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FM 1960 Widening TxDOT 1/12/2015 3:31:19 PMProject Narrative
The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following congestion, safety, operational/state of good repair, and economic problems: • Demand exceeds or approaches capacity • Congestion due to competing uses (local vs. through traffic) • Crashes are extremely high in the area including fatalities • Roadway design deficiencies • Deteriorating pavement • Continued and anticipated growth and development FM 1960 is a five-lane facility (2 lanes each direction and a continuous two-way left turn lane) and is the primary east / west thoroughfare through the Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita area. Right of way varies from 100 to 120 feet in width. All intersections with the project limits are at-grade and are controlled by signals for the side streets. The facility is on the National Highway System and is functionally classified as 3: principle arterial. This section of FM 1960 carries four percent truck traffic and has a current ADT of approximately 33,000 and is forecasted at nearly 59,000 in 20 years. The facility is experiencing congestion, crashes, reduced pavement quality, and strong economic growth adjacent to the facility. Transportation improvements are needed along FM 1960 due to increasing growth and a strong commercial, residential, and multi-family housing market in the communities adjacent to FM 1960 including: the City of Humble and the master planned communities of Kingwood, Atascocita, and Eagle Springs. This increase in population has led to increased traffic volumes and conflicting movements, which impairs safety, inhibits mobility, and further degrades the pavement conditions along the facility. The northeast Harris County area has experienced significant growth over the last 10 to 20 years. The 2010 Census listed Atascocita’s population at more than 65,000. This is an increase of 85% over the 2000 Census of more than 35,500 residents. According to the Census Bureau, the populations of Harris County and the City of Humble both increased by approximately 21 percent between 1990 and 2000. Between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census, Harris County’s population increased from 3,400,578 to 4,092,459. The population of Harris County is expected to rise to 5,053,890 by 2030, for an increase of 49 percent from 2000. These population increases adjacent to FM 1960 will continue to strain the facility. Traffic congestion currently exists on FM 1960 between BF 1960A and the San Jacinto Bridge, and the existing four through-lane facility will not effectively accommodate projected future traffic within the project area. The anticipated increase in traffic growth will create increasing conflict between through traffic and turning movements along the existing FM 1960 facility. The existing FM 1960 intersections are at-grade facilities with stop signs or traffic lights for cross traffic and a center left-turn lane that creates significant potential conflict points for motorists. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility by alleviating traffic congestion, improving safety, and accommodating future traffic associated with the anticipated growth by adding capacity within the project limits and using access management tools. The addition of two travel lanes would reduce traffic congestion by adding capacity to FM 1960. A center raised median with left-turning bays is proposed because raised medians have been proven to be safer when compared to center turn lanes – especially on high volume facilities such as FM 1960. It’s projected that the proposed improvements would provide an average Level of Service ("LOS") of C by 2035 during peak traffic periods, which is defined as a stable flow with acceptable delays. The proposed project would widen FM 1960 from east of Humble to west of the San Jacinto Bridge. The project is 6.10 miles in length. The proposed project would widen FM 1960 from a four-lane divided roadway to a six-lane urban divided with curb and gutter and TMS. The project will include access management including appropriate left turn bays along the roadway providing an increase in capacity. The widened facility would match the cross-section of the existing six-lane San Jacinto Bridge that carries travelers into the city of Huffman and would also match the cross section at the western side of the project limits. It would essentially eliminate a very long bottleneck. The proposed FM 1960 facility would consist of six 11-12 foot travel lanes (three eastbound and three westbound), a 22 foot raised center median, and 5 foot shoulders within a proposed ROW that ranges from 134 feet to 165 feet in width, except at proposed overpasses where it widens to up to 250 feet. The proposed project includes 12 foot left-turning bays at numerous intersections along the length of the project. The raised center median and left-turning bays are safety design features. The proposed project would also construct an overpass of FM1960 over West Lake Houston Parkway. This overpass will improve mobility and throughput. There would be four 12-foot main lanes on the overpass (two in each direction) with an 8-foot median. There would be six 11-12 foot at-grade frontage lanes (three in each direction), as well as right- and left-turn lanes and 5-foot shoulders. The proposed overpass would extend from Atascocita Road to Framingham Road. The proposed speed limit would remain 45 mph. Three Build Alternatives were evaluated for the proposed project. The No-Build Alternative (Alternative 1) also was evaluated but is not the preferred alternative because it does not effectively accommodate the projected traffic demands nor does it improvement safety. Build Alternative 2 would widen FM 1960 to the north of the existing roadway. This alternative would impact adjacent property owners to the north of FM 1960 by converting yards and driveways to roadway. Build Alternative 3 would widen FM 1960 to the south of the existing roadway. This alternative would impact adjacent property owners to the south of FM 1960 by converting yards and driveways to roadway. Build Alternative 4 would use a combination of Alternatives 2 and 3 and would widen FM 1960 to both the north and south of the existing roadway. This alternative would impact adjacent property owners to the north and south of FM 1960 by converting yards and driveways to roadway. However, Build Alternative 4 would require an equal amount of ROW from adjacent properties, thereby minimizing/equalizing the impacts to each property owner. Proposed Build Alternative 4 is the recommended alternative because it would help to alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, and continue to support economic growth, and would enhance the pavement conditions and extend the life of the roadway by adding capacity and left-turning bays while minimizing impacts to residential yards and driveways adjacent to FM 1960. Ideally, this project will be let as one project. However, if funding were constrained, we would phase construction in two phases beginning at the eastern side of the project near Lake Houston and working west to the project limits. Phasing would be done this way in order to address the primary safety concerns. Phasing may increase costsProject Narrative
Yes Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes Yes, the project requires a NWP 14 and a SW3P, which are anticipated to be secured prior/during construction. 07/09/1992 Yes Yes, the project will require approximately 20 to 60 feet of additional right of way along the majority of the facility for a total proposed right of way of 134-165 feet. 05/01/2021 No Utilities have been identified in the corridor that will need to be adjusted. All impacts to utilities resulting from the proposed project would be addressed in the construction plans. Utility adjustments within the project limits would be the responsibility of the utility companies. No residential displacements are anticipated. No Two public meetings have been held for this project. August 9, 2005 – introduced the project and gathered public input - attended by 185 citizens. Issues of concern gathered from the public meeting comments included: proximity of widened roadway to adjacent properties, removal of trees, and traffic safety. September 19, 2006 – gather issues of concern - attended by 129 citizens. Issues of concern gathered from the public meeting comments included: need for more turn lanes, removal of trees, and the need for more traffic lights. A Public Hearing still needs to be conducted. The environmental clearance on this project is 60% complete. A public hearing is required. Schematics are 60% complete and no PS&E has been performed. The project will require right of way. Right of way will need to be mapped. Other routine project activities are on-going.Evalutation Questions - Major Investments
Benefit/Cost Methodology
Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used
Narrative Benefits
Three year crash data indicates eight (8) fatalities in this stretch of roadway. The proposed project would improve safety by widening the existing facility and providing a raised median with appropriate left turn queue lanes, these are noted access management treatments. Implementation of access management, including a raised median, will help to reduce to most severe types of crashes including head-on and t-bone. The improvements would address notice roadway design deficiencies and drainage concerns. The improvements would grade separate the intersection of FM 1960 and West Lake Houston Parkway a key, congested safety area. FM 1960 is the primary east-west corridor traversing extreme northeast Harris County and is flanked on both sides with heavy commercial and residential development including grocery stores, churches, small retail, banks, restaurants, hotels, fueling stations, and large box retailers such as Home Depot, WalMart, and Best Buy. The facility is already strained with the current traffic volumes especially in/around the intersection of West Lake Houston Parkway. Because of the attractions such as Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River, proximity to Bush Intercontinental Airport, and the Port of Houston, as well as an abundance of residential subdivisions, the area has proven to be a strong attraction to newcomers. The completion of the upgrade to US 59 north, local growth has been facilitated by the reasonable commute to downtown. With the high growth in both population and employment that the area is experiencing, travel demand along FM 1960 is exceeding capacity causing severe congestion and bottlenecks especially during peak hours. Factors contributing to increased traffic congestion are due to deficiencies in the design given the volumes on the roadway. FM 1960 is the only facility in this area that crosses Lake Houston and therefore, provides a key connection for the region. HGAC’s Announced Changes note that an additional 3,400 multiple and residential units are imminently planned to the south of FM 1960 in the area between FM 1960 and BW 8. Because these Announced Changes are largely residential in nature, FM 1960 will continue to provide the existing and new populations with key access and connection to these commercial venues because BW 8 does not have these amenities. The existing pavement is concrete with an asphalt overlay and has asphalt shoulders. It’s old, but still serviceable. Even though the pavement conditions vary from very good to good according to the 2014 condition scores, the increasing traffic will continue to degrade the pavement. Grade separating the key intersection at West Lake Houston Parkway will improve the overall operations of the facility. In addition to improving operational efficiency and safety in the corridor, the improvements are warranted based on projected population growth. FM 1960 is the key east-west corridor in the north Harris County area. It is on the National Highway System and carries four percent truck traffic. According to HGAC’s 2040 RTP, local arterials account for 43 percent of the daily vehicle miles traveled. Improving the facility and upgrading the current pavement will help to support the anticipated growth and development. Conversely, not improving the facility will result in increased congestion, increased crashes, and will serve as an impediment to economic competitiveness for the key connection corridor. The Department’s modus operandi related to natural and cultural resources is: avoid, minimize, mitigate. This project/preferred alternative is generally not anticipated to result in: Significant soils affected, Substantial interruption in utility services, Reduced community cohesion, Isolation of distinct areas or ethnic groups, Loss of jobs and a minimal amount of land will be removed from the tax base, Impacts to historical structures, Impacts to parks, recreation areas, refuges, etc. The No Build scenario will, however, have a negative impact on the community as traffic will increase, causing congestion, and a general deterioration of mobility and pavement conditions. Conversely, the build alternative will provide more capacity and improved travel time to handle increasing congestion and provide better linkages to key cross streets such as Woodland Hills Drive, Timber Forest Drive, Kings Park Way, Atascocita Road, West Lake Houston Parkway, and Pinehurst Trail Drive. Moreover, it will eliminate a very long bottle neck by matching the typical sections of FM 1960 to the east and west of the project limits thereby providing better access for the areas especially east of Lake Houston. These feature environmental justice areas including: low income housing, limited education, and populations over 65. In addition, law enforcement and emergency services would have a more efficient facility with which to perform their duties and freight will move more efficiently through the area.1685-03-058 - BIKE - FM 1960 from E of Humble to San Jacinto River.jpg