The H-GAC region continues to lead the state in alcohol-related traffic fatalities and injuries. Between 2012 and 2016, the eight-county metropolitan region experienced 7,541 DWI crashes, 833 fatalities and 706 serious injuries. In 2012, H-GAC applied for and received a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant from Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to pilot a Regional DWI Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to coordinate and expand enforcement of traffic laws intended to reduce DWI, speeding and other traffic violations related to serious and severe vehicle crashes.

STEP grants provide funding for overtime costs by participating  law enforcement agencies. STEP funding requires a local match provided by the participating local governments. H-GAC serves as the STEP grant recipient on behalf of smaller local governments that would not normally qualify individually and local governments desiring to take advantage of reduced grant management and reporting as an H-GAC subrecipeint.

In addition to those who receive STEP grants directly from TxDOT, ten to twelve local governments annually participate as sub-recipients in H-GAC's STEP grants, which are open to any member city or county. 

H-GAC has received TxDOT approval for a seventh year of funding. This funding will allow the Regional Task Force to operate any day between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019, including holiday periods such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.  H-GAC will partner will local governments during the fall of 2018 to implement the program. No more than ten percent of funds will be used for administrative costs and public outreach as required by TxDOT.

Texas Department of Transportation $82,955.46; Local $22,040

Yes

Request authorization to contract with TxDOT for Selective Traffic Enforcement Program; amount not to exceed $104,995.46. (Staff Contact: Alan Clark)