Northpark Drive Mobility Project

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.

Meridiana

The purpose of this project was to convert the existing at-grade crossing of Brazoria County Road 56 (CR 56) and State Highway 288 (SH 288) into a diamond interchange that includes a new overpass bridge and providing access to the newly developed Meridiana Development. Coordination with TXDOT, area landowners, utility companies, and Brazoria County was integral in obtaining approval and acceptance of the project. The main design challenge for this project was to accommodate double intersections on the west side of SH 288 to tie into existing access roads with two-way traffic and a new southbound on-ramp within a close proximity. EHRA coordinated with TxDOT throughout the project from preliminary concepts for the intersection and bridge through final design and construction. Each component of this project was designed in accordance with TxDOT standards and criteria.

Houston Community College Campus Expansion

EHRA was selected as one of two firms to provide professional surveying services under contract to Houston Community College System.

Harris County MUD No. 536 Wastewater Treatment Plant & On-Site Lift Station Expansion

The facility features an activated sludge process system. Additionally, the facility is equipped with an emergency standby diesel generator.

Towne Lake

EHRA was selected by the client to provide engineering design and to serve as District Engineer for the 2,400 acre Towne Lake Development. Our survey department retraced the overall boundary and performed a topographic survey of the site.

20 April 2022

Project InFocus: Northwest Harris County MUD No. 6 Cutten Green Park

Tim May, PLA, LEED AP Practice Area Leader – Landscape Architecture

Northwest Harris County MUD No. 6 Cutten Green Park

EHRA has worked continuously with NWHCMUD 6 for over 44 years. As part of this ongoing relationship, our team collaborated with the District to update the entity’s Parks and Trails Master Plan and to successfully pass a parks bond election in 2018. This project is the most recently completed phase of work on the previously developed Master Plan.

This phase involved the District purchasing a four-acre parcel of land in their boundary with the intention of developing the land into a major park space that would connect to the District’s existing extensive trail system. Next, the landscape architecture team at EHRA organized a committee of community stakeholders to generate a list of the most desired features and amenities to include within the park. EHRA was able to incorporate multiple amenity offerings in the limited project area. Utilizing innovative design techniques, EHRA was able to maximize the use of a challenging boundary configuration, to make the site both aesthetically pleasing yet highly efficient for the community. EHRA designed the new park to include identified features such as a community garden, multiple playgrounds, a picnic plaza, an elevated boardwalk, a dry creek bed, a large central lawn, walking trails, reforestation areas and two dog parks.

Project Manager, Tim May, PLA, LEED AP, mentioned some of the notable features of the project included the nature-based theme in the playground equipment, the open field play, looping trail, raised community garden planters and the community congregation space.

EHRA’s consistent communication and inclusion of the contractor and MUD decisionmakers provided schedule and budget stabilization without unexpected obstacles or costs. Additionally, this granted a smooth operation beginning with design to construction. Construction of this comprehensive park was completed in early 2022.