2015 Call for Projects Application Listing

Project Information

Project Title IH 45 North at Woodlands Parkway Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) Primary Agency Montgomery County Date Submitted 1/9/2015 3:39:04 PM

Project Narrative

Describe the primary problems to be addressed by the project (Project Need).
1000 characters max The Woodlands area is rapidly growing as an urbanized area as a result of new businesses, retail, and employment. The immediate/future growth is projected to include 8 million square feet of retail/businesses, 6,000 homes built east of IH 45, and ExxonMobil bringing approximately 10,000 jobs. The growth within the IH 45 vicinity is expected to increase traffic on Woodlands Parkway from approximately 64,000 vehicles per day to 80,000 vehicles per day and Robinson Road from approximately 16,000 vehicles per day to 40,000 vehicles per day by the Year 2040. As a result, the Woodlands area needs to improve the rural design of the roadway system to satisfy the urban needs. This drives the need for improving current access, particularly for the areas on the east side of IH 45, Oak Ridge North. Oak Ridge North currently lacks proper direct access to IH 45. The three critical movements, which lack proper access on Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road to IH 45 are as follows: 1. Traveling southbound on IH 45 to eastbound Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road 2. Traveling eastbound on Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road to IH 45 Northbound Frontage Road 3. Traveling westbound on Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road to IH 45 Southbound Frontage Road There is a need for U-Turns at this interchange for local circulation which are existing. Describe the primary outcome to be achieved by the project (Project Purpose).
1000 characters max This project will provide direct access to these three critical movements; Traveling SB on IH 45 to EB Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd Traffic traveling SB on IH 45 to travel east of IH 45 are required to exit the frontage Rd and access the at grade entrance ramp south of the Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd and circulate to the grade separated overpass of Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd west of IH 45 and travel EB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd. Traveling EB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to IH 45 NB Frontage Rd Traveling EB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to travel NB IH 45 is the worst movement under existing conditions due to the extended queuing to access the IH 45 NB Frontage Rd. For traffic to travel EB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to NB IH 45, vehicles are required to circulate from the overpass on the “jug handle” connector to IH 45 NB Frontage Rd, at grade. Under existing conditions, there is significant queuing for vehicles to enter the frontage Rd. Traveling WB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to IH 45 SB Frontage Rd Traffic traveling WB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to travel IH 45 SB Frontage Rd is required travel WB on the Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd overpass and exit on the “jug handle” connector and circulate south to the IH 45 SB Frontage Rd, at grade. For both the Traveling EB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to IH 45 NB Frontage Rd and Traveling WB on Woodlands Pwky/Robinson Rd to IH 45 SB Frontage Rd movements, the frontage Rd poses significant difficulty. Currently, the IH 45 NB and SB Frontage Rds carry approximately 40,000 vehicles per day and function as a freeway with high speeds that impedes traffic flow. This results in significant delay for vehicles entering both frontage Rds from the “jug handle” connector ramps. At all three of critical movements, the entrance ramps on the frontage Rds and the exit ramps of the “jug handle” create weaving issues which result in sideswipe crashes. Describe the proposed improvement (Facility/Limits/Description).
1000 characters max The proposed improvement to satisfy the urban needs and accommodate the immediate/future growth in traffic is the construction of a SPUI, Single Point Urban Interchange, at Woodlands Parkway/ Robinson Road, the centerpiece for the South Montgomery Regional Mobility Plan. The proposed improvement will extend 700 feet north and south of Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road. The construction of the SPUI includes four ramps, two entering and two exiting, from the frontage road to the Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road overpass that will be controlled by a three-phase traffic signal on the top of the bridge. In addition, u-turns will be constructed on both the north and south side of Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road. Describe any alternatives to the proposed improvement which have been considered or will be evaluated.
2000 characters max Two alternatives were considered to the SPUI: Diverging Diamond and Signalized Diamond Intersections. The diverging diamond concept, although it would improve traffic flow due to a two phase operations, still could not accommodate all the urban needs. The diverging diamond would further reduce access to the commercial property located in the southeast quadrant of IH 45 Northbound Frontage Road at Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road. The “jug handle” ramps would still serve as primary access to the frontage roads and motorists would still experience the high speeds of the frontage road as well as the long delays merging onto the frontage roads. The signalized diamond intersections, which would operate as a three phase would have poor efficiency, especially compared to the SPUI, which will continue to decrease as the Woodlands area traffic continues to grow.

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. No Please attach a completed scoping checklist or meeting summary.

What level of environmental documentation is required for the proposed project? Categorical Exclusion (CE) Which CE does the proposed project scope qualify for? (d)(2) Highway safety or traffic operations improvement projects Will any permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, railroad, etc. be required before the project can be constructed? No Please describe the permits needed and the timeline anticipated to acquire them.
1000 characters max Please provide an estimated completion date for the 30% Design/PS&E milestone. 06/03/2016 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? 2 Please provide an estimated date for the completion of property acquisition necessary for construction activities to begin. 12/01/2016 Has a utility evaluation been completed for the project? No Please describe the process for utility adjustments/relocations (entity responsible, financial responsibility, etc.). N/A Will the project improve or significantly affect infrastructure owned or operated by another agency? Yes Please describe the affect and supply evidence of support from the affected agency. See attached support letter from TxDOT. Evidence of Agency Support Attachment

30088519201531348PM.pdf

Please describe previous and upcoming public involvement activities related to the proposed project. The SPUI was discussed at two public involvement meetings from the South County Mobility Study by HGAC in 2014. Public Involvement Attachment

Please provide any additional project development/readiness information relevant to the proposed project. N/A Additional Project Development/Readiness Attachment

30088519201531749PM.pdf

Map/Location

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

30088519201531843PM.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.

30088519201532621PM.xlsx

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 - Roadway/Mobility (Non-ITS)

Congestion – Travel Time Savings

Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and appropriate narrative of analysis used.

30088519201532733PM.pdf

Regional Impact

NHS/Principal Arterial I-45 is major evacuation route and this improvement will provide better circulation and allow people from the area to exit faster. No N/A No N/A

Design/Corridor Mobility

Yes This project is a single point urban interchange which will improve access and safety. Yes We will provide crosswalk at a signalized intersection. No N/A

Community

Yes This project is a recommendation from the H-GAC sponsored South County Mobility Study completed in 2015. http://montgomerycountymobility.com/

No N/A