Department: County Engineer
Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, County Engineer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the County Engineer for approval to submit an application to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for grant funds in the amount of $4,718,871, with a required match of $1,179,718, for the 2023 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside - Navigation Blvd Bike & Pedestrian Improvements project.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program provides funding for a variety of generally smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management; environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity; recreational trails; safe routes to school projects; and vulnerable road user safety assessments. Emphasis areas are as follows:
• Improve safety, access, or mobility for people of all ages and abilities, especially bicycle and pedestrian facilities along the state highway system exceeding minimum design requirements or extending beyond the scope of a major highway investment project area.
• Construct segments identified as part of Texas Bicycle Tourism Trails network or implement a locally preferred alternate route.
• Improve bicycling, wheelchair, and walking safety and access to or between existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and public transportation. This may include mobility hubs that integrate multiple modes of transportation (such as transit stops, carsharing, bike sharing, micro-mobility, or other shared-mobility services) leveraging existing facilities and public transit to expand access for non-motorized users.
• Enhance bicycle and pedestrian access and safety to school-related destinations enabling and encouraging children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school activities.
Expected Impact:
The proposed project will re-purpose and widen the existing median on Navigation Boulevard and construct a 30- to 50-foot-wide median trail section, inclusive of a 12-foot-wide shared use path (SUP) between Lockwood Drive and Mack Street. Additional improvements include back-of-curb pedestrian enhancements by way of constructing 6-foot-wide sidewalks and a roadway buffer, and re-purposing one travel lane in each direction. The improved Navigation Boulevard will provide active transportation facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians and 4-vehicular lanes along the corridor.
The submission of this planning project application will allow Harris County to request $4,718,871
in TxDOT grant funding with a $1,179,718 local match. The proposed project will re-purpose and widen the existing median on Navigation Boulevard and construct a 30- to 50-foot-wide median trail section, inclusive of a 12-foot-wide shared use path (SUP) between Lockwood Drive and Mack Street. Additional improvements include back-of-curb pedestrian enhancements by way of constructing 6-foot-wide sidewalks and a roadway buffer, and re-purposing one travel lane in each direction. The improved Navigation Boulevard will provide active transportation facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians and 4-vehicular lanes along the corridor.
Alternative Options:
Pursue the proposed project with local funding versus potential federal funding.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
X Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
X Transportation
_ Flooding
X Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
Service Name |
TxDOT 2023 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Call for Projects |
|
FY 23 |
FY 24 |
Next 3 FYs |
Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$368,662 |
$1,105,985 |
Non-Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$1,105,985 |
$3,317,956 |
Total Incremental Expenditures |
$ |
$1,474,647 |
$4,423,942 |
Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
Existing Budget |
Other |
$ |
$294,929 |
$884,788 |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$294,929 |
$884,788 |
Additional Budget Requested |
Grant |
$ |
$1,179,718 |
$3,539,153 |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Total Additional Budget Requested |
$ |
$1,179,718 |
$3,539,153 |
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$1,474,647 |
$4,423,942 |
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
Additional Positions Requested |
- |
- |
- |
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: May 16, 2023
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Patrick Mandapaka, PhD, AICP, Director of Community Resilience and Transportation Planning, Harris County Engineering
Attachments (if applicable): Grants Support Letter.