Transportation Satellite Facility
· Site contractor and underground contractor are 95% complete with installation of utility lines, culverts and completing the grading at the main entrance.
· Paving contractor has completed concrete placement at the drive way and bus parking areas.
· Fuel island and bus wash concrete drive has been completed.
· Site contractor continues excavation at the detention pond area and is 90% complete.
· Contractor and architect have processed 95% of the project submittals.
· Contractor continues to monitor dust control on site and maintenance of their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.
· Metal building erector continues erection of administration and maintenance building.
· Interior metal framing started in the maintenance building the week of July 25.
· Sprinkler pipes in office building are installed.
· Brick work at exterior of office building is completed.
· Electrical rough-in is 60% complete in office area.
· Progress meetings occurred on July 14 and 28.
· LCISD and Michael James (MJH), adjacent property owner, submitted required deposits and notarized LCISD easement and (MJH) aerial easement documents to CenterPoint July 26.
· City of Fulshear is accepting bids on August 16 for water and sanitary sewer extension along FM 1093.
· 1. Why did the District elect to locate the Transportation Satellite Facility at the proposed site instead of somewhere else in the District?
The District considered many other sites prior to selecting this one. The other sites were rejected for a multitude of reasons, including serious drainage issues, insufficient size, exorbitant expense, and safety issues. The site selected is centrally located to serve the students in the northern portion of the District. The site also provides the most efficient availability for drainage, access and utilities. The District already owns the property and has already spent approximately $1.3 million on design/development costs for this site.
2. Why was the Foster high School complex site not used for the Transportation Satellite Facility?
The Foster secondary complex does not have enough open contiguous space to build a satellite transportation facility.
3. Why did the District locate the Transportation Satellite Facility at the front of the property?
The District initially considered building the Transportation Facility at the back of the property, but it would have added an additional $3 million to the cost of the current project. The current site is approximately 700 feet off of FM 1093, and the bus parking area is approximately 1,000 feet off of FM 1093. Other important considerations which favored the current location were the greatly reduced possibility of accidents and the avoidance of disruption of school functions.
4. How much area does the current foot print for the Transportation Satellite Center take up?
The foot print on the current school site is sixteen-and-one-half (16-1/2) acres, as the water detention requirement is combined with that of the entire campus site in one location for all of the buildings. If moved to another site, approximately twenty-three acres would be needed for the same foot print, depending on the land configuration and water detention requirements at the new site. As mentioned above, most other sites we considered also did not have sewer and water availability.
5. Why build the Transportation Satellite Facility at this time?
Our current Transportation Facility is not large enough to house the number of buses required to transport the current student enrollment, much less provide for the projected growth we are continuing to experience.
Locating the Transportation Satellite Facility on the Secondary Complex #5 site will allow the District to gain significant efficiencies in the reduction of bus mileage and fuel cost. According to current transportation needs, the District will save approximately 404.4 miles per day@ $3.02/mile x 180 days or a $219,831.84 savings per year. Property for Complex #5 and existing LCISD secondary complexes includes space to eventually house a high school (grades 9 – 12), a junior high (grades 7 – 8) and a middle school (grade 6).
6. Was the added bus traffic ever considered?
Traffic Engineers, Inc. performed a traffic study for the proposed Transportation Satellite Facility. Their study has been submitted and acknowledged by TxDOT. The buses currently travelling these existing routes to and from the Fulshear area will change only with increased student enrollment or additional students requesting bus transportation.
The District currently operates one Transportation Facility at the corner of Lane Drive and Avenue I in Rosenberg, one of the busiest intersections in Richmond/Rosenberg. There have been no issues that adversely affect the operation of our buses or traffic flow.
7. Where will the buses be traveling when they leave this facility?
The majority of the buses that will be housed at this facility are already traveling in the area providing service to the students from the Austin County line east to Mason Rd. and south to the Brazos River on FM 723. The number of buses will change only with increased student enrollment or additional students requesting bus transportation.
8. How many buses will be at this location? Phase 1? Phase 2?
Phase one of the Transportation Facility is designed to handle sixty-five (65) buses that run the current bus routes every school day. Fifteen (15) additional buses will be available for trips, such as to football games, field trips, etc., and there will be ten spare buses parked.
Phase two should open at the same time as Secondary Complex #5, projected for 2015, and will have space to accommodate an additional ninety buses roughly broken down into the categories outlined above.
9. What is the schedule of the buses?
Currently there are 65 buses that would have staggered departures and returns during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and again for afternoon routes between 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Drivers do not return to the transportation facility until after both elementary and secondary routes are completed in the morning and afternoon.
10. Why can’t the berm be higher to hide the view of the Transportation Satellite Facility?
While the District is open to considering other options, the Transportation Facility plan complies with the current landscaping ordinances of the City of Fulshear. Also, the District does not own all of the property in front of the Transportation Facility and, therefore, has no control over its use.
11. Has a Traffic study been done for the entire campus?
No. The Traffic consultant advised the District to postpone the study for the entire complex at this time. The 2010 Demographic Report shows the need for Secondary Complex #5 in 2015 at the earliest. Another traffic study for the secondary complex will be done in the time line for site development and construction.
12. Who will provide water and waste water treatment for the District Satellite Transportation Facility?
Note: At the November 16, 2010 Fulshear City Council Meeting, action was taken to rescind development invoices related to expansion of water and waste Water Utilities along FM 1093 to LCISD Project Site. Please refer to the City of Fulshear City Council Minutes for the latest information.
As Lamar CISD continues to be one of the fastest growing districts in the greater Houston area (ranked fourth), additional campuses and student support facilities will be needed. Once a rural agrarian district encompassing 385 square miles, the District will continue to work with our growing communities to place new facilities in locations that are in the best interest of our students while utilizing your tax dollars wisely. For additional information about growth projections and the District’s facility planning, please review the 2010 Demographic Report provided on the LCISD website.