Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 2
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Adrian Garcia, Commissioner Precinct 2
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): NA
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): NA
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): NA
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): NA
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): NA
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Infrastructure (Design, Construction, Maintenance)
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by the Office of the County Engineer of a grant application submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation for grant funds in the amount of $73,800,000, with a required match of $4,100,000 provided by Precinct 2 and an additional match of $4,100,000 provided by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) for the 2025 Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program, for South Lockwood Drive rail crossing.
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Background and Discussion:
The Texas Department of Transportation Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program addresses safety, improves connectivity, and facilitates efficient movement of people, freight, and emergency response services. This initiative fills a critical funding gap for off-system rail grade separations. The UPRR Railroad Crossing of South Lockwood Drive, South of Harrisburg Drive, Harris County proposed project will replace the existing at-grade Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing (DOT# 859523F) with a new roadway underpass. Building on METRO’s prior feasibility analysis and community input, this concept refines the earlier full underpass by minimizing roadway impacts and right-of-way requirements while still resolving the core safety and mobility issues at the crossing.
The OCE submitted of a grant application for the South Lockwood Drive rail crossing, to the TxDOT for grant funds in the amount of $73,800,000 with a required 5% local match of $4,100,000 from Precinct 2 and additional 5% local match of $4,100,000 to be provided by UPRR for the Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program.
Expected Impact:
The proposed project will eliminate the at-grade conflict at Lockwood Drive underpass while significantly improving physical safety, mobility, and the economy for residents, business owners, and those traveling through the Eastwood community. The project will minimize impacts to the historic district and tree-lined esplanade. The underpass design minimizes the project footprint, reduces visual and physical disruption, and avoids significant impacts that a larger overpass or multi-lane underpass would create. This approach aligns with community preferences for context-sensitive, lower-impact solutions. Fiscal benefits include reduced costs associated with crashes and delays. The project enhances access to nearby commercial corridors and strengthens multimodal connectivity between Eastwood, the East End, and employment centers.
Alternative Options:
If Harris County did not submit this Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program grant application, the total proposed project cost of $82,000,000 would have to be either funded locally or with other grant funding.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: F: Ensure safety and security for all using the county’s transportation network in alignment with the County’s Vision Zero plan.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): F1: Strengthen the County’s commitment to Vision Zero principles and goals.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): R3: Strengthen the County’s emergency response function.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): South Lockwood Drive, South of Harrisburg Drive (UPRR Railroad Crossing) - DOT# 859523F
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program-Lockwood |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 6/1/2027
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Mike Etienne, Chief of Planning and Development Services, Office of the County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): NOFO, Grant Application Submission, Signatory Approval to Apply, Notice of Funding Opportunity