From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a Selective Traffic Enforcement (STEP) grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the enforcement of safety belt, speed, intersection traffic control, distracted driving and DWI laws primarily related to commercial motor vehicles in the amount of $61,700.30
Presenter
Steve Dye, Chief of Police/Deputy City Manager, and Ryan Simpson, Support Services Division Manager
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 180,000 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 large commercial vehicles each year. The City's industrial districts house some of the largest distributors in the country. Approximately 30 percent of the City's property tax value is industrial and commercial.
The results of special statewide traffic enforcement efforts in Texas and other states confirm that coordinated programs, such as the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), are highly effective in reducing traffic-related fatalities, injuries and costs.
The Grand Prairie Police Department has participated in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for 28 years. The total grant money addresses primarily seatbelt, speeding, intersection traffic control, and DWI laws. New for fiscal year 2019 is a STEP grant that is intended to focus on the same violations, as they pertain to commercial motor vehicles.
From October 2016 through September 2017, the TxDOT STEP Grant has resulted in the following grant-related citation totals: speeding violations (2,242); seatbelt use violations (568); unrestrained child violations (200); intersection control devices violations (3,799). The total number of citations issued as part of the grant program from October 2016 through September 2017 was (7,388), which includes the above totals and non-hazardous violations.
This new Selective Traffic Enforcement Program specifically designed for commercial motor vehicles will benefit the citizens of Grand Prairie by increasing the detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle driving safety, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents. This should thereby contribute to the reduction of commercial vehicle crashes in the City.
The Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee reviewed this item on August 6, 2018 and recommended that it be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
Financial Consideration
The grant period begins October 1, 2018, and ends September 30, 2019. It is anticipated the total cost for the City during this period will amount to a cash match of $12,517.82. Funding will be allocated in the FY 2018/2019 General Fund budget, Police Department. The Texas Department of Transportation will fund $49,182.48 to pay the City for overtime salaries and benefits for enforcement efforts. Project cost will total $61,700.30
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF A TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT FOR SAFETY BELT, SPEED, INTERSECTION TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND DWI ENFORCEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,700.30 TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL
Whereas, the Grand Prairie Police Department wishes to participate in an intensified enforcement of safety belt, speed, intersection traffic control and DWI laws as they pertain to commercial motor vehicles;
Whereas, the City will provide a cash match of $12,517.82 to the Texas Department of Transportation;
Whereas, in the event of loss or misuse of Texas Department of Transportation funds, the City of Grand Prairie assures that the funds will be returned to the Texas Department of Transportation in full;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. the City Manager of the City of Grand Prairie is empowered to accept, reject, alter or terminate this grant on behalf of the City Council;
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 7th DAY OF AUGUST, 2018.