RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an Ordinance authorizing an application to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for consideration of funding to reconstruct segments of Gellhorn Drive and Oates Road through the H-GAC Transportation Project Selection Process; authorizing the Director of Houston Public Works (HPW) to submit the application.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
H-GAC conducts a Transportation Project Selection Process that assesses projects’ proposed alignment with the goals from the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan Update, federal requirements, and guidance from the H-GAC’s Transportation Policy Council. This process was previously referred to as the TIP Call for Projects; the last cycle was in 2018. H-GAC has developed eight investment categories listed below that translate the diverse goals, priorities, and requirements into discrete groupings of projects. H-GAC utilizes a combination of the investment category focused criteria, planning factors, and a cost-benefit analysis for project scoring.
- Regional Goods Movement
- Operational Improvements & Congestion Management
- High-Growth Area Needs
- Active Transportation
- Transit
- Major Projects
- Resiliency & State of Good Repair
- Safety
HPW has prepared the projects described below for funding consideration. As the H-GAC Project Selection Process continues, HPW will prepare additional project submittals and present them to City Council for authorization.
Gellhorn Drive from I-10 to I-610 (District B): This 0.69 mile segment of Gellhorn Drive serves as a connector to several distribution centers and logistics companies in Houston, to which access is critical during major storm events. Proposed improvements include a full reconstruction of the roadway with concrete pavement. The reconstructed road includes two 12-foot travel lanes, a center turn lane to allow for safe turning and passing, increased signage, and updates to the closed underground storm system to mitigate street ponding and related delays.
Oates Road from Wallisville Rd to US 90 Business (District I): This 1.76 mile segment of Oates Road is a middle mile connector for Houston’s freight network. Proposed improvements include full reconstruction of the roadway with concrete pavement, two 11-foot lanes with 1-foot offsets, a center turn lane to allow for safe turning and passing, and 10-foot shared use paths on both sides of the roadway.
The table below identifies the requested funding amount and anticipated local match requirement:
|
Project
|
Managing Department
|
Anticipated Federal Share
|
Estimated Local Match
|
Projected Total Project Cost
|
|
Gellhorn Drive
|
Houston Public Works
|
$14,229,132.00
|
$3,557,283.00
|
$17,786,415.00
|
|
Oates Road
|
Houston Public Works
|
$23,600,000.00
|
$5,900,000.00
|
$29,500,000.00
|
| TOTALS |
|
$37,829,132.00 |
$9,457,283.00 |
$47,286,415.00 |
Funding allocated by H-GAC is administered under agreements between the local sponsor and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). It is anticipated that if selected for funding, the local share will be 20% of total project cost. Should applications be selected for funding, an agreement between the City of Houston and TxDOT to develop the project and receive funds will be presented to City Council for approval.
Fiscal Note: No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
___________________________________________
Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E. Director
Houston Public Works