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Home My WebLink AboutPO 7206: REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT City of 7 orl rl/tur v'ww.Po rtArth u rTx.gov INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: October 26, 2023 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Through: Ronald Burton, City Manager From: Flozelle Roberts, EIT,MEng, MBA, Director of Public Wor �►, RE: P.O. No. 7206 — Permanently Reducing the Speed Limit al. g North- and Southbound Lanes of SH 87 from Milepost 5.400 to Milepost 14.271 from 65 mph to 55 mph Introduction: Proposed Ordinance No. 7206 seeks City Council's approval to permanently reduce the speed limit along SH 87 from milepost 5.400 to milepost 14.271 from 65 mph to 55 mph. Background: The Texas Department of Transportation(TxDOT)has reviewed and studied the speed zone and crash rates along SH 87, and has found that reducing the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph will result in a safer environment. The attached map indicates the location of the proposed changes. TxDOT has therefore requested that the City pass an ordinance that permanently reduces the speed zone of 65 mph along SH 87 from milepost 5.400 to milepost 14.271 to 55 mph. Budget Impact: There will be no budgetary impact to amend the ordinance. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" 444 4th Street X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8182 X FAX 409.983.8294 Recommendation: The City Council is recommended to approve P.O. 7206 authorizing the permanent speed limit reduction along the north- and southbound lanes of SH 87 between milepost 5.400 and milepost 14.271 from 65 mph to 55 mph. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 P.O.No. 7206 10/26/2023 FCR Page 1 of 4 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR,TEXAS,AMENDING CHAPTER 106—TRAFFIC,ARTICLE III— SPECIFIC STREET REGULATIONS,DIVISION 4—SPEED,SECTION 106- 143—SPEED ON STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, TO ESTABLISH THE PERMANENT MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT ALONG THE NORTH- AND SOUTHBOUND LANES ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 87 FROM MILEPOST 5.400 TO MILEPOST 14.271; AUTHORIZING THE POSTING OF PROPER SIGNS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PRESCRIBING A PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR($1.00) NOR MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH VIOLATION THEREOF;AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. WHEREAS,the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has made it known to the City of Port Arthur, Texas, that it desires to permanently alter the prima facie speed limit on State Highway 87 from milepost 5.400 to milepost 14.271; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 545.356 of the Texas Transportation Code, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur may alter the prima facie speed limits with respect to highways or portion thereof with the corporate limits of the City of Port Arthur based upon engineering and traffic studies; and, WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation requested the City of Port Arthur permanently adjust the speed zone to 55 miles per hour to produce a safe environment,copy attached as Exhibit A; now,therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: P.O.No.7206 10/26/2023 FCR Page 2 of 4 THAT,Chapter 106—Traffic,Article III—Specific Street Regulations,Division 4—Speed, Section 106-143—Speed on State and Federal Highways,of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Port Arthur, is hereby amended by establishing the following maximum prima facie speed limit: State Highway 87 from milepost 5.400 to milepost 14.271 (north- and southbound lanes) to 55 miles per hour; and, THAT, necessary signs for posting the speed limit will be furnished, installed, and maintained by the direction of the Texas Department of Transportation's engineer in charge of the project; and, THAT, it shall be unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to disobey the instructions of a sign placed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance,unless at the time otherwise directed by a police officer; and, THAT,all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed;provided,however,that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance; and, THAT, if any provision, section, exception, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances, shall for any reason be held unconstitutional,void or invalid,such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this ordinance or their application to other persons or set of circumstances and to this end all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable; and, P.O.No.7206 10/26/2023 FCR Page 3 of 4 THAT,any person who shall violate any provision of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than One and No/100 Dollar($1.00) nor more than Five Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($500.00); and, THAT,this ordinance shall take effect from and after ten(10)days from its passage by the City Council. The City Secretary is hereby directed to give notice hereof by causing the caption of this ordinance to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Port Arthur at least twice within ten(10) days after passage of this ordinance; and, THAT,the City Secretary shall sign the Certification of Ordinance attached as Exhibit B,and return it to the Texas Department of Transportation along with a copy of this ordinance; and, THAT, a copy of the caption of this ordinance be spread upon the minutes of the City Council. READ,ADOPTED,AND APPROVED,this the day of 2023 AD, at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote:AYES:Mayor: Councilmembers: • NOES: Thurman Bill Bartie Mayor P.O.No.7206 10/26/2023 FCR Page 4 of 4 ATTEST: Sherri Bellard, TRMC City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Val • M Valecia R. Tiz o City Attorney APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: Ronald Burton City Manager �i F ze le�// 'o.erts, Eng, MBA Direct() • 'ublic W rk Timothy Duriso Chief of Police P.O. 7206 Exhibit A Flozelle C. Roberts From: Cade Flebbe <Cade.Flebbe@txdot.gov> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2023 3:29 PM To: Thurman Bartie Cc: Flozelle C. Roberts; Peter Jungen; Robert Webb Subject: [NON-CoPA] SH 87 Speed Zone Change in the City of Port Arthur Attachments: SH 87 Speed Zone Map.pdf Honorable Thurman Bartie Mayor, City of Port Arthur 444 4th Street Port Arthur,TX 77640 Dear Mayor Bartle, We have prepared and attached for your review a proposed speed zone map for the City Limits on SH 87 in the City of Port Arthur. A review and study of the speed zone has been completed on SH 87 that includes a section in the City of Port Arthur. TxDOT believes that reducing the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph will result in a more safe environment and better serve the public. If you agree with the proposed speed limit, please proceed with a City Ordinance. Please have the City execute an ordinance making the speed zone enforceable and send us a copy of the ordinance. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. Thank you, CADE FLEBBE, EIT ENGINEERING ASSISTANT 8350 EASTEX FWY, BEAUMONT TX 77708 ITTexas Department of Transportation 1 A i 1 .. a a t L a a 5, m o v 43, ' 0 1 w .- rl M (VIQ O �y �Q i 0 u a CU 75 / yyP kK4 ty ' J y++ _ 0. `=O E E 'V N Vb CZ O. \ �. .. a, a r N ' `_. w cu - w a / a O o r L Ti — -e � J t +" 'r a , .1 c ;., Stie,�Kati P.O. 7206 Exhibit B P. O.No. 7206 City of Port Arthur, Texas Certification of Ordinance I, Sherri Bellard, the duly appointed City Secretary of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, do hereby certify and attest that as part of my duties, I do supervise and act as the lawful custodian of the records of the City of Port Arthur;that the attached document is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 106—TRAFFIC,ARTICLE III—SPECIFIC STREET REGULATIONS, DIVISION 4—SPEED,SECTION 106-143—SPEED ON STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, TO ESTABLISH THE PERMANENT MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND LANES OF STATE HIGHWAY 87 FROM MILEPOST 5.400 TO MILEPOST 14.271; AUTHORIZING THE POSTING OF PROPER SIGNS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PRESCRIBING A PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR($1.00)NOR MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH VIOLATION THEREOF; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. Adopted by the City Council at its regular meeting on November 7, 2023. WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ON THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,2023. Sherri Bellard, City Secretary Seal