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IH-10 and FM 3180 Overpass Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 5:20:17 PM

Project Narrative

Currently, IH-10 is an at grade multi-lane paved highway that contains six, 12-foot main lanes (three each direction) and four, 12-foot frontage lanes (two each direction). It does not have a sidewalk. FM 3180 is a two lane highway overpass with access roads to IH-10 frontage roads. It does not have a sidewalk. The need for the proposed project is demonstrated by the following conditions: • Demand exceeds or approaches capacity for both a.m. & p.m. daily commute periods. • Hurricane and emergency evacuation options are a documented concern. • Congestion due to competing uses (i.e. local traffic use and through traffic use). • Roadway design deficiencies. • Predicted increases in passenger traffic due to growth of BHISD and residential neighborhoods. • Predicted increases in truck traffic due to growth of nearby industrial facilities. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility and safety, reduce traffic congestion, improve hurricane evacuation, create a facility consistent with thoroughfare plans, and provide travel options while minimizing adverse environmental effects. Reconfigure IH-10 to an overpass, relocate the eastbound exit ramp and the westbound entrance ramp farther to the west and make FM 3180, a secondary road, a five lane roadway with two lanes each direction and a left turn lane for northbound traffic and left turn lane for southbound traffic. No sidewalks are proposed as part of this project. This project does not require any right-of-way. A widening of the existing FM 3180 overpass that will tie back into the recent upgraded Eagle Drive to the north (two lanes divided) and to a proposed widening project to the south will contain five lanes, two each direction with a continuous center turn lane. A No Build option has also been considered. The improvements outlined in this application represent the preferred alternative. This project will not be staged as the improvements are needed cunccurent with each other as to reduce the issues presented.

Project Narrative

Yes

Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes 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. 01/01/2017 No Yes Utilities have been identified. 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. No

There has been public meetings concerning FM 2354 and FM 3180 and the amount of truck traffic and safety of the passenger vehicles traveling the roadway. These meetings were held in the Spring of 2014 at the city hall of Beach City.

Please see attached

300807112201551918PM.pdf

Map/Location

300807112201541705PM.pdf

Project Budget

300807112201541746PM.pdf

No

No

Evalutation Questions - Major Investments

Benefit/Cost Methodology

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

300807112201551959PM.pdf

Narrative Benefits

Due to the facility’s limited capacity, residents (generally located north and south of the project area), responding to warnings of approaching hurricanes, have experienced significant delays using the IH-10 Corridor as a main evacuation route. Existing north-south roadways serving the project area consist exclusively of FM 3180. Evacuation from Beach City and the city of Cove is a concern during pre-storm conditions and emergency evacuations. Due to lowered elevation levels of IH-10, which were breached east of the project site during Hurricane Ike, emergency conditions are enhanced in the project area due to flooding and congestion during weather of approaching storms. This is most noticeable at peak traffic conditions such as recreational and special event parking for Royal Purple Raceway, intersection congestion, and when incidents obstruct the FM 3180 overpass. Other roadways such as SH 146 and FM 565 provide limited relief to this primary route, which is designated as a hurricane evacuation route for the surrounding communities.

300807112201541904PM.pdf

This project is located in a largely commercial/residential area and traverses the municipal jurisdictions of Baytown and Mont Belvieu. Commercial land use north of the project site along Eagle Drive and the frontage roads of IH-10 and south along FM 3180 includes restaurants, banks, small retail centers, RV parks and fueling stations. Residential development consisting of both single and multi-family housing is keeping pace with the increased employment in the project area and along the east/west roadways connecting to FM 3180 and the Trinity Bay communities, such as Cove. With the high growth in both population and employment that the City of Mont Belvieu and surrounding areas are experiencing, travel demand along the FM 3180 Corridor is exceeding its capacity causing severe congestion and bottlenecks along the proposed project especially during peak hour time periods.

This project will improve the life cycle from the physical preservation point of view, aid in congestion relief, safety and economic productivity to name a few.

The Petroleum industry has made substantial investments to existing and new refinery and gas facilities for the Mont Belvieu and Baytown areas. Furthermore, the expansion of public and private barge terminals located along Cedar Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel are of significant value. Recreational fishing and boating activities are highly visible in Beach City, Cove and Baytown with current commercial development associated with Trinity Bay.

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.

300807112201541952PM.pdf

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