Free tows are returning to local freeways
Free tows for stranded vehicles are poised to return to Houston-area freeways, once local officials finalize agreements to lock in federal funds for the once-popular program.
Free tows for stranded vehicles are poised to return to Houston-area freeways, once local officials finalize agreements to lock in federal funds for the once-popular program.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a series of agreements, ranging from accepting $5 million in federal funds for the SafeClear program and revising agreements with the 16 towing companies that monitor area freeways.
“It will keep our streets safer, and that is important,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said, adding the “enhanced mobility” will make travel times more predictable for all drivers.
The program would allow authorities monitoring traffic operations remotely or in person to approve towing a stranded vehicle off the freeway, free of charge, 24 hours a day. A number of restrictions apply, but essentially vehicles blocking lanes of traffic or even perched on freeway shoulders would be taken to a safe location, with the cost of the tow covered by regional transportation money.
Stalled or abandoned vehicles represent 62 percent of the roadway incidents along Houston freeways, according to Houston TranStar data from 2016 to present.
Studies in Houston and other U.S. cities have shown towing stranded cars and small trucks eases traffic congestion, and as a result reduces emissions and saves commuters money wasted on idling engines.
“It is probably the highest return on investment from one thing we can do,” said Alan Clark, manager of transportation and air quality programs at the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
The council’s board must approve the program and use of the federal money, which the
agency doles out. Clark said depending on when that approval could take place, free towing could start “by May, or absolutely by June.”
Officials have set aside $8 million annually to operate the program and pay towing companies for the service. The next three years of the program are built into H-GAC’s current plans, with officials expecting to continue funding it beyond 2021.
This will not be the first time Houston offered free tows. SafeClear, launched in 2005 by former Houston Mayor Bill White, allowed companies to clear freeway lanes during peak traffic times.
The program later ran into financial difficulties, and city officials in 2011 opted to charge drivers $50 to remove stranded and abandoned vehicles from the shoulder. The charge was increased to $60 in 2015, around the time regional transportation officials sought federal money to again make the program free.
Drivers welcomed the return of the free program, if it delivers the promised benefits.
“Anything that keeps the freeway clear has my support,” said Ronald Patrick, 56, who commutes to downtown from the Clear Lake area.
Cindy Spiers, 40, said she would also gladly use it if the need arose.
“I’ve been stranded,” Spiers said. “It’s scary. I’d want to get out of there as soon as possible.”
The revised program is more robust and avoids some of the logistical challenges the first free towing program faced, Clark said.
The City Council approved allowing Harris County Sheriff’s Department deputies to authorize tows, meaning controllers at Houston TranStar — a partnership between the city, county, Texas Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Transit Authority — can dispatch tow trucks and order tows without patrol officers responding to the scene.
Around-the-clock coverage also means additional safety benefits, supporters said. Durregional ing heavy traffic, removing vehicles reduces the risk of accidents as freeway traffic approaches stopped traffic. That risk is lessened at night, but other conditions also pose a danger.
“The problem with non-peak hours is traffic is moving extremely fast. The safety benefits are still very significant,” he said, referring to night hours.
The new SafeClear program will not, however, solve all freeway issues involving vehicles blocking lanes. Clark said the program will not move vehicle crashes, as those tows are typically covered by insurance companies, and crash scenes cannot be immediately cleared.
If a police officer determines there is a public emergency, the nearest tow truckcan ferry the vehicle off. If that tow truck is not affiliated with the program, the vehicle owner would be responsible for the costs.
SafeClear wreckers also cannot remove heavy trucks, such as 18-wheelers.