Department: County Engineer
Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, County Engineer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the County Engineer for approval to submit an application to the United States Department of Transportation for grant funds in the amount of $1,000,000, with a required match of $250,000, for the FY 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
CRISI is a discretionary grant program providing up to $2.4 billion under this Notice of Funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2024. This funding is sourced from the 2023 and 2024 Appropriations, 2023 and 2024 advance appropriations provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and remaining unawarded 2022 CRISI balances.
The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement. This program invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety, support economic vitality (including through opportunities for small businesses), create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, increase capacity and supply chain resilience, apply innovative technology, and explicitly address climate change, gender equity and racial equity.
Harris County is applying for Track 1: Systems Planning and Project Planning under the CRISI grant. This study aims to explore methods to ensure safe pedestrian crossings on Zindler Road and at the railroad crossing on Market Street. The area includes residential neighborhoods and a middle school on Zindler Road, presenting a significant safety concern for students and children. The project is particularly relevant due to the high percentage of the population living in DOT’s disadvantaged census tracts, a critical scoring criterion for the application.
Expected Impact:
The submission of this CRISI application for Track 1: Systems Planning and Project Planning will enable Harris County to secure $1,000,000 in federal grant funding, supplemented by a local match of $250,000. This funding will be used to explore methods for ensuring safe pedestrian crossings on Zindler Road and at the railroad crossing on Market Street. The proposed study aims to create safer pathways for pedestrians, nearby students, and drivers.
Alternative Options:
If the County does not apply for the CRISI application for Track 1: Systems Planning and Project Planning for FY 2024, the safety project may have to be implemented using full local funding.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
X Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
X Transportation
_ Flooding
X Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
Location:
Address (if applicable): Zindler Road and at the railroad crossing on Market Street.
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
FRA FY2023-2024 - Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Other, P2-1070 Mobility |
$ |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$1,250,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: June 4, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Patrick Mandapaka, PhD, AICP, Director of Community Resilience and Transportation Planning, Harris County Engineering
Attachments (if applicable): FY2023-2024 CRISI NOFO. Grant documents.