HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 - Traffic Incident Management PolicyMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2021
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION FOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT POLICY
RECOMMENDATION: City Council consider a resolution adopting the North Central Texas
Council of Government's (NCTCOG) suggestions for Traffic Incident
Management (TIM) policy.
FUNDING SOURCE: There will be no cost to the city to formally adopt this policy since first
responders have already implemented qualifying TIM procedures.
BACKGROUND: Over 50% of regional traffic congestion is caused by traffic accidents on
DFW's over 3,500 miles of regional freeways and arterial roads. Our first
responders are placed in extraordinary danger when responding to
freeway crashes and the general public is at elevated risk of secondary
crashes caused by the increased congestion that results from these
incidents.
In 2003, the NCTCOG became the first agency in the nation to formalize
TIM training for all regional first responders and adopted a resolution in
order to codify the regional commitment to TIM best practices. By applying
a regional approach to TIM, regional responders can work from the same
set of principles which will streamline responses where multiple
jurisdictions are involved, thereby allowing for rapid clearance of the
incident and reducing the hazards to first responders.
The adoption of this resolution will make the City of Grapevine more
competitive for regional TIM grants that are designed to reduce the
hazards to first responders and the public during accidents on our
freeways.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-016
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE NORTH CENTRAL
TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT'S (NCTCOG)
SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
(TIM) POLICY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), comprised primarily of
local elected officials, is the regional transportation policy board associated with the North
Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the regional forum for cooperative
decisions on transportation; and,
WHEREAS, the RTC adopted Resolution R08-10 (an update to RTC Resolution
R03-01) that supports a comprehensive, coordinated, interagency approach to Freeway
Incident Management; and,
WHEREAS, the goal of the NCTCOG Freeway Incident Management Training
Program is to initiate a common, coordinated response to traffic incidents that will build
partnerships, enhance safety for emergency personnel, reduce secondary traffic crashes,
improve the efficiency of the transportation system, and improve air quality in the Dallas -
Fort Worth region; and,
WHEREAS, non -recurring traffic incidents are responsible for about 50 percent of
all congestion and the secondary crashes caused by these incidents kill or injure
hundreds annually in the Dallas -Fort Worth area; and,
WHEREAS, multi -agency coordination and the implementation of "best practices"
Freeway Incident Management techniques reduce congestion on affected roadways and
improve the safety of incident responders; and,
WHEREAS, effective policies, training, equipment and technology that aid in quick
incident clearance can both assist with keeping motorists and first responders safe on the
roadway and assist in improved air quality for the region; and,
WHEREAS, in partnership with regional incident response agencies, NCTCOG
has established definitions for regional incident management performance measures:
incident clearance time, roadway clearance time, secondary crash, and recovery time;
and,
WHEREAS, all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of this
resolution have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby declares that the approval of this resolution is
in the vest interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and correct
and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. The City of Grapevine supports a comprehensive, coordinated,
interagency approach to Freeway Incident Management.
Section 3. The City of Grapevine supports the quick detection and clearance of
traffic incidents using state-of-the-art traffic surveillance, traveler notification, and crash
investigation equipment.
Section 4. The City of Grapevine encourages all personnel involved in Freeway
Incident Management to participate in available training opportunities and exercises that
promote the objectives within this resolution —a common, comprehensive approach that
maintains the safety of incident responders and travelers, while minimizing clearance
time.
Section 5. The City of Grapevine supports an enhanced Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) based incident location system that will aid incident reporters
and responders in the timely detection and verification of incidents.
Section 6. The City of Grapevine supports a uniform policy whereby law
enforcement agency personnel may remove personal property from a roadway or right-
of-way, without the consent of the owner or carrier of the property, if the agency
determines that the property blocks the roadway or endangers public safety.
Section 7. The City of Grapevine supports adopting a quick clearance policy or
towing ordinance that mandates the arrival of appropriate equipment within a specified
time limit.
Section 8. The City of Grapevine supports the use and tracking of regional
incident management performance measures.
Section 9. The City of Grapevine supports the development of interagency
agreements for incident management operations that include safe, quick clearance goals
stated as time goals for incident clearance.
Section 10. The City of Grapevine supports participation in multi -disciplinary post
incident reviews after major incidents to share lessons learned.
Section 11. The City of Grapevine supports consistent, coordinated operational
strategies for major freeway and toll road projects that include quick incident clearance
practices, and that these strategies will be consistently adopted prior to major freeway
:Z�•7[�ii[•77�[•��iy�iQiy[• �
and toll road improvement expenditures in order to ensure that the expected mobility
benefits are realized.
Section 12. The City of Grapevine directs staff to develop and bring forth a set of
policies and/or ordinance consistent with the principles contained herein for consideration
by the Grapevine Fire Department and Grapevine Police Department.
Section 13. That this resolution shall be in effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 7th day of September, 2021.
APPROVED:
William D. Tate
Mayor
ATTEST:
Tara Brooks
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Matthew C.G. Boyle
City Attorney