Mayor White looks to combine $AFEclear with an expanded MAP
KPRC-2 is running a very interesting story about Mayor White, $AFEclear and MAP:
Houston's mayor made plans Friday to expand a motorist assistance program in an effort to save a controversial towing ordinance, Local 2 reported in an exclusive story Friday.
MAP is Harris County's freeway assistance program. A compromise between Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels would expand MAP in conjunction with Safe Clear.
"I think both with Safe Clear's capabilities and with an expanded MAP program, which I'm working on, that there will be a lot of assistance to motorists," White said. "Nobody minds getting some free assistance in the shoulder or emergency lane."
The Motorist Assistance Program has been in place since 1986. During peak hours, deputies patrol in donated vans, providing free rides, gas, jump starts and other services for stranded motorists.
MAP would work alongside Safe Clear wreckers, providing a more driver-friendly approach to clearing roadways.
The current budget for MAP is about $2.5 million. The current plan would triple that budget, with the money coming from the county, city, METRO and private industry.
"We are going to work with the city to try to commit to something with our MAP program and with their program and find something that will resolve the issues the legislature has," Eckels said.
The move comes after a state Senate committee approved a bill that would kill Safe Clear, which requires tow truck drivers to remove disabled vehicles from Houston roadways within six minutes, even without the driver's consent.
I am stunned. Happily so. If anyone can figure out how to make this happen, it is Mayor White.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/11/05 06:31 PM | Print |
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