ORDINANCE approving and authorizing submission of an application for and acceptance of a U.S. Department of Transportation FY16 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program High Priority Grant; declaring the City's eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Chief of the Houston Police Department to act as the City's representative in the application process, to accept such grant funds, if awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the program

The Houston Police Department has applied for federal funds under the U.S. Department of Transportation FY16 Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) High Priority Grant in the amount of $382,939.  The program requires a cash match of $49,991 and an in-kind contribution of $244,370 for a total program cost of $677,300.

This grant will allow the Houston Police Department Truck Enforcement Unit to expand the key components of their work, which includes: inspection of commercial motor vehicles, hazardous material motor vehicles and passenger-carrying of commercial motor vehicles; traffic enforcement to regulate speed, seat belt usage and aggressive driving; education of both commercial motor vehicle drivers and owners of safe driving habits; education of citizens on the dangers of unsafe driving behaviors around commercial motor vehicles; and safety initiatives involving marked and unmarked units around work zones and targeted roadways.  The funding will be used towards overtime for personnel in order to reduce the number of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) at-fault crashes through a combined effort of inspecting, enforcing and educating the commercial motor vehicle industry.

Grant: USDOT (Fund 5000)   $382,939.00  

Cash Match (Fund 1000)       $49,991.00  

In-Kind Match                         $244,370.00

Total Project                           $677,300.00  

Joseph A. Fenninger,

CFO & Deputy Director  

(713) 308-1770