From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Roadway Incident Management Project for the Grand Prairie Police Department's purchase of roadway safety equipment (Roadway Flares, a Roadside Variable Message Board, and Traffic Safety Cones) in the amount $33,607
Presenter
Chief Steve Dye, Police Department
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The City of Grand Prairie covers 81.4 square miles, is the 5th largest city in the Metroplex in land mass, and is situated in three counties (Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis). The City has a growing population of over 175,000 residents and provides emergency response service for two major interstate highways (I-20 and I-30), three state highways (SH 360, SH 180, and SH 161), US Hwy 287, and Spur Hwy 303. Grand Prairie is a central and connecting City facilitating millions of vehicles that ingress and egress to many areas of the surrounding Metroplex.
The City of Grand Prairie is home to major tourist attractions (Lone Star Park, QuikTrip Park, Verizon Theater, Traders Village, Joe Pool Lake, Grand Prairie Premium Outlets, and several retail shopping centers). In conjunction with the major thoroughfares, when these attractions house major events, they create an exponentially expanding volume of vehicular traffic in the City. The totality of these circumstances create a considerable potential for vehicular traffic congestion and traffic crashes requiring the Grand Prairie Police Department to manage multiple roadway incidents at any given time.
The Texas Department of Transportation estimates that there is one reportable crash every 71 seconds in the State of Texas. It also estimates that one person is killed every two hours and 36 minutes. In 2013, The Grand Prairie Police Department investigated at total of 2,866 traffic crashes that resulted in a total of 18 deaths and more than 1,973 injuries. In 2014, the year to date total is 1,830 traffic crashes, resulting in 11 deaths and approximately 556 injuries. The need to safely manage these roadway incidents becomes critical as the amount of vehicular traffic continues to increase.
The grant from the (NCTCOG) Roadway Incident Management Project will be used to purchase the following;
• A Variable Message Board - $16,453.
• Roadway Flares - $10,003.
• Traffic Safety Cones - $7,150.
These critical items are primarily used as visual aids to proactively warn vehicular traffic of safety hazards during the time that officers and other emergency responders are managing roadway hazards and incidents. The function of these visual warning devices serve to mitigate secondary traffic collisions, injuries, deaths and also allow for the safe and expedient clearing of the affected roadway.
Staff is recommending consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for the Roadway Incident Management Project grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the Grand Prairie Police Department's ability to safely and expediently manage roadway incidents.
There is no required cash match from the City, which would receive $33,607.
The Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee reviewed and recommended this item on September 3, 2014.
Financial Consideration
None
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF A GRANT FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ROADWAY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROJECT FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE VISUAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,607
Whereas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is accepting grant applications for the Roadway Incident Management Project;
Whereas, the Grand Prairie Police Department wishes to apply for funding to purchase visual traffic safety equipment for the continuation of safely managing traffic incidents in the City;
Whereas, the City does not have a required cash match;
Whereas, in the event of loss or misuse of North Texas Council of Governments Roadway Incident Management Project funds, the City of Grand Prairie assures that the funds will be returned to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, does hereby authorize the City Manager to apply for and accept if approved a grant in the amount $33,607 to purchase visual traffic safety equipment for the continuation of safely managing roadway incidents.
Section 2. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in accordance with the Charter of the City of Grand Prairie and it is accordingly so resolved.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 16th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2014.