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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04 - Left Turn ProhibitionsITEM MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER V-- ' MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 20, 2011 SUBJECT: LEFT -TURN PROHIBITIONS AT NORTHWEST HIGHWAY AND JENKINS STREET AND ALSO POOL ROAD AND GLENHOPE CIRCLE NORTH RECOMMENDATION: City Council consider approval of an ordinance amending the Grapevine Code of Ordinances Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23 -34, Turns Prohibited, as follows: • prohibit left turns from westbound Northwest Highway to southbound Jenkins Street and from northbound Jenkins Street to westbound Northwest Highway, • eliminate the prohibition of left turns from northbound Pool Road to westbound Glenhope Circle North and from eastbound Glenhope Circle North to northbound Pool Road, and take any necessary action. BACKGROUND: When Northwest Highway was widened by the State over a decade ago, a channelizing island was constructed on Jenkins Street at its intersection with Northwest Highway to limit access to Jenkins Street to right-in/right-out movements only. Since this intersection is located only about 70 ft from the signalized intersection at Main Street, left turns into or out of Jenkins Street conflict with turning movements at the traffic signal and with the queuing of traffic for the signal on the westbound Northwest Highway approach. Although the geometry of the intersection with the raised channelizing island provides an indicator to most motorists that the intersection is limited to right-in/right-out movements, there has been no ordinance in place to support this and no signing for Northwest Highway traffic. This item is being addressed at this time due to a citizen complaint resulting from a situation where a the citizen made a legally permissible left turn from Northwest Highway and struck the channelizing island. Adoption of the proposed ordinance allows the posting of a "No Left Turn" sign for westbound Northwest Highway traffic to provide more clarification of the intended operation of the intersection. "Right Turn Only" signing already exists on northbound Jenkins Street and will remain. Additionally, left turn prohibitions into and out of Glenhope Circle North at the intersection with Pool Road are being deleted from Section 23 -34. These restrictions pre -date the improvement of Pool Road, are no longer applicable, and are no longer signed at the December 14, 2011 (1:30P M) intersection. In fact, we incorporated a left turn bay for left turns into Glenhope Circle North with the widening of Pool Road. This deletion will address an inconsistency between the City Code and actual field conditions. Staff recommends approval. MA- December 14, 2011 (1:30PM) ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS AMENDING THE GRAPEVINE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 23 TRAFFIC, SECTION 23 -34, TURNS PROHIBITED; AUTHORIZING THE ERECTION OF TRAFFIC REGULATION SIGNS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) 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 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23 -34, Turns Prohibited, of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances, is hereby amended by deleting the following: "(5) No left turn from northbound Pool Road to westbound Glen Hope Circle North. (6) No left turn from eastbound Glen Hope Circle North to northbound Pool Road." and adding the following: "(5) No left turn from westbound Northwest Highway to southbound Jenkins Street. (6) No left turn from northbound Jenkins Street to westbound Northwest Highway." Section 2. That the City Manager, or his agent, is hereby authorized to have the proper traffic signs erected, constructed, and placed at such points along said highways, streets or alleys, or portions thereof under construction, maintenance, or repair, so that travelers will be reasonably notified of said traffic regulations. Section 3. 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 only when all such cases filed and pending under such ordinance or ordinances have been disposed of by a final conviction or a finding of not guilty, nolo contendere, or dismissal. Section 4. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in the Municipal Court, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for each offense and a separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which an offense occurs or continues. Section 5. That if any section, article, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word in the ordinance, or application thereto any person or circumstance 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 this ordinance despite such invalidity, which remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. Section 6. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of Grapevine, Texas do not adequately regulate the traffic within the City creates an emergency and the preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare requires that this ordinance take effect immediately from and after the date of its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 20th day of December, 2011. APPROVED: ATTEST: ORD. NO. 2 APPROVED AS TO FORM: ORD. NO.