Houston TranStar has upgraded its mobile app and web site in time for the 2020 Hurricane Season. They now feature more sensors and a wider area of coverage that extends throughout the Houston region. The app shows real-time traffic data and estimates areas of roadway-flooding risk during heavy rainfall.
Houston TranStar shows real-time traffic data with potential trouble spots for roadway flooding.
“Expanding the Roadway Flood Warning System’s footprint into counties adjacent to Harris allows us to warn even more people about potentially dangerous roadway flooding,” said Dinah Massie, Executive Director for Houston TranStar. “Information collected by this highly accurate technology is overlaid on the TranStar Traffic Map and mobile application. We’re warning motorists about flood risk and also helping emergency crews respond more quickly and safely during heavy rainfall.”
125,000 Users
To date, more than 125,000 people get up-to-the-minute roadway flood warning alerts using TranStar’s mobile app.
TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning System was developed to warn motorists of streets with potentially high water so you can plan alternative routes and avoid dangerous situations.
The system uses a comprehensive network of 283 sensors to estimate areas of roadway flooding risk and can be easily accessed through the TranStar Traffic Map.
Reroute Around Trouble
With the addition of new sensors, Houston TranStar now alerts travelers to areas where roadway flooding risk is high in more places than ever before.
It helps commuters reroute transit plans around trouble spots, such as flooded roadways and underpasses. Unfortunately, many people have lost their lives driving into flood waters that weren’t visible because of darkness or heavy rain.
Increased Capacity to Monitor Water Levels
Harris County Flood Control District, the Brazoria Drainage District, the City of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, the Galveston Drainage District, Waller County and the San Jacinto River Authority maintain sensors. The new sensors increase capacity to monitor water levels for possible local street inundation throughout TranStar’s region.
During Harvey, I relied on this system to navigate my way back into Houston from a long, vacation road trip. It works. This free app could save your car and your life.
Bob Rehak
In case you lose track of this story, you can always find the TranStar links under the Governmental tab on this website’s Links page.
Unique Partnership Saves Billions of Tax Dollars
Houston TranStar is a unique partnership of the City of Houston, Harris County, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). They share resources and exchange information under one roof to manage transportation and emergencies.
This 2 minute video shows how the system works and explains how sharing resources has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. The annual cost to operate Houston TranStar in 2018 was $25.2 million. Divided into TranStar’s annual benefit of $517 million, the benefit/cost ratio is 20.5. So, for every $1 spent on Houston TranStar, the region realizes a benefit of $20.50. Since its inception 22 years ago, TranStar has saved commuters $6.5 billion in reduced traveler delays and fuel costs.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020based on a story in the Westchase Wire
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Transtar-Warning-System.jpg?fit=1200%2C976&ssl=19761200adminadmin2020-08-05 12:58:262020-08-05 12:58:38TranStar Enhances Flood Warning System
The City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team began rehabilitating a roadside ditch in Forest Cove on Monday, July 27, 2020. The project area includes Cypress Lane and Palmetto Lane. The map below shows the project limits highlighted in red.
Location of work in Forest Cove
Crews will work Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They should complete the work by November 24, weather permitting.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes:
Regrading and re-establishing of the roadside ditches
Replacing of the culverts and resetting them to match the flow line of the ditch
Replacing the driveway where the culverts are replaced
Increasing the capacity of any culverts less than 24 inches in diameter
Removing any unpermitted culverts or other encroachments in the City Right of Way.
Impact on Traffic, Neighborhood
Construction will not impact any water or sewer services.
Expect temporary loss of driveway access, lane closures, construction noise and debris, and limited roadside parking during the project.
Flagmen and orange traffic cones will help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require one lane closure. However, traffic will flow two ways at all times.
Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
For More Information
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cypress-Ln-SWAT-Project.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200adminadmin2020-08-05 10:42:212020-08-05 10:42:33City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team Begins Ditch Rehabilitation in Forest Cove
The New Caney ISD has removed a long swath of trees that separated Sorters-McClellan Road from the site of its new high school south of the Kingwood Medical Center. Removal of the trees – beforethe construction of the detention pond for the site – removes the last barrier between sheet flow and residents downhill.
Similarities to Woodridge Village
Clearcutting creates a condition similar to that of Woodridge Village. Woodridge contributed to flooding Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice last year after Perry Homes cleared the site before installing all the required detention. With nothing to retain runoff in a major storm, water could inundate Sorters Road and the homes on the opposite side of it in McClellan Circle.
This once again raises the question of whether contractors follow best practices for construction.
The site is in both Montgomery County and the City of Houston. But Montgomery County claims the City took the lead in permitting this site. MoCo claims it does not even have any drainage plans.
Looking south along Sorters Road at the site of New Caney ISD High School #3. Land slopes from left to right and foreground to background. Recently, contractors removed all trees next to the road. A large detention pond is supposed to be installed next to the tree line at the far end of the site. See below.
Building Pad Site Complete But No Detention Pond Yet
As of July 20, 2020, New Caney ISD had this to say about the project. “The site has been cleared and rough grading is at 90 percent completion.” Contractors have completed the building pad and will start installing the concrete piers concurrent with the underground storm and sanitary systems.
General plan for New Caney High School #3. North is left, east is up.Detention pond should be at far end of the photo above.
This approximately 50-60 acre site slopes toward the corner in the upper right by 10 to 15 feet depending on where you start.Sources: Google Earth Pro and USGS National Map Viewer.USGS National Map Viewer still shows old par 3 golf course on which the new high school will be built.
This is a 5% slope compared to the 1.8% slope on Woodridge Village.
Comparing Google Earth Elevation Profiles
The steepness of the slope accelerates runoff in the absence of features to slow it down.
Current State of Site
Here are some more shots showing the current state of construction on the site.
Looking NW toward the Eagle Sorters Sand Mine in the top left.Looking NE toward HCA Kingwood Medical Center and Insperity.Looking SE toward retail establishments that front US59, barely visible in the top left of the frame.
There seem to be some berms in the corners of the property. They may slow down sheet flow in a large storm. But the berms are absent over the large area in the center where the high school building itself will go.
Peak of Hurricane Season 5 Weeks Away
Let’s hope they get the detention in before the next big storm. No one wants a repeat of Woodridge.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2020
1071 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20200803-DJI_0295-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2020-08-04 19:04:222020-08-04 19:17:18New Caney ISD Clearcutting Site of High School #3 Before Installing Detention
TranStar Enhances Flood Warning System
Houston TranStar has upgraded its mobile app and web site in time for the 2020 Hurricane Season. They now feature more sensors and a wider area of coverage that extends throughout the Houston region. The app shows real-time traffic data and estimates areas of roadway-flooding risk during heavy rainfall.
spots for roadway flooding.
76 More Sensors Than Last Year
Developed in partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute after Hurricane Harvey, TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning System displays real-time data from 283 weather sensors, an increase of 76 sensors from 2019.
“Expanding the Roadway Flood Warning System’s footprint into counties adjacent to Harris allows us to warn even more people about potentially dangerous roadway flooding,” said Dinah Massie, Executive Director for Houston TranStar. “Information collected by this highly accurate technology is overlaid on the TranStar Traffic Map and mobile application. We’re warning motorists about flood risk and also helping emergency crews respond more quickly and safely during heavy rainfall.”
125,000 Users
To date, more than 125,000 people get up-to-the-minute roadway flood warning alerts using TranStar’s mobile app.
The system uses a comprehensive network of 283 sensors to estimate areas of roadway flooding risk and can be easily accessed through the TranStar Traffic Map.
Reroute Around Trouble
With the addition of new sensors, Houston TranStar now alerts travelers to areas where roadway flooding risk is high in more places than ever before.
It helps commuters reroute transit plans around trouble spots, such as flooded roadways and underpasses. Unfortunately, many people have lost their lives driving into flood waters that weren’t visible because of darkness or heavy rain.
Increased Capacity to Monitor Water Levels
Harris County Flood Control District, the Brazoria Drainage District, the City of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, the Galveston Drainage District, Waller County and the San Jacinto River Authority maintain sensors. The new sensors increase capacity to monitor water levels for possible local street inundation throughout TranStar’s region.
Download the Free App
For more information on how to Travel Smart with TranStar, visit HoustonTranStar.org. Or download their Mobile App at the Google Play or Apple App store.
In case you lose track of this story, you can always find the TranStar links under the Governmental tab on this website’s Links page.
Unique Partnership Saves Billions of Tax Dollars
Houston TranStar is a unique partnership of the City of Houston, Harris County, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). They share resources and exchange information under one roof to manage transportation and emergencies.
This 2 minute video shows how the system works and explains how sharing resources has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. The annual cost to operate Houston TranStar in 2018 was $25.2 million. Divided into TranStar’s annual benefit of $517 million, the benefit/cost ratio is 20.5. So, for every $1 spent on Houston TranStar, the region realizes a benefit of $20.50. Since its inception 22 years ago, TranStar has saved commuters $6.5 billion in reduced traveler delays and fuel costs.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020 based on a story in the Westchase Wire
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team Begins Ditch Rehabilitation in Forest Cove
The City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team began rehabilitating a roadside ditch in Forest Cove on Monday, July 27, 2020. The project area includes Cypress Lane and Palmetto Lane. The map below shows the project limits highlighted in red.
Crews will work Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They should complete the work by November 24, weather permitting.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes:
Impact on Traffic, Neighborhood
Construction will not impact any water or sewer services.
Flagmen and orange traffic cones will help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require one lane closure. However, traffic will flow two ways at all times.
Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
For More Information
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
New Caney ISD Clearcutting Site of High School #3 Before Installing Detention
The New Caney ISD has removed a long swath of trees that separated Sorters-McClellan Road from the site of its new high school south of the Kingwood Medical Center. Removal of the trees – before the construction of the detention pond for the site – removes the last barrier between sheet flow and residents downhill.
Similarities to Woodridge Village
Clearcutting creates a condition similar to that of Woodridge Village. Woodridge contributed to flooding Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice last year after Perry Homes cleared the site before installing all the required detention. With nothing to retain runoff in a major storm, water could inundate Sorters Road and the homes on the opposite side of it in McClellan Circle.
The site is in both Montgomery County and the City of Houston. But Montgomery County claims the City took the lead in permitting this site. MoCo claims it does not even have any drainage plans.
Building Pad Site Complete But No Detention Pond Yet
As of July 20, 2020, New Caney ISD had this to say about the project. “The site has been cleared and rough grading is at 90 percent completion.” Contractors have completed the building pad and will start installing the concrete piers concurrent with the underground storm and sanitary systems.
How Site Looked in June
Steep Slope Accelerates Runoff
The steepness of the slope accelerates runoff in the absence of features to slow it down.
Current State of Site
Here are some more shots showing the current state of construction on the site.
There seem to be some berms in the corners of the property. They may slow down sheet flow in a large storm. But the berms are absent over the large area in the center where the high school building itself will go.
Peak of Hurricane Season 5 Weeks Away
Let’s hope they get the detention in before the next big storm. No one wants a repeat of Woodridge.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2020
1071 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.