To: Mark R. Hafner, City Manager
From: Alonzo Liñán, P.E., Director of Public Works Captain Tracy Talkington, Interim Chief of Police
Subject:
Title
Consider a resolution supporting the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ comprehensive, coordinated, interagency approach to Freeway Incident Management.
Background:
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has issued the 2020 Incident Management Equipment Purchase Call for Projects to aid local agencies in quick incident clearance and mitigation. The program provides for 100% reimbursement funding of materials like cones, protective clothing, traffic barriers, signs, flares, barrels, lighting, radio equipment, crash reconstruction equipment/technology, etc. However, in order to be favorably considered, the local agency is strongly encouraged to support the regionally developed Freeway Incident Management approach via a locally adopted resolution.
The regional resolution was adopted by the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) in 2008. The RTC is the regional transportation policy body of NCTCOG and is the forum for cooperative regional transportation decisions. The original RTC resolution and the resolution being considered is based on growing traffic congestion and related to roadway incidents costs, the Mobility 2030 Mobility Plan goals of reducing traffic congestion reduction and air quality impacts, and Best Practices outlined by national agencies regarding incident management.
The resolution outlines a coordinated and uniform approach to Traffic Incident Management (TIM) that provides for consistent TIM data collection, crash response and incident clearance metrics, and interagency agreements. The resolution further describes support for a locally managed TIM system that documents a commitment to:
• Participate in regional TIM training
• Improve the monitoring, detection, clearance, public notification and investigation of incidents
• Develop a sharable GIS-based system for incidents
• Establish incident management performance measures
• Adopt internal policies related to abandoned vehicles, tow trucks, and roadway clearances
• Engage in multi-disciplinary and inter-agency agreements and incident reviews
Both Police and Public Works staff recommend approval of this resolution as a necessary first step to respond to the Call for Projects that is due to the NCTCOG by February 21, 2020.
Financial Impact:
This is a 100% reimbursement program where local funds will have to be spent first, then reimbursed through the program. There is also an expectation of ongoing maintenance of equipment purchased through this program until it depreciates to less than $5,000.
Citizen Input/Board Review:
Not Applicable.
Legal Review:
The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed Resolution.
Alternatives:
City Council has the following alternatives:
- Approve as submitted
- Approve with changes
- Denial