proposed project would also accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic signals would be upgraded. The project coincides with access management improvements along FM 1960 immediately east and west of the project. Yes The proposed project would reconstruct the intersection and approach roadways to add dual left-turn and right-turn bays, an additional through-lane on FM 1960 and raised medians. The proposed project would also accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. 15-foot outside lanes are proposed as well as sidewalks and curb ramps.Traffic signals would be upgraded. No Other than synchronization of traffic lights, no ITS component would be included.

Community

Yes Yes, the project is consistent with the recommendations from the HGAC access management study. Changes were made to the recommended improvement from the planning level study based on engineering judgment and public and other local government opinion. The project is implementing access management and also accommodating bike/ped. Ranked #55 on the Top 125 Most Congested Roadways list. http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/mobility/MTFP.html

Yes The roadway is ranked #55 on the Top 125 Most Congested Roadways list.