In 2014, H–GAC has been funding the operations of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s (HCSO) Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) and freeway monitoring staffing at Houston TranStar. The MAP program primarily serves as a freeway assistance patrol, providing limited roadside assistance, and assisting in the removal of stranded vehicles from the freeway. In January 2016, HCSO began freeway monitoring activities from Houston TranStar to detect, assess and dispatch assistance for incidents that occur on the freeway system.

The current interlocal agreement with HCSO is set to expire on November 30, 2017. Additional funding is available in the TxDOT Local Funding Agreement (LPAFA) to support the MAP and freeway monitoring activities. TxDOT has authorized the expenditure of these funds for MAP and freeway monitoring activities.

H-GAC is seeking to amend the agreement with Harris County, on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office, to add $178,800 ($149,000 Federal; $29,800 Local) to continue support of the MAP program and freeway monitoring through November 30, 2017.  The increased amount of $178,800 will be adjusted from a balance in the Program Administration task from the H-GAC’s LPAFA with TxDOT for this project. This will increase the total amount for the agreement with HCSO to $6,242,550 ($5,000,000 Federal; $1,242,550 Local).

Federal, Local

Yes

Request authorization to increase funding for Harris County for the Sheriff Office’s incident management activities by $178,800 ($149,000 Federal; $29,800 Local), to fund the Motorist Assistance Program and freeway monitoring activities; total amount of the agreement not to exceed $6,242,550. (Staff Contact: Alan Clark)