SUBJECT: Additional Appropriation to the Advance Funding Agreement between the City of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Central Business District Communication System.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve an ordinance appropriating additional funds to the Advance Funding Agreement between the City of Houston and TxDOT.
PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: The City of Houston Regional Computerized Traffic Signal System (RCTSS)/Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Project has increased traffic mobility and improved air quality by modernizing and upgrading traffic signals and their operations on 13 high volume corridors throughout the City and in the Central Business District. The project is to complete the improvements to the Central Business District Communications System to improve mobility and allow enhanced interconnectivity and traffic control by allowing all the signals to communicate with each other and Transtar.
DESCRIPTION: This project consists of installing optical fiber and integrating into the existing hard wire interconnect, deploying Ethernet equipment at Houston Transtar, deploying new interconnect in some areas, upgrading/replacing signals controllers to make them Ethernet compatible, deploying Ethernet over copper cable switches, and any other incidentals necessary. These switches will be tied together and will communicate with Houston Transtar via existing METRO fiber cable. Other necessary elements including design and integration are to be completed by the City of Houston.
LOCATION: This project is located in the Central Business District.
PREVIOUS HISTORY AND SCOPE OF THIS AGREEMENT: The City entered into an Advance Funding Agreement with TxDOT under Ordinance No. 2008-0916 on October 15, 2008. The federal share was eighty percent (80%) of the actual cost of work and the City was responsible for twenty percent (20%). The City’s estimated cost participation for the project was $315,019.00. Due to an increase in available Federal Funds, it became necessary to amend the agreement. The amended amount of federal funds available for the project was $1,806,004.00, which caused the City’s share to increase to $361,201.00. City Council approved Amendment One under Ordinance No. 2011-1026 on December 7, 2011.
SCOPE OF THIS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION AND FEE: Additional funds are now required to cover the City’s share of the remaining balance due to TxDOT. This project has been completed and accepted by TxDOT. TxDOT has submitted a Statement of Cost requesting the City to remit the remaining amount of $113,126.71. Currently the City has $46,182.00 remaining from Amendment One of the Agreement. Therefore, the required additional funds for this appropriation is $66,944.71.
FISCAL NOTE: No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E.
Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No. N-000650-0047-7