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SH 288 @ FM 518 Imrpovements Brazoria County 1/12/2015 3:45:19 PMProject Narrative
Brazoria County has undergone significant population increases since the inception of SH 288 in 1985. Traffic demands are beyond current capacities leading to unacceptable levels of service. The FM 518 interchange at SH 288 has a level of service that has dropped to a critical point. The interchange is overwhelmed and ranks as one of the worst in the HGAC region. The deficiencies in the interchange can be traced to more capacity needed on FM 518 as well as the access roads and more efficiency needed in the way the access roads intersect with FM 518. This intersection is highly important to the viability of the northern Brazoria County/Pearland area. As part of the design process for the SH 288 toll lanes project, the City of Pearland and Brazoria County determined that the construction of the toll lanes bridge spanning FM 518 would make it difficult to expand FM 518 in the future as planned. If the bridge for the proposed toll lanes is built to the ultimate width and height to span the planned improvements for FM 518, it would create difficulty and additional expense when the general purpose lanes are reconstructed for the wider FM 518 section. Therefore, it makes since to rebuild all the structures at the same time to minimize this extra expense and then have the other two phases of the projects constructed when funding is available. The ultimate project (constructing all three phases described below) will add the needed capacity on both FM 518 as well as the access roads coming from SH 288 as well as create the efficiency needed to move the volume of traffic that utilizes the important interchange. Further, the pedestiran facilities will be improved as part of the project as major shopping centers are located at all four corners of this interchange. Each phase of the project has its own purpose. Phase 1: BCTRA will construct a new bridge in between TxDOT’s North bound and south bound main lane bridges, thus “filling in the gap”. Building a new BCTRA bridge that matches current span configurations does NOT allow for future FM 518 expansion. BCTRA proposes to build their new bridge with longer spans to allow for future expansion of FM 518. The result is a new BCTRA bridge that allows for lane expansion. BUT the remaining TxDOT NB & SB bridges do not allow for lane expansion. All bridges must have matching span configurations before FM 518 lane improvements can be made. This requires reconstruction of TxDOT’s 2 bridges, NB & SB main lanes. Phase 2: The expansion of FM 518 will allow greater capacity needed due to the large commercial developments that has occurred at all four corners of the intersection since the road was last widened. Phase 3: Bringing the access roads closer together will create efficiency in the operation of the intersection as a whole and the additional lanes will provide added capacity as stated above in Phase 2. The project consists of three phases: Phase 1: Brazoria County Toll Road Authority (BCTRA) will build the middle toll bridge with a span configuration that allows for the expansion of FM 518. The project consist of the reconstruction of the NB and SB main lane bridges, with matching span configuration that allows for the expansion of FM 518. The existing islands require reconstruction. U-turns will require relocation and reconstruction. Soil nail walls are required to facilitate the new U-turn location. Phase 2: Build 10 lanes of FM 518 (5 lanes ea. direction), beneath new bridges, for a distance of 850 feet, measured along CL of FM 518. Phase 3: This is the final piece of work to provide lane balance to Phase I & II work. In this phase, the access roads at all four corners will be reconstructed with additional lanes and brought closer together. These improvements are based on the preliminary schematic acquired from TxDOT. As each phase is constructed, the pedestrian facilities at the interchange will be reconstructed and improved beyond their existing state. More detail regarding the improvements can be found in the attached report below under project preparedness. Alternatives to this project would be wait to reconstruct the bridges over FM 518 until the expansion of FM 518 is funded. At this time, the SH 288 toll lanes will be constructed and operational. If they are operational, the normal phasing of an overpass reconstruction would not be feasible and either wider bridges would be constructed to facilitate traffic during construction, or to facilitate traffic during construction, the new bridges could swing outside the existing bridges which would add cost and would create an atypical overpass design.Project Narrative
No Categorical Exclusion (CE) (c)(22) Projects that would take place entirely within the existing operational ROW No 01/07/2015 No No Brazoria County will coordinate utility adjustments with the TxDOT District and Area offices. Procedures will follow TxDOT guidelines. Public utility owners (companies) legally share State right of way, so when major changes are made to roadways, they very likely affect utilities. Brazoria County will formally notify all affected utility owners of proposed work as early as possible and to coordinate utility adjustments with the utility owners. Typically, utility owners are responsible for moving their own facilities, including budgeting, locating existing lines, preparing plans, specifications and estimates, and letting contracts. Under some circumstances, Brazoria County may fund utility adjustments. Furthermore, utility adjustment plans may be made part of the project construction plans. When design of proposed underground features is approximately 60% complete, Brazoria County will send project construction plans to all utility owners so they may begin designing required adjustments. Continuous coordination and involvement of the utility owners throughout project development is essential to maintain the project schedule. Yes The owner entities (BCTRA, TxDOT, and The City of Pearland) have met with the HGAC to determine the best approach to achieve the desired ultimate intersection improvements. To take advantage of the pending BCTRA Toll road construction it was determined that the best approach was to implement the ultimate intersection plan in phases. Pearland has passed a resolution supporting all of Brazoria County’s project including this project. While Brazoria County is sponsoring the project, TxDOT has offered to contribute the 20% match for the project and has given its support for the project in writing to Brazoria County.SH 288 at FM 518 overpass letter of support.pdf
Brazoria County held a public workshop to review this project with the public and all members of Commissioners' Court on November 12, 2014. At the meeting the project was presented with opportunity for comments and questions from the Court and the public. Please find attached a document which has the Brazoria County court order authorizing submission of this project as well as a resolution and back-up information for the resolution in which the City of Pearland passed in support of the Brazoria County projects which includes this interchange.2015 TIP Call - Court Order & Resolution.pdf
The City of Pearland has performed considerable traffic analysis in preparing and planning the project for consideration. Further, as part of the SH 288 toll lanes project, Brazoria County has performed cost estimates and general layouts necessary to come up with the cost analysis. Attached is a report prepared by HDR Engineering on behalf of Brazoria County which details the project and gives layouts and cost estimates. The City of Pearland also prepared a technical memo detailing the level of service at this intersection after performing traffic models.HDR_Report for SH 288_ FM 518 Improvements 03102014 edits (2).docx
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Evalutation Questions - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS) Projects
Benefit /Cost Methodology - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)
Congestion – Travel Time SavingsPlease attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and appropriate narrative of analysis used.