Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 2
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Adrian Garcia, Commissioner Precinct 2
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Infrastructure (Design, Construction, Maintenance)
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by the Office of the County Engineer of a grant application, submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation for grant funds in the amount of $18,400,000 with a required match of $4,600,000 from Precinct 2 for the FY26 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program.
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Background and Discussion:
The goal of the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant program is to fund projects that will have a significant local or regional impact and improve transportation infrastructure. BUILD grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, per statute, for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety; environmental sustainability; quality of life; mobility and community connectivity; economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism; state of good repair; partnership and collaboration; and innovation. The proposed project will reconstruct 1.65 miles of Sweetwater Lane into a modern curb-and-gutter concrete roadway, delivering critical infrastructure upgrades. The project encompasses the construction of new sidewalks, streetlights, enclosed storm drainage, traffic signal, and a widened bridge over Halls Bayou, along with access management improvements designed to enhance safety and connectivity for all users.
Expected Impact:
This project aims to make roads safer and more accessible for residents, transit riders, and people using different types of transportation. If we receive the grant, the funding will help cover County costs by using outside resources and will lower future maintenance needs through better pavement and drainage. The project will make our roads and transit stops more reliable, reduce emergency repairs from pavement problems and flooding, and improve safety along a main north-south route. We do not expect any negative effects on County operations. Instead, the project will improve mobility, stormwater management, and the overall strength of our infrastructure.
Alternative Options:
If Harris County did not submit this BUILD Grant Program application, the total proposed project cost of $23,000,000 would have to be either funded locally or with other grant funding.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): G1: Expand pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure on County-managed roads,
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): Sweetwater Lane, From: West Mount Houston To: West Canino, Houston, TX 77037
Precinct(s): Precinct 2
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. Other.” [3002 - Metro Fund] |
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$4,600,000 |
$4,600,000 |
4 years |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$18,400,000 |
$18,400,000 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 4/9/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 6/28/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Mike Etienne, Chief of Planning and Development Services, Office of the County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): NOFO, Grant Application Submission, Signatory Approval to Apply Notice of Funding Opportunity