2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title FM 565 Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 4:45:41 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1500 characters max FM 565 is a two lane highway that bisects FM 1405 and a Union Pacific railroad. It does not have a sidewalk. The need for this project is demonstrated by the following: 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 of nearby industrial facilities and residential subdivisions. This roadway has several industrial facilities located along the route. Some of these facilities are in their beginning stages of growth. With the expansion of these facilities and other contributing factors; without the expansion, realignment and creation of additional lanes this area will see more congestion, lack of mobility and increased traffic safety as It also serves as a local connector between the city of Baytown and cities of Mont Belvieu, Cove, and Beach City. Describe the primary outcomes to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1500 characters max By making these improvements, mobility and congestion will be improved as well as safety and will create a facility consistent with thoroughfare plans and will provide the mentioned benefits while minimizing adverse environmental effects. With the proposed overpass over the UPRR, and re-alignment and additional lanes, this project will aid in traffic safety as well as increased capacity. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1500 characters max FM 565 from SH 146 to SH 99. The project is appoximately 2.84 miles in length. The improvements will generally widen the roadway from two to four lanes (two lanes in each direction) with a continuous center turn lane as well as an overpass at the Union Pacific railroad located east of FM 1405. No sidewalks are proposed as part of this project. This project does require additional right-of-way. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
3000 characters max Alternatives to this project have been the expansion from two to four lanes with a continuous center turn lane and the inclusion of FM 1405 in the overpass of the Union Pacific Railroad with the re-alignment of FM 565 east of FM 1405. Another, is the addition of a center turn lane and widening shoulders from SH 146 to SH 99 and the re-alignement of FM 565 east of FM 1405. The last alternative is a No Build. Please describe any opportunities for staged construction of the project.
1500 characters max This project may present an opportunity to be staged in respect to the overpass. Due to the specific location to the private businesses that provide a substantial economic boost to the community, the need to implement the realignment section of the project adds the much needed capacity and safety benefits to the area. Staged Construction Attachment

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.

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Environmental Assessment (EA) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? Please Select 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 This project falls under the category of Major Investment and will need USACE, Railroad, and various utility company reviews and permits. It is expected to go through the full process and may take up to two years. Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 05/01/2016 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? 10 Please provide an estimated date for the completion of property acquisition necessary for construction activities to begin. 01/01/2019 Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? No Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). Non-compensible utility entities shall be responsible to move/relocate their facilities at their own expense. There have been meetings with Chambers County and some private businesses that share concerns for the development of the re-aligned roadway. 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. This project has been associated with congestion and safety concerns from the early 2000's. It was brought to the local agency due to current and upcoming development and bypassing current capacity of the roadway. There will be further scheduled workshops and public meetings once this project is selected. Public Involvement Attachment

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Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. There have been meetings with Chambers County and some private businesses that share concerns for the development of the re-aligned roadway. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

Map/Location

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

3006931122015120250PM.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.

3006931122015120456PM.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.

Benefit/Cost Methodology

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

BCA Excel spreadsheet

300693112201544504PM.pdf

Analysis Narrativet

Narrative Benefits

Safety: Please provide additional description of project benefits. Due to the facility's limited capacity and defficient roadway design, residents and businesses located along the roadway, have experienced significant delays in travel. This is most notable at peak traffic conditions such as recreational and special event parking, intersection congestion, and when trains are changing over at the Union Pacific railroad. The narrow road section along with the "S" curves present hazardous conditions for motorists. Safety Narrative Attachmentt

3006931122015121843PM.pdf

Congestion: Please provide additional description of project benefits. This project is located in a largely industrial and some residential areas and connects SH 146 to SH 99, FM 3180 and bisects IH-10 to the east. Industrial land use adjacent to the corridor is located on the north and south sides and a residential community is located on the south side across from a major racepark facility. Industrial sites are continuing to develop and residential development consisting of both single and multi-family housing is keeping pace with increased employment in the project area and surrounding areas specifically west and east of the project area, such as Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Cove and Beach City. Congestion Narrative Attachmentt

Asset Management/Operations: Please provide additional description of project benefits. Long term aspects come from this project. The life cycle will be improved derived from the physical preservation, congestion relief, safety and economic productivity to name a few. Asset Mgmt/Ops Narrative Attachmentt

Regional Economic Competitiveness: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The Petroleum industry has made substantial investments to existing and new refinery and gas facilities for the Mont Belvieu and Baytown areas. Also, the expansion of public and private barge terminals located along Cedar Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. Econ Competitiveness Narrative Attachmentt

Natural/Cultural Resources: Please provide additional description of project benefits. The Department's Modus Operandi related to the natural and cultural resources is: avoid, minimize, mitigate. This project/preferred alternative is not anticipated to result in: Significant soils affected, substantial interuption of utility services, reduced community cohesion, Isolation of distinct areas or ethnic groups and all individual minority and low-income populations will be equally affected, Displaced businesses, Loss of jobs and a minimal amount of land will be removed from the tax base, Imapcts to historical structures, Impacts to parks, recreation areas, refuges, etc. The No Build scenario will have a negative impact on the community as traffic will increase, causing more congestion, and a general deterioration of mobility. Conversely, this project will improve travel time and improve existing congestion. Environment Narrative Attachmentt

3006931122015122159PM.pdf