2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title Installation of Arterial Intelligent Transportation Systems on SH 249 from IH 45 to BW 8 (North Belt) in Harris Co. Primary Agency Texas Department of Transportation Date Submitted 1/12/2015 3:39:43 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max This project will provide necessary expanded coverage of existing incident management, congestion management, and traveler information systems infrastructure for the TxDOT Houston District (TranStar) region. This improvement project will allow TranStar to move closer to achieving the goal of DISTRICT-WIDE integrated coverage. Synchronization of signals is needed along with creating a redundant communication path for BW 8, SH 249 and IH 45 Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max This project will improve real-time incident detection, responsiveness and notification; and also improve real-time traffic monitoring and reporting capabilities of recurring congestion. Create a redundant communications path for BW 8, SH 249 and IH 45. This project will synchronize 20 signals. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The project will involve instrumentation of an arterial, SH 249, from I-45 North Freeway to Beltway 8 in Harris County. Specifically, this project will include the installation of 7.5 miles of conduit bank and 144-strand fiber trunkline; including 15 closed-circuit cameras, 4 dynamic message signs, 6 radar-based vehicle sensing devices, and 6 travel time readers. Additionally, this ITS segment improvement will provide for fiber-optic communication redundancy. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max None. However, since this is an ITS infrastructure expansion versus conventional roadway capacity expansion, the inherent benefit is to gain more capacity utilization of the existing facility without any environmental impacts or requiring additional right-of-way/heavy construction.

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.

TIP Project Scope 300783.xlsx

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Categorical Exclusion (CE) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? (c)(21) Deployment of electronics, photonics, communications, or information processing 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 Railroad agreement/permit can be executed within a year. Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 01/10/2021 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? Yes Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). No Utility Adjustments will be needed. 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. No Public Involvement activities are needed. Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. The project design can be at 30% complete within 30 days after notice to proceed. Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

TIP Project Scope 300783.xlsx

Map/Location

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

TIPS Project 300783.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.

Project Budget TIP Application 300783.xlsx

Is this application for a transit project, ITS project, or other project that would have a significant ongoing operating/maintenance cost? Yes 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.

OM Budget for TIP Application 300783.xlsx

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 have a useful lifespan greater than five (5) years? Yes Please explain: ITS technology deployment is typically at least 7-10 years before retrofit or total replacement is required.

Benefit /Cost Methodology

H-GAC to conduct analysis based on the GIS/map project location and project scope information provided above.

Congestion Safety

Incident/Event Management

Yes; This ITS project improvement segment will be a fully-integrated extension of TxDOT’s current ITS system operated out of the region’s multi-agency housed Traffic & Emergency Management Center (Houston TranStar). This project will also communicate with 20 signals for Incident Management timing. ; Yes; This ITS project improvement segment is both on the National Highway System and a component on H-GAC’s CMP Network. ; Yes; This ITS project improvement segment will include the installation of4 dynamic message signs and 6 travel time readers that provide updated traveler information on TranStar’s speed map and email alert free subscription service. ; No; However, through the extension of ITS instrumentation (i.e., CCTVs, RSVDs, and travel time readers) emergency vehicles can be routed more efficiently during their incident arrival and departure tripmaking. ; No; However, through the extension of ITS instrumentation (i.e., CCTVs, RSVDs, and travel time readers) mobility management for the OVERALL travel corridor will be improved.; Yes; This project will provide the communication and monitoring infrastructure foundation for the future implementation of integrated corridor management applications such as ramp metering, variable speeds, variable pricing, etc. However, immediate benefits of this project will provide for traffic condition monitoring that will enhance travel time reporting and tripmaking reliability. ;

Coordination

System Migration/Expandability

Yes; The system will expand/extend the regional communications network from I-45 North Freeway to Beltway 8 for a distance of 7.5 miles along SH 249 in Harris County. This will also provide communications to 20 traffic signals. ; Yes; This ITS project improvement will be fully-integrated into the region’s Traffic and Emergency Operations Center (Houston TranStar). This will allow all real-time traffic and incident information to be viewed and shared among the principal transportation and emergency management agencies in Harris County (TxDOT, Harris County, City of Houston, and METRO).;

Integration and Information Sharing

AND, System ties into another agency’s systems to allow for the sharing of data; All information and data captured by this ITS improvement project will be transmitted to the region’s Traffic and Emergency Management (Houston TranStar). . Since all information and data will be coming into TranStar, the capability for sharing among the primary TranStar partners is inherent. ; Yes; The system will provide data to Houston TranStar website, TxDOT website, Dynamic Message Signs via TranStar operators, local media outlets, and free individual subscription service for customized email alerts.; Yes; The system will collect segment speed and travel time data that can be used for mobility performance measures. Additionally, the system will assist in the real-time monitoring of incidents providing the necessary time increments to define total clearance timelines by various types of incidents to report incident clearance performance.;

Asset Mgmt/Efficient Operations

Continuity Operations

Yes; This project will provide a redundant path to the Sam Houston Toll way/BW 8 North, SH 249 and IH 45. This will enhance continuity of operations in case of fiber cut on one of those communication systems. This project will also beneficial to the City of Houston and Harris County Toll Authority. ; Yes; This project is an important leg in the connection to Tomball and the northwest. This project extension will allow or continue a redundant path to I-45 North. This will enhance continuity of operations in case of fiber cut on one of those communication systems. This project will also be beneficial to the City of Houston and Harris County Toll Authority.; Yes; This project will increase the system reliability by providing a redundant path. This project will also be beneficial to the City of Houston and Harris County Toll Authority;

System Lifecycle/Maintenance Issues

Yes; ITS technology deployment is typically at least 7-10 years before retrofit or total replacement is required.; Yes; TxDOT has an ITS operations and maintenance (O/M) budget in place. This ITS O/M program has been continuously funded on an annual basis for over the past 20 years. Funding has also been made available for equipment upgrades and preventative maintenance needs dictate. Additionally, an asset management system is being developed to archive all ITS equipment maintenance activities by device so as to better predict short-term and long-term budgetary demands. There currently are 40 Full time employees in the Transportation Management Systems section of TxDOT Houston that are responsible for the O/M of the ITS. There are also multiple contracts that support the maintenance of the ITS. ; Yes; This project will improve operations and incident detection/response over a greater area of the region thereby reducing overall costs and impacts due to delays associated with recurring traffic congestion and incidents. This project will also provide for greater system continuity, travel time reliability for motorists, and increase capabilities for dynamic corridor management. Since all new ITS equipment will be fully-integrated, the early signs of equipment malfunctions will continue to be inherent. ;