Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 146 DC Ramps to Barbours Cut Port Terminal
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 146
Limits	AT BARBOURS CUT BLVD
Description	CONSTRUCT 3 DCs (SB-EB, WB-NB [SH 146], WB-NB [SH 225])
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$50,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

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

Yes

1a. If the project is recommended in a freight plan, please provide the plan or study name.

H-GAC 2023 Regional Goods Movement Study

1b. If the project is recommended in a freight plan, please provide a link to the plan or study website.

https://engage.h-gac.com/regional-goods

1c. If yes, please select the project priority/ranking identified in the freight plan.

Medium

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.

19.8

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

32.4%

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?

500,000 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 includes constructing 3 direct connectors along SH 146 at Barbours Cut Boulevard. It will provide a connection between Barbours Cut Boulevard, SH 146, and SH 225 that will relocate truck traffic away from the signalized intersection. It will also include a railroad grade separation. The project is located in a high industrial growth area of Harris County. SH 146 is a critical link on the Critical Urban Freight Network, sitting on the Texas Highway Freight network, and connecting to SH 225 and Fairmont Parkway, both of which are also on the Texas Highway Freight Network. Barbours Cut Boulevard is the direct route to port activity and container pick up and drop off facilities on Galveston Bay. SH 146 and portions of SH 225 are also designated as state hurricane evacuation routes. The project is featured in the East Port Area Subregional Plan and the SH 225/IH 610 E PEL Study. This roadway segment has extremely high commercial truck volumes. The average daily volume of traffic on this project segment is 79,387 vehicles per day, of which 19.8 percent is truck traffic. The total volume is expected to increase by 40 percent by 2041, and truck traffic is expected to account for 32.4%. Trucks turning movements at the signalized intersections create delays and lead to primary and secondary crashes. Further, trucks crossing railroad tracks at grade create additional points of conflict and delays. The crash rate on this segment is 151.65 crashes per vehicle miles traveled. The fatality rate for the segment is 1.37 and the serious injury crash rate is 4.1. The purpose of the project is to improve freight connectivity, delay reduction and provide congestion relief, and strengthen regional economic competitiveness. It will do so by redirecting freight movement, relieving the signalized intersection, and improving safety. This project connects directly to a port, which is a major freight generator for the region. 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 safety standards. Providing grade separation at the railroad crossing will mitigate a point of conflict and allow for unimpeded traffic flow. The project will also provide pavement and drainage improvements as required by state design guidelines. 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 and freight warehouses. The project will improve operations for the regional network by improving the connections between other parts of the freeway network. The enhanced drainage system that results from the reconstruction will improve regional resilience by reducing the risk of flooding on this critical link.

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?

Yes

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.

The average daily volume of traffic on this project segment is 79,387 vehicles per day. 19.8 percent of daily existing traffic is truck traffic. The total volume is expected to increase by 40 percent by 2041 and truck traffic is expected to account for 32.4%. As a result of this project, around 7,000 trucks will no longer have to wait and idle daily at the traffic lights at the SH 146 frontage road intersection. The trucks will be able to move over this intersection directly to SH 146 AND SH 225.

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 takes place in a high industrial growth area of Harris County. Port of Houston Barbours Cut terminal is experiencing rapid container traffic growth and these DC ramps will relocate truck traffic away from the signalized intersection of Barbours Cut Blvd and give them direct access to SH 146 and SH 225. The proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development (Barbours Cut Terminal container traffic is only increasing) activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

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.

Currently, the SH 225 and IH 610 E PEL study area does not support opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian facilities with discontinuous frontage roads and lack of sidewalks. The City of Houston's Bike plan does not propose any bike routes along our study area. Potentially reconstructing the roadways to current standards could provide an opportunity to design continuous frontage roads to promote pedestrian/bicycle connectivity and widen sidewalks to accommodate shared use path facilities where appropriate.

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

Harris County Transit currently operates transit services on SH 146 down to Fairmont Parkway (Baytown/La Porte Shuttle - Gulfgate Connection). Moving the freight traffic onto the direct connectors should improve transit reliability.

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 provide better connectivity from the port to SH 146 and SH 225, reducing inoperable periods that occur because of crashes at the signalized intersection.

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.

The new direct connectors new facilities and will contribute to the region’s overall state of good repair. Moreover, the project includes reconstruction on Barbours Cut Boulevard, which will lead to an improvement in the state of repair for that roadway 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.

1.37

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.

4.1

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.

Truck turning movements at the signalized intersection create delays and lead to primary and secondary crashes. The crash rate on this segment is 151.65 crashes per vehicle miles traveled. The fatality rate for the segment is 1.37 and the serious injury crash rate is 4.1. Further, trucks crossing railroad tracks at grade create additional points of conflict and delays. The project will redirect freight movement from the at-grade intersection, reducing primary and secondary crashes due to congestion. Providing grade separation at the railroad crossing will mitigate a point of conflict as well.

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.

Medium

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 project segment is rated as being highly vulnerable to flooding according to the H-GAC Resilience Tool. 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.

Access/Connectivity

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

1,525

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,419

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

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

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

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

1,525

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1,419

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

352

1d. Disabled Persons

187

1e. Elderly Persons

1f. Limited English Proficiency

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.

37.20

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 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 by reducing congestion and enhancing safety.

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 SH 146 and Barbours Cut Blvd.

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.

No Cultural or Natural resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time.

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 technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, and traffic operations and will implement new autonomous/ connected vehicle technology. 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 newer than model year 2021 or if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cell phone 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.