Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	IH 10 E Widening/Operational Improvements
Facility/Street/Highway	IH 10 E
Limits	From IH 69 to SL 8
Description	RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN FROM 8 TO 12 LANE (ADD 4 MANAGED LANES) - Safety, operational and mobility improvements to IH 10 mainlanes and frontage roads, based on results of the IH 10 East PEL study
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$362,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local freight plan?

2. Is the proposed project located on a Critical Urban/Rural Freight corridor (CUFC/CRFC)?

Yes

3. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the existing project facility? H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the truck data from our website.

14.8%

4. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the project facility after the proposed project implementation?

20.0%

5. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to a port/airport?

Yes

6. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to other freight generators?

Yes

6a. If yes, what is the estimated warehouse capacity of the other freight generators?

2,000,000 plus

7. Please provide a narrative explaining how the project improves regional goods movement within and through the region. In the narrative, please mention if the project scope includes grade separations at at-grade railroad crossings or implementation of ITS technologies.

The project consists of reconstructing and widening IH 10 E from 8 lanes to 12 lanes, by adding 4 managed lanes (2 in each direction). The project, which is in a high growth area of Harris County, spans from IH 69 to SL 8. It will include safety, operation, and mobility improvements to IH 10 main lanes and frontage roads, based on the results of the IH 10 E PEL study, Cloverleaf Livable Center Study and the IH 10 Corridor Feasibility Study. IH 10 is an important link on the Critical Urban Freight Network, sitting on the Texas Highway Freight Network. Portions of IH 10 are also a major hurricane evacuation route. The project segment intersects with SL 8, another major evacuation route. In addition to the reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway, the project will include improvements in the safety, drainage, and pavement condition of the roadway. This roadway also hosts several Houston METRO bus routes (11, 28, 47, 137, and 237), which have many stops along the frontage road. This project will create managed lanes that the buses will be able to use. The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion on IH 10 E and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment. This improvement, in conjunction with the other adjacent proposed improvements, will improve freight access to many major freight generators in the region including the region’s seaports, airports, manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by reducing congestion on IH 10 E and improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with the addition or improvement of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor, such as sidewalks and/or wide shoulders/shared use paths. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment of IH 10 E up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical freeway link. Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

8. Is the project sponsor’s jurisdiction considering strategies to promote off-peak and overnight freight delivery?

9. Is the proposed project located on a State designated hurricane evacuation route?

9a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

9b. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternate to a hurricane evacuation route?

Yes

i. If yes, please explain in a narrative.

IH 10 E segment connects directly to IH 10 E that is a state evacuation route or connects to IH 69 N that is a state evacuation route.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic operations. Within the narrative, please include if the proposed project includes construction of truck only lanes or managed truck only lanes, construction of an interchange, or intersection improvements.

This section of IH 10 is heavily congested and in need of additional capacity. According to TTI’s 2022 100 Most Congested Roadways in Texas Report, the annual total delay per mile on the segment is 47,470 person hours, and truck delay is 5,244 person hours. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 157,331 vehicles per day, of which 14.8 percent are trucks. Volume is estimated to increase 28 percent by 2041. The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment and the Critical Urban Freight Network in the region. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also reducing congestion and improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project benefits high growth areas. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project improves or provides access to new residential developments, retail stores, other land uses, or if the proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

The project is in a high growth area of Harris County. Multiple existing warehouses near the IH 610 E interchange are along this segment of IH 10 E generating large volumes of truck traffic. Additional lanes will relieve congestion and increase reliability of the interstate system while also improving freight network fluidity. The proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators near the IH 610 E interchange.

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves walking and biking conditions. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project scope includes construction of a new or improved existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on a project facility or in the vicinity of the project.

As required by state design guidelines, the capacity increase will also be balanced with improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the corridor where appropriate. Sidewalks are recommended in the Cloverleaf Livable Center Study from H-GAC (completed in 2022) along the frontage roads in the Cloverleaf area. This same recommendation will likely be repeated in the ongoing IH 10 E PEL Study and IH 10 Corridor Feasibility Study.

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic conditions for transit services (local, express, signature, or commuter).

Transit (METRO Routes 11, 28, 47, 137, and 236 [Total average ridership of 22,000 persons weekly as of March 2023]) use this portion and has many bus stops along frontage roads of IH 10 E. The proposed improvements will allow transit vehicles to use managed lanes and improved frontage roads. The Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center is nearby this segment of IH 10 E as well.

5. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will reduce inoperability for significant periods due to infrastructure damaged by a collision with vehicles such as trucks, ships, and barges.

The project will add lanes and improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility vehicle collisions.

6. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will improve state of good repair and extend the service life of the project facility.

Many pavement sections on the segment are in “fair” condition (with an IRI score between 95 and 170). The project includes reconstruction of the roadway which will lead to an improvement in the state of good repair and extend the service life of the facility.

Planning Factors Criteria

1. What is the existing fatality crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

1.19

2. What is the existing serious injury crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

5.11

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces expected fatality and serious injury crashes. Narrative must include specific improvements (work types) included in the project scope. Crash reduction factors associated with specific work types can be found in the safety benefits calculation template. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the crash reduction factors upon request.

The crash rate on this segment is 164.41 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is higher than the statewide average for similar roadways, 139.89. The fatality rate is 1.19 and the serious injury crash rate is 5.11. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion and by bringing the segment up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.

Resiliency

1. Please select the vulnerability to flooding score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool upon request.

High

2. Please select the criticality score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool up on request.

High

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces vulnerability to flooding. The narrative must include specific improvements such as drainage improvements that are included in the scope.

The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical freeway link. All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards. Detention ponds and enlarged drainage pipes are likely to be reconstructed in this project.

Access/Connectivity

Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income

39,036

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

51,345

2. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

3. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a school/college/university within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

4. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a social services facility within a quarter buffer of the project location?

Yes

Environmental Justice

Please enter household population located within quarter mile buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data. 1a. Low-Income

39,036

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

51,345

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

12,387

1d. Disabled Persons

4992

1e. Elderly Persons

1861

1f. Limited English Proficiency

9701

2. What is the average Livable Center Need Index within quarter mile buffer of the project location? H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

66.50

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project provides benefits to vulnerable populations. Benefits include safety improvements, construction of or improvements to ped/bike facilities, or improvements to transit stops.

Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates adverse effects to vulnerable populations. A list of adverse effects was provided in detailed criteria document.

All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding). Any sound walls that are identified prior/during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be constructed on this project, otherwise the corridor is mostly industrial and commercial land uses that front on IH 10.

Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates impacts to natural (flood plains, wetlands) and cultural (historic and archeological sites) resources. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in identifying natural and cultural resources located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location.

The IH 10 E PEL study will include an evaluation of the environmental constraints associated with avoiding historical landmarks and sites, cemeteries, and endangered species to transfer to potential projects. During construction Best Management Practices (BMP) will be done to prevent sediment pollution in the Greens Bayou and any other bayous this project crosses.

2. Please provide Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) reductions provided by the project. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in calculating NOx and VOC reductions.

H-GAC Staff, Please calculate Emissions reductions for us per email instructions 4/26/23

Innovation

1. Does the project propose to implement new infrastructure technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations?

Yes

1a. If yes, please explain.

The project will implement new infrastructure or technology to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This simply broadcasts red, green, and yellow times ahead of signalized intersections to connected vehicles (model year 2021 or newer) if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cellphone for older vehicles. This provides ample time for you to slow down before intersections because of the timing and to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning. The advantages are improved safety because of a reduction of red-light-running crashes and carbon emission reductions resulting from better traffic platooning. While it might be part of CSJ 701 right now, this type of work could easily be done on these construction/reconstruction projects.

2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology?

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.