HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 - School Zone Time Changes ITEM
MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
SUBJECT: SCHOOL ZONE TIME CHANGES
RECOMMENDATION
City Council consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23-27
Speed Limits - Schedules of Additional School Zones of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances approving changes to the school zone timings to match the revised Grapevine
Colleyville Independent School District(GCISD) bell schedule, allow for school zones to be
in effect when school flashers are activated, and take any necessary action.
BACKGROUND:
With the start of the 2009-2010 school year, the GCISD modified the bell schedule for all
school types, and the City adopted corresponding updates to the times during which the
school zone speed limits are in effect. At that time, Kindergarten was in session from 7:45
AM to 2:00 PM,while Elementary School (grades 1-5)was in session from 7:45 AM to 2:45
PM. In order to accommodate the increase in pedestrian and vehicular activity around the
schools which precedes the release of students at these two different times, the school
zones were set to be in effect from 1:45 PM to 3:15 PM (30 minutes prior to first release
through 30 minutes following the second release).
On August 25, 2010, staff was notified by the GCISD that Kindergarten hours had been
changed for the 2010-2011 school year to match those of the Elementary grades, with
those students now also following a 7:45 AM to 2:45 PM bell schedule. Therefore, it is no
longer necessary for the school zones to be in effect starting at 1:45 PM, as an afternoon
start time of 2:15 PM would still provide the same buffer around the scheduled release
time.
In anticipation of the proposed changes to the ordinance, and in order to reduce the
unwarranted imposition of reduced speed school zones more than 30 minutes prior to the
release time, staff has already updated the flashing beacon timers and signing to reflect
the 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM afternoon school zone period.
Note that the afternoon start time for the school zone on Heritage Avenue near the
Colleyville-Grapevine city limits will also be updated to begin at 2:15 PM, but will remain in
effect until 3:55 PM due to the presence of the Middle School within the same zone. Middle
Schools release students at 3:25 PM.
The proposed ordinance includes the addition of language indicating that the school zone
is in effect during the times indicated, "or during the times the school flashers are flashing".
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One of the later phases of the Adaptive Traffic Signal System Project which is presently
being implemented includes the addition of communications equipment to allow the school
zone warning flashers to be programmed from a central system.This system will allow staff
to ensure that all flashers are turning on and off at the precise time that they should, since
the time clocks in each unit can be updated remotely on a regular basis. The system will
also allow staff to better verify that the flashers are functioning without the need to
manually inspect each unit. This will provide a greater degree of certainty that the flashers
are functioning properly and when scheduled.
Implementing school zones based on when the flashers are flashing will allow for school
zones to be put in effect, and properly enforced, on days when the schools release
students early, as well as during summer school periods. It will also eliminate the need for
the ordinance to be revised and for numerous signs to be modified or replaced when the
GCISD's bell schedule is changed, as has now happened for two consecutive school
years.
It should also be noted that the Texas Department of Transportation generally uses the
"when flashing"system rather than listing specific times on each sign. The existing school
zone on the State Highway 121 Frontage Rd north of Hall-Johnson Road operates in this
manner and is already referenced accordingly in Section 23-27 of the City Code of
Ordinances.
Since not all school zones are fully outfitted with flashers on all signs, it may not be
possible to eliminate all references to times on the school zone speed limit signs
immediately upon activation of the new communications system, but it is staffs intention to
change as many school zones as possible to be more closely linked to the flashers by
eliminating the specific times from the signs and replacing them with the wording "when
flashing" wherever practical. This will be instituted as the installation of equipment allows
the transition, and the proposed ordinance will accommodate both the current time-based
and future flasher-based systems.
Staff recommends approval.
RUMP
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS AMENDING THE GRAPEVINE CODE
OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 23 TRAFFIC, SECTION 23-27
SPEED LIMITS - SCHEDULES OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL
ZONES, ALTERING THE PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS
ESTABLISHED FOR VEHICLES UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF SECTIONS 167 AND 169 OF ARTICLE XIX, R.C_S. 6701 d,
UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS,
UPON THE BASIS OF AN ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC
INVESTIGATION UPON CERTAIN STREETS AND
HIGHWAYS, OR PARTS THEREOF, WITHIN THE
CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE ASSET
OUT IN THE ORDINANCE; AUTHORIZING THE ERECTION
OF TRAFFIC REGULATION SIGNS; REPEALING
CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF
FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND A
SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED COMMITTED
EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH AN OFFENSE OCCURS
OR CONTINUES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, Sections 167 and 169 of Article XIX, R.C.S. 6701 d, Uniform Act
Regulating Traffic on Highways, provide that whenever the governing body of the City shall
determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any prima facie
speed therein set forth is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions
found to exist at any intersection or other place or upon any part of a street or highway,
with the City taking into consideration the width and condition of the pavement and other
circumstances on such portion of said street or highway, as well as the usual traffic
thereon, said governing body may determine and declare a reasonable and safe prima
facie speed limit thereat or thereon by the passage of an ordinance, which shall be
effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected at such intersection or
other place or part of the street or highway.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23-27 Speed Limits—Schedules of
Additional School Zones of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by
amending paragraph (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The city manager shall have 20 mile per hour speed limit signs installed in
the designated school zones listed below, which are hereby designated 20
mile per hour zones during the times herein stated. The signs shall indicate
that the 20 mile per hour speed limit will be in effect on school days during
the hours of 7:15 a.m. through 8:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. through 3:15 p.m., or
during the times the school flashers are flashing."
Section 2. That Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23-27 Speed Limits—Schedules of
Additional School Zones of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by
amending paragraph (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The state shall have 35 mile per hour speed limit signs installed in the
designated school zones listed below, which are hereby designated 35 mile
per hour zones during the times the school flashers are flashing."
Section 3. That Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23-27 Speed Limits—Schedules of
Additional School Zones of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by
amending paragraph (c) to read as follows:
"(c) The city manager shall have 20 miles per hour speed limit signs installed in
the designated school zones listed below, which are hereby designated 20
miles per hour zones during the times herein stated. The signs shall indicate
that the 20 mile per hour speed limit will be in effect on school days during
the hours of 7:40 a.m.through 8:25 a.m. and 3:10 p.m.through 3:55 p.m., or
during the times the school flashers are flashing."
Section 4. That Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23-27 Speed Limits—Schedules of
Additional School Zones of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by
amending paragraph (d) to read as follows:
"(d) The city manager shall have 20 miles per hour speed limit signs installed in
the designated school zones listed below, which are hereby designated 20
miles per hour zones during the times herein stated. The signs shall indicate
that the 20-mile per hour speed limit will be in effect on school days during
the hours of 7:15 a.m.through 8:25 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.through 3:55 p.m., or
during the times the school flashers are flashing."
Section 5. That the City Manager, or his designee, is hereby authorized to have
the proper traffic signs erected, constructed, and placed at such points along said
highways, streets or alleys, or portions hereof under construction, maintenance or repair so
that travelers will be reasonably notified of said traffic regulations.
Section 6. That all ordinances or any parts thereof in conflict with the terms of this
ordinance shall be and hereby are deemed repealed and of no force or effect; provided,
however, that the ordinance or ordinances under which the cases currently filed and
pending in the Municipal Court of the City of Grapevine, Texas, shall be deemed repealed
ORD. NO. 2
only when all such cases filed and pending under such ordinance or ordinances have been
disposed of by a final conviction or a finding not guilty or nolo contendere, or dismissal.
Section 7. That any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum
not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars {$200.00} and a separate offense shall be deemed
committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
Section 8. That if any section, article, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or
word in this ordinance, orapplication thereto any person orcircumstances is held invalid or
unconstitutional by a Court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the City Council hereby declares it
would have passed such remaining portions of the ordinance despite such invalidity,which
remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 9. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of
Grapevine, Texas are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace
and general welfare of the public creates an emergency which requires that this ordinance
become effective from and after the date of its passage, and it is accordingly so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 21st day of September 2010.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ORD. NO. 3