713-627-3200
Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire
Project Information
| Agency Name | PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY |
| Project Title | Bayport Container Terminal Overpass. |
| Facility/Street/Highway | PORT RD |
| Limits | FM 146 TO CRUISE ST |
| Description | CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROAD OVERPASS ON PORT ROAD LEADING TO THE BAYPORT CONTAINER TERMINAL. |
| Timeframe | Medium Term (6-10 Years) |
| Estimated Cost | $18,996,668.00 |
Investment Category-Focused Criteria
Yes
In general, Grade separations (in/around, and east of Houston) is discussed in the Texas Rail plan. It is also part of the Port Area Mobility Study.
https://www.h-gac.com/getmedia/a3794fc2-b397-4033-84f8-d11c701d6642/Ports-Area-Mobility-Study-Report
Medium
Yes
Approximately 4,000 and 8,000 trucks were counted in a day
Approximately 4,000 and 8,000 trucks were counted in a day
Yes
No
The Port Authority has seen increased demand of cargo and has made extraordinary efforts to address the resulting challenges from this increase in cargo. The grade separation would improve the movement of goods throughout the region. With over 9,000 truck moves a day on Port Road just from the Bayport Container Terminal, one train moving during high capacity once a month would result in: • An average of 207 hours of delay per blockage. This delay is just to the trucks and not the residential traffic as trucks back up onto Highway 146 and block all movement. • The potential delay cost to truckers of $3,972,000 over the lifetime of the construction project. • The following emission impacts: o 113,963 tons of CO2 at a cost of $8,438,662 o 1 ton of NOx at a cost of $16,933 o 3.53 tons of PM2.5 at a cost of $3,028,493 The impacts described above would grow with each additional train and roadway blockage.
Yes
The Port Authority continues to evaluate options for efficiencies at their terminals. When the strategies become viable for port operations the port would consider implementation.
No
No
No
Other Investment Category Focused Criteria
The project will design a safe grade separation taking into consideration the needs of the businesses, rail and people that use the roadway. This updated infrastructure will mitigate any additional rail-related incidents in Harris County when operational hours conflict with rail movement. With over 9,000 truck moves a day on Port Road, one train moving during high capacity once a month would result in: • An average of 207 hours of delay per blockage. This delay is just to the trucks and not the residual traffic as trucks back up onto Highway 146 and block all movement. • The potential delay cost to truckers of $3,420,000 undiscounted over the lifetime of the construction project. • The following emission impacts: o 113,963 tons of CO2 at a cost of $8,438,662 o 1 ton of NOx at a cost of $16,933 o 3.53 tons of PM2.5 $3,028,493
This project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development. Currently, the rail seldom operates during port operational hours. However, as the port extends hours, and the rail ramps up more operations these conflicts are anticipated to be more frequent. This project eliminates a stoppage of goods movement when the rail and the freight by truck conflict. With each new train crossing during operational hours, the major impacts will be compounded. These traffic delays are shown in images in the CRISI and RCEP grant that are attached. This grade separation is essential to mitigate impacts of the rail on current and future demands of the roadway. The separation will improve safety, movement of goods and reduce emissions by reducing congestion.
NA
NA
This project eliminates a stoppage of goods movement when the rail and the freight by truck conflict. With each new train crossing during operational hours, the major impacts will be compounded. The estimated backup onto Hwy 146 is 31,360 ft. This will be a full stop until the rail has cleared the roadway crossing. These traffic delays are shown in images in the CRISI and RCEP grants that are attached. This grade separation is essential to mitigate impacts of the rail on current and future demands of the roadway. The separation will improve safety, movement of goods and reduce emissions by reducing congestion.
This is a new project to mitigate impacts of rail crossing. This project extends the life of the rail and roadway operations by allowing efficient movement through the industrial area.
Planning Factors Criteria
0
2
According to the Federal Rail Administration’s (FRA) Office of Safety Analysis (5.10 - Hwy/Rail Map with Table (dot.gov)) Harris County, where the grade crossing is located, is three times more likely to have incidents than any other county in Texas. Over the last ten years the county has seen 384 incidents with 7 deaths and 118 injuries. This crossing ID DOT 675225L generates an error in the FRA’s data system. In the past, there have been few incidents on the Port Authority has record since the rail currently operates during gate closure hours at the Bayport Container Terminal. Recently as both the rail and the terminal grow operations conflicts of the road and rail have begun to manifest. It is projected that evening gate hours at the Bayport Container Terminal will be implemented in the near-term future. This will put all pedestrians and truck traffic that moves through this route at risk of meeting Harris County’s current statistics related to incidents at crossings. During peak hours a train conflicting with truck traffic is catastrophic. The back up of trucks would grid lock up to 6 miles. The projections dramatically increase the risk of fatality as the traffic will back up onto Highway 146. The design of this project will hasten the future construction of the grade separation to mitigate any potential safety and efficiency concerns when the train runs during operations.
Resiliency
High
Low
The Port Road Expansion and Drainage project just completed addressed the vulnerability to flooding on this roadway. This project would be designed to review and include any additional drainage improvements to mitigate impacting the roadway and rail.
Access/Connectivity
0
0
No
No
No
Environmental Justice
0
0
0
0
0
0
NA-Industrial within a quarter mile.
According to a news report Texas ranks #1 for train collisions | CW39 Houston. “Texas ranks highest for the number of train collisions in the country, according to the latest full-year statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration. Harris County had the greatest number of highway-rail incidents totaling 28 in 2020, followed by Tarrant with 16, Bexar with eight and Dallas with seven.” The Project will design a safe grade separation taking into consideration the needs of the businesses, rail and people that use the roadway. This updated infrastructure will mitigate any additional rail-related incidents in Harris County when operational hours conflict with rail movement.
Port Road is the main thoroughfare for Bayport Container Terminal, local businesses, and the community located near the terminal. The impact of this project will stretch far beyond the terminal, and especially benefit Harris and surrounding counties. Harris County alone serves a population close to 5 million people, with 104 opportunity zones identified by the Internal Revenue Service. Many of the surrounding rural counties also serve Historically Disadvantaged populations. The Port Authority has seen increased demand of cargo and has made extraordinary efforts to address the resulting increases in cargo. With over 9,000 truck moves a day on Port Road, one train moving during high capacity once a month would result in: • An average of 207 hours of delay per blockage. This delay is just to the trucks and not the residual traffic as trucks back up onto Highway 146 and block all movement. • The potential delay cost to truckers of $3,420,000 undiscounted over the lifetime of the construction project. • The following emission impacts: o 113,963 tons of CO2 at a cost of $8,438,662 o 1 ton of NOx at a cost of $16,933 o 3.53 tons of PM2.5 $3,028,493
Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
This project will be built in an already existing roadway. This roadway is in an industrial area and will avoid impacts to all natural and cultural resources within the quarter mile buffer.
A conflict once a month over the life of the asset is anticipated to reduce 4.89 metric tons of NOx and 1.05 Metric tons VOC.
Innovation
No
No
Additional Documents
Project Narrative-Port of Houston Authority-CRISI-2022.pdf
RXR-Grade-Separation-Delay-benefits-template(Uprotected).xlsx