Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Human Resources and Talent
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Sakita Douglas
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent that the County Judge execute an interlocal agreement with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in the amount of $420,000 for RideMETRO Fare System RideSponsor for the purchase of METRO Fare Media for Harris County for the period of March 1, 2026 - February 28, 2027 with one (1) one-year renewal options, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement.
end
Background and Discussion:
Harris County entered into an agreement with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) on May 1, 2014, to provide a subsidy for employees who use mass transit. The updated agreement revises the terms to align with METRO’s new fare management system.
Human Resources and Talent oversees enrollment and distribution of RideMETRO Fare Cards to eligible employees who commute using METRO. The current subsidy is $60 per month.
Expected Impact:
The METRO subsidy program is part of Harris County’s Climate Action Plan and encourages employees to use mass transit, helping reduce emissions and traffic. The subsidy is also a more cost-effective option than providing parking, particularly for employees who work downtown.
Alternative Options:
Without the METRO subsidy program, fewer employees would use mass transit, leading to increased emissions and traffic. Additionally, some County departments would need to provide parking for employees currently in the program, increasing costs to the County.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 5. Minimize the impact of climate change and disasters.
County Strategic Plan Objective: T: Reduce GHG emissions from County operations by 40% by 2030.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): T6: Encourage employees to reduce emissions from commuting and local work trips.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
05/1/2014 |
19.C.10.e |
Approval of agreement with METRO |
|
03/8/2022 |
199 |
Renewal Option Approval |
|
02/21/2023 |
307 |
Renewal Option Approval |
|
10/10/2023 |
276 |
Renewal Option Approval |
|
03/27/2025 |
389 |
Renewal Option Approval |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
RideMETRO Benefits & Wellness |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
$420,000 |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/1/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Sarah Acosta, Director, Benefits & Wellness, Human Resources and Talent; Hugh Taylor, Senior Buyer, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter, Agreement