DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Agreement with TxDOT for construction, maintenance and operation of Highway Lighting Systems within a Municipality
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance and Agreement supersedes the existing "Agreement for Maintenance and Operation of Expressway Illumination System Within Municipality" between the City of San Antonio (City) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in order to include additional controlled access highways, designated state highways with no driveway access to intersecting public or private properties, that have been constructed since the original agreement was authorized in April 1976.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On April 1, 1976, through Ordinance No. 46702, the City entered into an agreement with the State of Texas to have the City operate and maintain the expressway lighting system. The original agreement established the provisions by which the City would be responsible for ensuring the efficient operation of expressway lighting, to include providing all necessary materials, equipment, labor and energy supply at no cost to the State. The original agreement included expressway lighting along Interstate Highways 10, 35, 37, 410 and US Highway 90.
Providing expressway lighting is essential to enhancing traffic movement during dusk and evening hours, reducing accidents and improving traffic safety on the expressways, as well as the roadways that cross the expressways.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes an Agreement for construction, maintenance and operation of Highway Lighting Systems within the City with TxDOT that will supersede the existing agreement. This new Agreement defines the provisions for construction, maintenance, and operation of expressway lighting systems on any controlled access or partially controlled access highways within the San Antonio city limits. Controlled Access or Partially Controlled Access Highways are designated state highways with no driveway access to intersecting public or private properties. Additional highways that have been added since the original agreement include State Highway 151, controlled access portions of US 281 and Loop 1604, and Wurzbach Parkway. This action will ensure that the agreement is consistent with the maintenance and operations that are currently taking place.
CPS Energy, on behalf of the City, provides all maintenance and electrical service for the expressway lighting within the San Antonio city limits. CPS Energy charges the City a monthly tariff based on the type of light and wattage plus or minus an amount which reflects the difference in the unit fuel cost factor for the current month above or below a basic cost of $0.01416 per KWH sold.
This agreement will become effective following approval of this ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could choose not to approve this new Agreement, which would result in the existing agreement remaining in place, even though it is not consistent with the current maintenance and operations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The City is already providing maintenance and electrical service through CPS for the streets outlined in the new agreement. This action will ensure that the agreement is consistent with current maintenance and operations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of the new "Agreement for Construction, Maintenance and Operation of Highway Lighting Systems within a Municipality" with TxDOT.