PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: The Federal law established federally funded programs for transportation improvements to implement its public purposes. The Texas Transportation Code, Section 201.103 and 222.052 established that the State shall design, construct and operate a system of highways in cooperation with local governments. The Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order Number 113948, authorizing the State to undertake and complete highway improvements by the installation of fiber cable and communications equipment.
Under the Texas Transportation Commission, approval of this funding agreement will allow the City to be reimbursed 80% of the estimated cost. Though the final costs have not been determined, TxDOT will reimburse up to 1,206,500.00. Reimbursement will be through monthly billing as construction costs are incurred. The City will be responsible for the remaining 20% and the Department of Public Works and Engineering will be returning to Council at a later date with an RCA that will request approval of a contract and appropriation of the matching funds now estimated to be $384,000.00. Also, per the terms of the funding agreement the City had previously agreed to pay $16,000.00 for the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) direct state costs.
DESCRIPTION/SCOPE: This project consists of installing fiber cable and communications equipment at the Traffic Operations Center at 2200 Patterson St., Communications Center at 4200 Leeland St., and Houston TranStar at 6922 Old Katy Rd. Each center will be integrated into existing fiber cable networks along Washington Street and Scott Street, respectively as well as the City of Houston’s traffic operation’s central software and WiMax systems: The duration for this contract is for (3 years).