SUBJECT: Ordinance approving and authorizing the submission of an application for grant assistance to the US Department of Transportation for the 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary grant program for Houston Roadway Flood Warning System project.
BACKGROUND: The US Department of Transportation issued notice of funding opportunity and request proposal for 2017 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.
The goal for this grant is to improve the Houston Flood Warning System (HFWS) infrastructure to increase reliability, enhance awareness, reduce maintenance, and effectively communicate real time high water conditions. Once complete, the HFWS project will provide real-time high water and alternative routes information to the public, provide enhanced high water warning with overhead flashers, integrate the FWS communications into the City of Houston traffic management software and seek to leverage existing platforms and partnering opportunities to populate this data on other agency websites and share space on the FWS sign supports, reduce maintenance and improve reliability of high water detection sensors, and prevent storm water backflow at susceptible underpasses. The HFWS project will include improvements at 27 FWS sites, 12 of these also having a Storm Water Pump Station (SWPS) facility. HFWS components will include: PTZ cameras, Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), advance roadside and overhead flashers, high water sensors and supporting systems, storm water backflow preventers, backup power generators at SWPS sites, and battery backup at FWS sites. These components will be installed citywide at existing SWPS and FWS sites.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, PE
Acting Director
Department of Public Works and Engineering