HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 20 - U-Turn and Left Turn ProhibitionsMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2013
SUBJECT: U -TURN AND LEFT TURN PROHIBITIONS ON COLLEGE
STREET AT CANNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council consider adopting an ordinance amending the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Chapter 23 Traffic, Section 23 -34, Turns Prohibited, to prohibit U -turns on
westbound College Street between Drexel Drive and Pebblebrook Drive, to prohibit left
turns from the drop -off area exit driveway east of Pebblebrook Drive to eastbound
College Street, and take any necessary action.
BACKGROUND:
Cannon Elementary School has three driveway openings on College Street. The
westernmost driveway serves a parking lot, and the other two form a drop -off area,
parallel to College Street, that operates with a one -way westbound traffic pattern. Traffic
exiting the one -way drop -off intersects westbound College Street at a very shallow
angle, making turns to the east problematic from a traffic flow and safety perspective.
Traffic heading east must turn nearly 180 - degrees, affecting all four travel lanes on
College Street. The drop -off driveway also intersects College Street immediately west of
the school crosswalk, requiring eastbound traffic to make this awkward turn across the
crosswalk, which is the designated crossing location for the elementary school children.
There is an existing "no U- turn" sign posted on College Street near the exit from the
drop -off area that partially discourages this maneuver. However, since the turn from the
driveway would be a left turn, rather than a U -turn, it is unclear whether this applies to
traffic on the street or driveway. No existing ordinance was found to support this sign.
At the request of the Police Department Traffic Division, it is proposed that a "no left
turn" restriction be enacted for the drop -off exit driveway, and that the driveway be
signed accordingly. The proposed ordinance also adds the restriction on U -turns for
westbound College Street traffic for the block immediately in front of the school (Drexel
Drive to Pebblebrook Drive). Additional U -turn signing may be added in the future as
necessary.
Staff recommends approval.
October 9, 2013 (3:09PM)
Cannon Elementary School Traffic Restrictions
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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 adding the following:
"(a)(17) No U -turn from College Street westbound between Drexel Drive and
Pebblebrook Drive.
(a) (18) No left turn from the second driveway east of Pebblebrook Drive to
College Street."
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 15th day of October, 2013.
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ATTEST:
ORD. NO. 2