Disabled vehicles on our freeway system are a major cause of traffic congestion, traffic crashes and vehicular air pollution. H-GAC is working with local governments on a Regional Incident Management Program designed to quickly and safely remove stalled vehicles from the freeway at no cost to the motorist to a nearby location off of the freeway. H-GAC will reimburse the City of Houston for qualifying tows. The estimated number of tows per year is 75,000 with a reimbursement of $60.00 per tow. A qualifying Tow is the tow of a stalled vehicle from the freeway system authorized by designated Incident Management Unit personnel at Houston TranStar.  

The first phase of this program is to reestablish free tows from Freeway segments within the city limits of Houston.  H-GAC will enter into an inter-local agreement with the City of Houston to implement the program. Should other local governments desire to participate, the program may be expanded to all freeways in the eight urban counties.  The attached map shows the freeway segments that will be covered by the proposed agreement with the City of Houston.

TxDOT-Federal Surface Transportation Funds

Yes

Request authorization to enter into an inter-local agreement with City of Houston in the amount of $5,011,358 for qualifying stalled vehicle tow reimbursement supporting activities for the City of Houston incident management activities through December 31, 2019. (Staff Contact: Alan Clark)