DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Interlocal Agreements: Safety Service Patrol Program
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the execution of three Interlocal Agreements between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), authorizing payment in the amount not to exceed $897,750.00 to TxDOT to contribute toward the State’s FY 2019, FY 2020 and FY 2021 Safety Service Patrol Program funded by Advanced Transportation District funds authorized in the FY 2019 and FY 2020 adopted budgets located citywide.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Highway Emergency Response Operation (HERO) program, also known as Safety Service Patrol (SSP) program, for this region was first discussed by a task force of elected officials and staff from San Antonio representing the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, the Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The task force visited the Houston area in April 2016 to learn more about traffic incident management (TIM) and “quick clearance” activities. This task force held subsequent meetings to begin advancing certain TIM strategies for the San Antonio region, including a jointly-funded HERO program.
HERO-type services are provided in all major metropolitan areas of Texas except San Antonio. Many similar programs have documented significant benefits for improving travel time reliability, quick clearance of minor crashes and stalled/abandoned vehicles and reducing secondary crashes. HERO operators constantly patrol predefined routes and are often the first responder to the scene for freeway incidents providing fuel, tire change assistance, or a cell phone call to motorists in a stalled or broken-down vehicle. In addition, HERO operators can quickly unblock travel lanes by pushing, pulling, or dragging vehicles off the roadway to safer location. The program also supports first responders such as police, fire, emergency medical services, and towing services on major incidents by providing early verification of incident information and assistance with traffic control.
In 2017, a multi-agency committee consisting of TxDOT, Bexar County and the City of San Antonio submitted a proposal to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) under a project call to fund a three-year HERO program using (STP-MM) federal funds. The program was awarded $13,500,000.00 over three years with a required 20% local match of $2,700,000.00. As part of the project submittal, the City of San Antonio (CoSA), Bexar County, and TxDOT agreed to jointly contribute to the 20% local match.
In 2019, TxDOT submitted a proposal for the HERO program to receive additional funding through the AAMPO Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program. The program was selected for additional funding of $5,500,000.00 which includes an over-match committed by Bexar County of $550,000.00. No City of San Antonio funds are needed to match the CMAQ funds. These additional funds will enable the program to have expanded coverage on nights and weekends throughout the three years of the project.
Although the program is scheduled to last three years, the available funding is spread over four fiscal years. A breakdown of the funding is shown in the following table.
Proposed HERO Funding (STP-MM + CMAQ)
Funding Source FY Total Federal TxDOT CoSA Bexar County
Funding Funding Match Match Match
STP-MM (Cat 7) 2019 $2.5 M $2 M $167,500 $166,250 $166,250
STP-MM (Cat 7) 2020 $5.5 M $4.4 M $368,500 $365,750 $365,750
STP-MM (Cat 7) 2021 $5.5 M $4.4 M $368,500 $365,750 $365, 750
*CMAQ (Cat 5) 2022 $5.5 M $3.96 M $990,000 - - - $550,000
Total $19 M $14.76 M $1,894,500 $897,750 $1,447,750
*Bexar County is providing $550,000 overmatch for CMAQ FY 2022 funds.
The program is planned to cover major freeway routes in Bexar County and extend to Boerne in Kendall County and New Braunfels in Comal County. While the routes will not be finalized until the contract is awarded, the proposed initial routes make up 228 miles of coverage including portions of Loop 1604, Interstate 410, Interstate 10, Interstate 35, US 281, US 90, and State Highway 151 within the City of San Antonio. The funding provided will allow the HERO operators to provide services for the majority of the day, 7 days a week.
Funding sources for the FY 2019 and FY 2020 CoSA match have been identified. Funding for the FY 2021 CoSA match will be needed to be identified.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the execution of three Interlocal Agreements between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), authorizing payment in the amount not to exceed $897,750.00 to TxDOT to contribute toward the State’s FY 2019, FY 2020 and FY 2021 Safety Service Patrol Program funded by Advanced Transportation District funds authorized in the FY 2019 and FY 2020 adopted budgets located citywide.
The HERO or Safety Service Patrol Program will strongly support traffic management efforts in the San Antonio region by detecting, confirming and clearing incidents causing travel lane blockages. Historically, the vast majority of incidents on urban freeways are minor crashes and vehicle breakdowns. The goals of the program are to improve on-road safety, keep traffic flowing by removing stranded motorists from the roadway and provide motorists advance warning of stopped vehicles to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities. In addition, the program will also provide for traffic control around major incidents which will assist local law enforcement personnel.
The Safety Service Patrol Program was selected for funding through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO). The local agencies are responsible for 20% of the cost with the remaining 80% being provided through federal funding sources. As part of the project submittal, the City of San Antonio (CoSA), Bexar County, and TxDOT agreed to jointly contribute to the 20% local match. As such, CoSA will be required to contribute a total of $897,750.00, or roughly one-third of the required local match.
With the approval of this ordinance, the Safety Service Patrol Program is anticipated to begin in May 2020 and will support the City’s commitment to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities, as well as improve air quality in the region.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve this ordinance; however, without the City’s contribution, TxDOT would likely not be able implement the HERO Safety Service Patrol Program in this region.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes three Interlocal Agreements between the City of San Antonio and TxDOT, authorizing payment to TxDOT in the amount not to exceed $897,750.00. Funds are available from the Advanced Transportation District (ATD) Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020 budget, Fiscal Year 2021 is contingent upon City Council approval of the FY 2021 Budget. The three Interlocal Agreements represent the City’s contribution to the State’s three-year HERO Safety Service Patrol Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of three Interlocal Agreements between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), authorizing payment in the amount not to exceed $897,750.00 to TxDOT to contribute toward the State’s FY 2019, FY 2020 and FY 2021 Safety Service Patrol Program funded by Advanced Transportation District funds authorized in the FY 2019 and FY 2020 adopted budgets.