Houston’s traffic enforcement and street light operations will be funded next year with $50 million from the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s police department budget as part of a new effort.
Lester Gretsch, a METRO representative, stated that the plan will not significantly impact the city’s public transit operations.
The allotment relieves the city’s traffic budget and provides a new source of funding.
At a city council meeting last week, Melissa Dubowski, the city’s financial director, stated that those are some of the new things about this administration and the current METRO leadership. Working together, we were able to get the extra funding for the city that is shown in the projections.
According to Dubowski, METRO will pay roughly $25.4 million to support the city’s budget for traffic enforcement and an additional $21 million to cover the cost of electricity for lamps and traffic.
The expenses were covered by the Houston Police Department’s $1.1 billion budget prior to the new funding plan. Previously, the general money was used to pay for the streetlights, which are based on the overall cost of power for both traffic signals and streetlights.
The funding has not yet been received by the city, and in 2025 the city will send an invoice to the transit authority. According to Dubowski, METRO will continue to get information about traffic enforcement activities.
Up to 25% of the city’s sales tax income is allocated by the transit authority under the General Mobility Program to support interlocal agreements with partner organizations. As permitted by law, such monies are utilized for mobility initiatives, roadway upgrades, and other infrastructure and services.
According to Gretsch, METRO’s public transit operations will not be impacted by this purchase.
About a month has passed since Houston Mayor John Whitmire named Ban Tien the new chief of police for the METRO Police Department. Tien used to be the executive assistant chief of police at the police department.
Tien’s hiring, according to METRO officials, aligns with the transportation authority’s goal to enhancing security presence, strategically deploying more police, and modernizing security fence, lighting, and video equipment.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
