Page 29 - ArlingtonFY24AdoptedBudget

Business Plan

APD continues to invest in its Aviation Unit, which provides aerial support for
operations, investigations, and major events in Arlington using Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones. UAS technology has proven to be
effective in keeping officers and the public safe, and at a significantly lower cost than
helicopters. Demand for the Aviation Unit’s services continues to increase
exponentially, leading to the creation of a full-time sergeant position, UAS pilot training
/ certification for additional officers, and securing grant funding for a UAS Command
Vehicle.

APD recently received a national award from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms,
and Explosives (ATF) for the creation of its NIBIN Engagement Team (NET), whose
mission is to disrupt and dismantle gun violence in the community. NIBIN, which stands
for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, is a national database that
local law enforcement agencies can access to help trace ballistics evidence recovered
from crime scenes. Although detectives have used NIBIN for years to investigate individual cases, the department felt there was
an opportunity to expand the system’s use to develop intelligence and actionable leads to further reduce gun-related crimes.
NET uses the system to create sophisticated profiles that show connections between gun-related incidents, the firearms used
in those incidents, and the suspects / witnesses involved in those cases. These profiles can help detectives quickly identify
investigative priorities by showing them which individuals and weapons are repeatedly turning up at violent crime scenes in
Arlington and across the DFW Metroplex.

The Department of Public Works is comprised of the following divisions: Business Services, Construction Services,
Engineering Operations, Environmental Management, Floodplain Management, Information Services, Operations Support,
Stormwater Engineering, Stormwater Operations, Street Maintenance, Traffic Engineering, and Traffic Operations. These
divisions function together to design, build, and maintain street and drainage infrastructure and are responsible for mobility
optimization through traffic engineering and technological innovation, and provision of signals, streetlights, and regulatory signs
and markings. Public Works staff are also responsible for the quality of surface water in the City of Arlington by inspecting private
construction activities, municipal and industrial facilities that have the potential to impact surface water quality, and enforcement
of local, state, and federal water quality and environmental regulations.

In support of City Council’s priorities to Enhance Regional Mobility and Champion Great Neighborhoods, the department’s
Capital Improvement and Street Maintenance Programs are responsible for the infrastructure improvements and maintenance
for a roadway network of over 3,000 lane miles, 23,005 streetlights, 44,030 roadway signs, and 4,290,686 linear feet of roadway
pavement markings. This is accomplished by resurfacing roadways in poor condition and beyond maintenance. Through the
efforts of the capital improvement and street maintenance programs, approximately 84 percent of the City’s roadways have a
satisfactory or better condition rating.

The Field Operations group was once again called upon to provide emergency operations support in response to the winter
storm events this past year. Crews and support staff worked multiple twelve-hour shifts applying salt brine, sand, and ice chat
to city streets and bridge decks. During these events, employees from six department divisions worked together to overcome
staffing level challenges to provide service to primary and secondary roadway
locations as well as responding to emergency calls from the public, Arlington
Fire Department, and Arlington Police Department.

During FY 2023, the department completed construction of several capital
improvement roadway projects valued at $36.9M. Among the projects
completed is Avenue H between Watson Road SH360 and Great Southwest
Parkway. In addition to rebuilding Avenue H from a two-lane road to a four-lane
divided concrete roadway with a 50-year lifespan, the project also included
installation of stormwater infrastructure, installation of sidewalks, renewal of
water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, streetlight improvements, traffic signal

FY 2024 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 20 City of Arlington, Texas