Transportation Project Questionnaire

High Growth Area Needs Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Beaumont District
Project Title	US 90 - Klemp Rd Interchange
Facility/Street/Highway	US 90
Limits	At Klemp Rd
Description	Construct new interchange on US 90 with RR overpass on Klemp Rd
Timeframe	Medium Term (6-10 Years)
Estimated Cost	$70,000,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Define High Growth Area Need: Provide a narrative to explain how proposed project is needed to serve a high growth where project is located. (Please provide quantifiable data that demonstrates high growth in population, employment, commercial development or daily traffic.)

BMT is currently working with UPRR at the nearby wye crossing that will close the access/crossing from FM 605 & Waco St to US 90 at the Waco St. intersection. There is not another UPRR crossing that connects the roadways north of US 90 , therefore the crossing at Klemp St is needed.

2. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local plans?

No

3. Please provide proposed project description (detailed project scope).

Grade separated intersection of US 90 and Klemp Rd, with a bridge over the UPRR ROW.

3a. Does the project provide access to new planned land use development (residential or commercial), or connects existing discontinuous networks?

Yes

3a-i. If yes, explain.

This interchange will connect in to the Dayton Relief Route which provides a connection between FM 1960 to the west and US 90 heading east. Currently this connection passes through the city of Dayton and is discontinuous. Additionally, the Dayton Relief Route will provide connection to existing properties in a more direct manner as well as provide opportunity for greater growth by reducing truck traffic through Dayton and creating a thoroughfare on the south side of town where commercial development can occur.

3b. Does the project expand existing networks to alleviate anticipated congestions?

Yes

3b-i. If yes, explain.

The US 90/Klemp Interchange will provide a north-south connection in Dayton across the UPRR railroad. Currently Stilson Rd and SH 321 are the two roadways that cross UPRR, separated almost 2 miles apart. The interchange will provide the accessibility and safety of crossing the railroad with a grade separation.

3b-ii. What is the estimated Level of Service after the project is completed.

LOS B

4. Does the proposed project provide an alternative route to existing corridor (Road or commuter transit)?

Yes

4a. If yes, explain.

The US 90/Klemp Interchange will provide a north-south connection in Dayton across the UPRR railroad. Currently Stilson Rd and SH 321 are the two roadways that cross UPRR, separated almost 2 miles apart. The interchange will provide the accessibility and safety of crossing the railroad with a grade separation.

5. Is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

No

5a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternative to an evacuation route?

Yes

5a-i. If yes, explain.

Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.InvestmentCategory5ai

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Was the project scored under Regional Goods Movement Category?

No

1a. If no, please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves regional goods movement. Within the narrative, please include if the proposed project is designated as a critical freight corridor or a local/regional/state truck route.

Existing US 90 through Dayton has an AADT of over 22,000 on a 4-lane facility with multiple signalized intersections. This facility is severely congested at peak times during the day and includes additional delays from the at-grade railroad crossing. The proposed grade separation provides better access between FM 1960 and US 90, removing the conflict of an at-grade crossing. This will improve mobility and reduce congestion by removing the at-grade crossing with future traffic diverting onto the new crossing instead of travelling through Dayton to access FM 1960. Truck traffic will have a better access point from FM 1960 to US 90 with the grade separation.

2. 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.

Existing US 90 through Dayton has an AADT of over 22,000 on a 4-lane facility with multiple signalized intersections. This facility is severely congested at peak times during the day and includes additional delays from the at-grade railroad crossing. The proposed grade separation provides better access between FM 1960 and US 90, removing the conflict of an at-grade crossing. This will improve mobility and reduce congestion by removing the at-grade crossing with future traffic diverting onto the new crossing instead of travelling through Dayton to access FM 1960.

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.

The proposed interchange will remove traffic from other crossings closer into town and improve bike/ped safety by reducing traffic on those other facilities. It also will divert some traffic away from the downtown area of Dayton, using the grade separation to access FM 1960. This creates less traffic and will provide more opportunity for bike/ped traffic along the facility.

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

The proposed interchange will remove traffic from existing at-grade crossings, which would likewise reduce congestion and improve LOS for all users of the facility, including transit services.

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 proposed grade-separation will add another north-south connector across UPRR, helping to provide alternate routes in case of inoperability along the existing roadway. The grade separation will also provide emergency vehicles an option of crossing over UPRR without being impacted by a crossing train.

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.

Reducing traffic along at-grade crossing will help extend the service life of other facilities such as Stilson and SH 321. The pavement improvements will be built to design standard based on latest traffic data and the new interchange will have a service life of decades.

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.

0

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.

454.404

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 proposed interchange will create a grade-separation over the UPRR. This will reduce conflict from an at-grade crossing and allow for improved traffic operations. Based on crash data the serious injuries occurred at the RR Gate or stop sign at this at-grade crossing.

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.

Low

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.

Model.HighGrowthAreaNeedsQuestionnaire.Resiliency2

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 proposed project would reduce the vulnerability to flooding as it would be built to current hydrologic and hydraulic design standards. It would be designed to meet or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards. Specific improvements may include additional cross drainage capacity and possibly raising the proposed roadway profile if determined necessary by the hydraulic analysis.

Access/Connectivity

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

1885

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1358

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

No

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?

No

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

1885

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

1358

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

44

1d. Disabled Persons

528

1e. Elderly Persons

68

1f. Limited English Proficiency

65

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.

25.5

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.

By providing a grade separation across the UPRR line, the proposed project should reduce traffic congestion and help minimize travel delays on existing US 90. The reduced congestion should improve connectivity to and from the numerous employment opportunities along this corridor in Dayton. The reduced traffic volume and congestion on US 90 should also improve safety for bike/pedestrian users of that facility and it should reduce trip time for transit users (area served by Brazos Transit).

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.

The footprint of the proposed roadway improvements would be minimized to help prevent impacts to adjacent properties. The addition of a grade separation with the UPRR will still maintain access to adjacent properties including public and private facilities and services with less impact to the flow of traffic than currently occurs.

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.

Floodplains present in the project vicinity include the 100 year, 500 year, and a floodway. In addition, wetlands are present. During project development, wetland information is provided to the design team to determine where the project might impact Waters of the U.S. (WOUS). The design is adjusted if possible to avoid and minimize impacts to WOUS. Any unavoidable impacts are mitigated through USACE approved mitigation banks. With regard to the floodplains present, the project would be designed to have no negative impact to the floodplain and we would coordinate with the floodplain administrator concerning these.

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

Nox - .20 tons ; VOC - .22 tons

Innovation

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

No

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

No

Additional Documents