Freeway Service Patrol Service Contracts:

1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to execute contracts with California Towing  and Transport for an amount not to exceed $1,400,915.00 to provide services for the Freeway Service Patrol program, for the period ending June 30, 2025;
2. APPROVE the use of $1,400,915.00 in State Freeway Service Patrol funds and Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways funds budgeted for this purpose; and
3. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such other further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the contract, including approvals of future modifications or amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work or change the approved contract term or amount.

The Freeway Service Patrol program is managed by a partnership of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The FSP vehicle operators contracting with the Transportation Agency provide "quick fix" services to motorists including, but not limited to, furnishing one gallon of gasoline, changing flat tires, providing a "jump" start, taping or repairing cooling system hoses, refilling radiators or similar minor repairs as well as providing towing needs for minor collisions.  If the disabled vehicle cannot be repaired in this manner, it is towed to a California Highway Patrol designated drop location.  In these instances, the motorist can request the FSP vehicle operator contact CHP Dispatchers to call for a CHP rotational tow, a specified tow or a friend or relative to assist them.  The FSP operators are also responsible for clearing the freeway of automobiles, motorcycles, small trucks (vehicles with a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less) and small debris.  All Freeway Service Patrol services are provided free of charge to motorists.

The Freeway Service Patrol currently operates on three road segments or Beats.  Beat 1 currently operates along US Highway 101 from the San Benito County Line to Gould Road (Salinas).  Beat 2 currently operates along State Route 1 from Rio Road (Carmel) to State Route 156/183 (Castroville).  A temporary Beat 3 is currently operating along US Highway 101 from Gould Road (Salinas) to Arroyo Seco Road (Soledad).  FSP drivers patrol these Beats during times of peak traffic congestion from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  A modified Beat 1 operates on US Highway 101 from the San Benito County Line to Arroyo Seco Road on Sundays during the summer months to accommodate the increase in traffic due to tourists visiting the Monterey County area, while the regular Beat 2 operates on Saturdays during the summer months to accommodate increased tourist traffic.

The current service contract cycle will expire on June 30, 2021, ending a four-year contract period. The new contract cycle will be from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025.

On March 24, 2021, the Board released a Request for Proposals for the new contract period. The Agency received two proposals for Beat 1, one from our current contractor, California Towing and Transport, and one from a Dick's Towing and Auto Repair.  California Towing also submitted proposals for Beats 2 and 3.  The proposals were evaluated on several criteria including: 1) price, 2) management abilities, 3) quality of tow service, and 4) proposal quality.  After an extensive evaluation process, including site visits and inspections, the evaluation committee, formed with staff from the California Highway Patrol and the Transportation Agency, determined that the current contractor, California Towing and Transport, has the best ability to meet the requirements set forth in the Scope of Work. The review panel unanimously recommends California Towing and Transport for contracts for all three Beats.

Freeway Service Patrol 2021 Scope of Work and Schedule