Safe Clear Major Freeway Towing and Emergency Road

Safe. Clear Major Freeway Towing and Emergency Road Service Program Houston Police Department Art Acevedo – Chief of Police Presented by: Captain Bryan Bennett 02 -13 -2018 1

History n In 2005, the City of Houston launched its Safe. Clear Traffic Incident Management Program. q Designed to remove disabled and abandoned vehicles via remote visual authorization by HPD officers stationed at Houston Tran. Star q From January 2005 to 2011 -- Tows of stalled vehicles in a non-moving lane of traffic were free to citizens until City ran into funding constraints 02 -13 -18 2

History In 2011, the City made several changes to the Safe. Clear Program: q Vehicle owners were charged $50. 00 for a tow of a stalled vehicle in a non-moving lane and $30. 00 for On-Freeway Roadside Services. q If unable to pay, vehicle is towed to a Cityapproved storage facility for up to 48 hours at no extra charge. q METRO officers replaced HPD officers at Houston Tran. Star to authorize remote tows. q Additionally, dispatchers were hired by the 3 02 -13 -18 n

Current Plan n In November 2015, after completion of Request for Qualification process, City Council approved the continuation of the Safe. Clear Program and awarded Safe. Clear segments to 17 tow operators. q One company lost its Safe. Clear contract due to contract violations – The Program now has 16 tow operators. q Public is charged $60. 00 per tow, no charge for roadside service. 02 -13 -18 4

Current Plan (cont) q November 2016 -- Harris County Sheriff Office deputies replace METRO officers for authorizing tows. 02 -13 -18 5

Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Plan n n In 2015, H-GAC proposed federal funding to the City for the Safe. Clear Program for a 2 -year term. Funding will pay (on behalf of vehicle owner) for the tow of a stalled vehicle by a Safe. Clear tow operator from the freeways within the City. 02 -13 -18 6

H-GAC Plan (cont) n The program will be a partnership between HGAC, the Harris County Sherriff’s Office (HCSO) and the City: H-GAC will be responsible for obtaining funding for the program. q HCSO will be responsible for authorizing tows from Tran. Star and tracking those tows within a Regional Incident Management System (RIMS) q City will be responsible for distributing payments to Safe. Clear tow operators, seeking reimbursement from H-GAC, and enforcement of Safe. Clear contracts and compliance by wrecker 7 02 -13 -18 drivers and storage lot owners. q

Request for City Council Approval n n Funding Agreement between H-GAC and City. Interlocal Agreement between City and Harris County. Interlocal Agreement between City and METRO to cover HOV lanes in H-GAC Plan. Amendment to Safe. Clear Agreements with 16 Tow Operators to incorporate provisions under H-GAC Plan. 02 -13 -18 8

Financing the H-GAC Plan H-GAC has started funding Regional Incident Management Activity and has the programmed funding for the next three plus years. n H-GAC commits to seek future federal funding to continue the Regional Incident Management Activity beyond this initial funding allocation. n 02 -13 -18 9

Current and Planned Funding CSJ Description Source Amount Status 0912 -00 -487 Regional Incident Management (IMU/MAP) STP-MM $5, 000 Active 0912 -00 -556 Regional Incident Management (IMU/MAP) STP-MM $5, 000 May 2018 0912 -00 -557 Regional Incident Management (IMU/MAP) STP-MM $5, 000 May 2019 0912 -00 -529 Regional Incident Management (Towing/Public Outreach) STP-MM $8, 000 Active 0912 -00 -539 Regional Incident Management (Towing) STP-MM $8, 000 May 2018 0912 -00 -557 Regional Incident Management (Towing) STP-MM $8, 000 May 2019 STP MM is the Surface Transportation Program that is set aside for urbanized areas with populations greater than 200, 000 for metro mobility 02 -13 -18 10

A Non-Qualifying Safe. Clear Tow If a law enforcement officer determines that a public emergency exists, the officer may direct any PATSA auto wrecker to remove the Stalled Vehicle. Such tows shall not be reimbursed if the PATSA auto wrecker that responds is not part of the Safe. Clear program. The citizen will have to pay the city authorized towing charges. 02 -13 -18 11