Primary Department: Housing and Community Development
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Policy
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): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Housing and Community Development for approval to accept and implement the updated Public Transit Agency Safety Plan from the Federal Transit Administration for the Transit Services Division.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Harris County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) Office of Transit Services (Harris County Transit) has been the direct recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program 5307 Urbanized Formula and 5310 Elderly and Disabled Mobility funds since 2006. The Harris County Transit Director was designated by FTA to be the accountable executive for acceptance of grants, annual certifications, drug and alcohol compliance for and on behalf of Harris County.
As prescribed in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act 49 CFR Part 673, all transit agencies receiving FTA grant funding must incorporate Safety Management System principles into the agency's safety plan to continue receiving funds. All transit agencies receiving FTA transit funds must have an approved Safety Plan submitted to the FTA by July 2020 to remain eligible for funding.
Harris County Transit developed and has had in place a Transit Safety Plan since 2009. The 2025 revised Harris County Transit Safety Plan incorporates terms and procedures as required by the FTA under 49 CFR 673. This Safety Plan is specific to transit operations and does not supersede or replace any other Harris County safety plans or requirements.
Request for Commissioners Court approval of this plan and authorization for the Harris County Transit Services Director to sign the Transit Safety Plan as accountable executive for and on behalf of Harris County is recommended.
Expected Impact:
The approval and implementation of the revised Safety Plan ensures that Harris County Transit remains compliant with FTA regulations and maintains eligibility for federal funding. No direct fiscal impact with this request.
Alternative Options:
If Harris County Transit fails to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations, it will be ineligible for federal funding, requiring the County to support the program using general funds.
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): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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6/9/2020 |
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Approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable): Countywide
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Non-Labor |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
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$ |
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$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
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No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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- |
Anticipated Court Date: 5/22/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 5/22/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: David Jones, Assistant Director, HCD
Attachments (if applicable): Safety Plan