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Segments 4 & 5: Alternatives Analysis

METRORapid University Corridor Project

January 2023

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Segments 4 and 5: Lockwood and Tidwell Corridors

Conceptual Alignment, Summer 2022

Planning Use Only

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Lockwood: Work to Date

Completed initial concept

Held public meetings to solicit community opinions

Studied three additional alignments

    • Studying additional alignments in response to public comments

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Now

    • Completed 15% design

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    • Held public meetings to solicit community feedback

2022

    • Presented Lockwood alignment to public as part of METRONext

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    • Received voter approval

2019

    • Studied existing conditions

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    • Gathered public feedback

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    • Assessed system connectivity

2017

Planning Use Only

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Conceptual Alignment Segment 4

Planning Use Only

Canal

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Conceptual Alignment Segment 5

Planning Use Only

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Terminus at Tidwell

  • Direct connector to HOV/HOT lane
  • Future connection to regional express network

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Planning Use Only

Parking with TOD potential

Bus bays

Direct connector

  • Large, METRO-owned parcel with joint development potential
  • Received nearly $500,000 federal grant to study transit-oriented development opportunities in and around facility�

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Existing Service

  • 80 Lockwood has higher ridership than nearby north-south bus routes �

Planning Use Only

  • Greatest number of existing routes intersect Lockwood alignment�

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Alternatives Assessment

Goals

                  • Identify best alignment between Eastwood and Tidwell

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          • Evaluate suggestions received at public meetings

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Planning Use Only

Alternatives Studied

Approx. Length

Station Count

Jensen via Navigation

10.1 miles

18

Hirsch via Polk

11.3 miles

16

Lockwood (conceptual design)

10.8 miles

16

Homestead via Lockwood

13.8 miles

18

Wayside via Polk

14.8 miles

17

Assumptions

                  • Alternatives travel between Eastwood Transit Center and Tidwell Transit Center

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                  • Alternatives have approximately same number of stations

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Alternatives Studied: Segment 4

  • Jensen via Lockwood and Navigation

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  • Hirsch via Polk

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  • Lockwood (concept design)

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  • Homestead via Kelley

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  • Wayside via Polk

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Planning Use Only

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Alternatives Studied: Segment 5

  • Jensen via Lockwood and Navigation

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  • Hirsch via Polk

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  • Lockwood (concept design)

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  • Homestead via Kelley

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  • Wayside via Polk

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Mesa Transit Center

Planning Use Only

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Evaluation Criteria

Completed initial concept

Held public meetings to solicit community opinions

Studied three additional alignments

Land Use

Historic/Parks/Cemeteries

Running Time

right-of-way

Ridership

Cost

Planning Use Only

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Land Use Data (percent of total area within ¼ mile of alignment)�

  • Lockwood has the least industrial land. Wayside has the most.

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  • Lockwood has good balance between commercial and residential

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  • Homestead has the most undevelopable land.

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Land Use Within ¼ Mile of BRT

Planning Use Only

* Other includes government/medical/educational, multiple, parks, unknown, and vacant

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Historic Properties and Parks Potentially Affected (those within one block of alignment)

Category

Jensen

Hirsch

Lockwood

Homestead

Wayside

NRHP*-listed structures

1

0

0

0

0

NRHP-eligible structures

1

0

0

0

1

City of Houston Landmarks

2

1

1

0

0

Adjacent parks

1

4

1

1

0

Adjacent cemeteries

1

1

1

1

0

Total

6

6

3

2

1

  • Jensen would cross NRHP*-listed bridge over Buffalo Bayou built in 1938

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  • Hirsch runs near more parks than other alternatives

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  • No historic districts along any alignment

Adjacent Historic Properties, Parks, and Cemeteries

Planning Use Only

*National Register of Historic Places

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Historic Properties and Parks Potentially Affected (those within one block of alignment)

  • Wayside has the widest right-of-way on average. Hirsch has the narrowest.

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  • Lockwood falls in the middle, but has a higher minimum right-of-way than three alternatives

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  • Wayside and Jensen have several miles of narrow 60-foot-wide right-of-way, making pedestrian improvements difficult without acquisitions

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right-of-way Width

Planning Use Only

Average

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Traffic Analysis

  • Lockwood has shortest running time, followed by Jensen and Hirsch

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  • Homestead and Wayside have faster operating speeds, but over longer distances

Operational Considerations

Planning Use Only

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Ridership Forecasts

Ridership Forecasts

* 2019 used per federal guidance; data generated by FTA’s Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS)

Planning Use Only

  • Lockwood has the highest forecast ridership in the current year and second-highest in the horizon year (ridership numbers include entire project)

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  • Lockwood and Homestead generate the most new transit trips systemwide in 2045

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  • Wayside has the lowest ridership, followed by Jensen

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Traffic Analysis

Relative Costs

  • Homestead costs the most to operate, while Wayside costs the most to build

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  • Jensen costs the least to build and operate, followed by Lockwood

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Planning Use Only

*Excludes right-of-way, vehicles, professional services, and contingency

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Summary Assessment

21

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Jensen

Hirsch

Lockwood

Homestead

Wayside

Criterion

Land Use (best = lowest % industrial)

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Historic Properties, parks, and cemeteries (︎best = fewest)

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right-of-way (best = highest average)

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Running time (best = shortest)

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Ridership (best = highest)

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Annual Capital Cost (best = lowest)

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Annual Operating Cost (best = lowest)

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Worst

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Best

Planning Use Only

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Lockwood Assessment

Completed initial concept

Held public meetings to solicit community opinions

Studied three additional alignments

Good mix of non-industrial land uses

Shortest running time

Wider average right-of-way than other low-cost options

Most new trips on system

Low capital and operating costs, comparatively

Planning Use Only

Similar environmental impacts to other options

Lockwood scores best on three criteria and worst on none

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Recommendations

Completed initial concept

Held public meetings to solicit community opinions

Studied three additional alignments

Keep University Corridor on Lockwood

Finalize supporting local route modifications University Corridor

Planning Use Only

Study potential upgrades to local bus service on the other alternatives

Work with Greater Northside Management District to complement planned capital investments with transit