EHRA completed preliminary engineering, phase one environmental site assessment and schematic development for the widening of Northpark Dr. between US 59 and Woodland Hills Dr. EHRA also provided program management, drainage analysis and design, traffic engineering, environmental documentation and schematic design for the roadway, as well as grade separation at the Loop 494/UPRR railroad crossing.
EHRA conducted traffic operations and access management studies for the Northpark Dr. corridor. This corridor is approximately 2.2 miles long and has major signalized and unsignalized intersections and driveways that access various subdivisions and industrial developments. These studies laid the groundwork for the widening of Northpark Dr. from a four-lane boulevard cross-section to a six-lane boulevard complete street. The new street design includes low impact development drainage, conventional drainage, a grade separation at the UPRR crossing with mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls, two at-grade crossings for bi-directional frontage access, reconstruction of two concrete bridges over a diversion channel, intersection improvements, a roadway-adjacent multiuse path and traffic signal improvements.
Drainage analysis and design included hydrologic and hydraulic studies of both existing and proposed conditions to demonstrate that proposed project components would not adversely affect the 100-year floodplain in the area. The roadway and traffic designs contained horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-sections, plan and profile, sidewalk and bicycle accommodations, intersection layouts, traffic control plans and signing and pavement markings.
As the program management firm, EHRA coordinated with TxDOT, UPRR, the City of Houston Council District E, COH Planning and Development Department, COH Public Works and Engineering Department, Montgomery County, Harris County, HCFCD and area residents throughout the project.
EHRA worked with the District to create a comprehensive Parks Master Plan, which included recommendations for the development of over two miles of hike/bike trails adjacent to local streets, and within flood control and utility pipeline easements. The District began implementation of the Plan by prioritizing the beautification of West Road, a major arterial street that runs through the District.
Engineering design and construction phase services of water, sewer, drainage and paving for four subdivision sections and off-site channel (123 acres out of a 400 acre subdivision). There was 60-feet of elevation difference on this site and wooded lots were left in their natural state which required the installation of retaining walls.
EHRA was selected as one of two firms to provide professional surveying services under contract to Houston Community College System.
EHRA conducted a traffic engineering study to identify the impacts of a proposed master development located near the intersection of FM 1488 and Peoples Road in the City of Conroe.
EHRA is privileged to work with Rise Communities on the developer’s premier master-planned community, Meridiana. Meridiana, located on State Highway 288 (SH 288), south of Pearland in the Cities of Manvel and Iowa Colony, launched home sales in 2016. EHRA provides land planning, civil engineering, hydrology, surveying and utility district services for the project.
Planning Project Manager Brad Sweitzer has worked on Meridiana for nearly a decade, assisting with creation of the overall land plan and the Planned Unit Development (PUD) guidelines that set the character for the community. PUDs are development tools that codify the design standards and rules by which developers and cities allow projects to occur. Mr. Sweitzer and Rise Communities worked with both Manvel and Iowa Colony to create multiple PUDs establishing lot sizes, land use, thoroughfare connectivity and aesthetic considerations.
Since Meridiana is approximately 65% complete, platting activity is ongoing and schools and retail areas that support existing and proposed home sites are presently either established or under construction. EHRA regularly submits plans for new residential sections and achieves PUD approvals despite ever-changing market conditions. This fluctuating market environment has required Brad to revise master plans and apply for variances and rezoning on occasion. As lot sizes and home prices dramatically changed over the last two years, EHRA closely collaborated with Rise to continue providing home sites in Meridiana while maintaining the high quality of the award-winning community.
Mr. Sweitzer’s planning team diligently coordinated with the land services team and hydrologists at EHRA to create a visually attractive stormwater and detention system, effectively integrating recreation trails and supplying pedestrian connectivity from neighborhoods to local school campuses. The team also worked with EHRA’s public infrastructure practice area to solve the complex intersection geometry of Meridiana Parkway at State Highway 6 (SH 6). The alignment had to weave under power transmission lines and over a railroad parallel to the highway. The resulting boulevard is a nearly five-mile-long connection between SH 288 and SH 6 lined with new landscaping, waterways and jogging trails.
Seeing Meridiana in its current state of development is very satisfying to Brad and the EHRA planning and visioning team. Brad shares that, in addition to the beautiful recreation center site, he is “especially pleased to be designing multiple mixed-use townhome and retail sites that will be unique to the area. It’s been great working alongside Rise Communities for all these years to help bring their vision to life.” EHRA is proud to continue delivering a wide range of services which help create places people call home.