Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1) TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT MEMORANDUM POLICE DEPARTMENT PORT ARTHUR TO: Chief John Tyler FROM: Colonel Mark Blanton DATE: March 14, 2002 Ix] For your information [ ] For comment & recommendation [ ] File for future reference £ ] Please discuss with me Please take appropriate action Please prepare draft for my reply Please reply on my behalf Please return Traffic Enforcement Efforts on Memorial Blvd. On March 4, 2002, I began directed traffic enforcement on Memorial Blvd. from 39~ St. to 32nd St. The following is a report to you on these efforts. I hired overtime for a total of 40 hrs during this time frame to date. This was necessary as the day shift is short personnel due to injury leave, a retirement, an officer being absent due to surgery, and other reasons. The remainder of the time, on-duty officers were utilized. Officers were stationed on Memorial Blvd. between 39th St. and 32n= St. each morning and afternoon on a fixed assignment. That assignment was to enforce red light violations and speeding violations at this location. As of 2:00pm this date, 106 persons have been cited at this location. ~]most all citations are for running the red lights at these two intersections. Some are for speeding only. Additionally, approximately 28 of the citations issued were for both running the red light at 39~ and Memorial and speeding. All speeding citations issued were for a ,speed of 60MPH or greater in a 45-MPH zone. At one time, officers were stopping multiple violators at the same time. I am tracking all citations issued at the location. In approximately 60 days from now I will research the disposition date and final disposition of each citation. This information will be obtained from the Municipal Court. It has been suggested that a comparison location comparing it with another. I could be done with any sense of accuracy. study be done on this do not feel that this No other locations in the City exist that have the same characteristics. Memorial Blvd. is a state Hwy. There is no other red light on this Hwy. from 39~ St. in Port Arthur until you reach the City of L~m~erton on the other side of Beaumont. No other location travels anywhere close to that distance and enters an area with residential locations {mmediately thereafter. I received a printout from the Municipal Court on citations issued in the last year. This report was completed and encompasses several areas. However, it is raw data that only gives the name of a violator and the location of the violation. It does not tell the type of violation. Lt. Williamson attempted to narrow this information and was only able to tell me that there have been 13,300 traffic stops at 6,843 locations in the city. He is tr~ing to extrapolate additional information in a useable form. I would like to point out several things that I find contributing to the traffic problem at this location. First, I believe that the speed limit on Memorial Blvd. should be reduced prior to its current location. The speed l~m~t on HWY'69 reduces from 70 to 60, then to 55 and the to 45. All such reductions are within one tenth of a mile of each other. I recommend that we attempt to have the speed limit on HWY 69 reduced to at least 55 MPH at the location where it currently reduces to 60. The speed limit should then be changed to 45 MPH where it currently reduces to 55 MPH. This would give drivers additional time and notice of the reduced speed. Second, I recommend that a 45-M~H speed limit sign be posted on the ramp from HWY 73 eastbound to Memorial Blvd. south bound. HWY 73 has a speed l~m~t of 70 M~H. Vehicles exit Hwy 73 to go southbound on Memorial and no speed limit sign is posted until you are on Memorial and approaching the traffic light at 39~ and Memorial. This would alert drivers to reduce their speed prior to reaching Memorial. Third, I recommend that we examine the sequencing of the lights on Memorial Blvd. from 25=~ St. to 39tn St. Numerous person have stated that the lights are not sequenced properly thus encouraging speeding and red light violations so drivers are not stopped at each intersection. Fourth, I recommend that we continue point traffic enforcement in this area. It is my belief that additional enforcement should continue for several more weeks. On March 11, 2002, I attended a meeting of the Park Place Neighborhood Action Group. Several me~ers told me that they have noticed our enforcement efforts and have already observed improved conditions at the location. They were thankful of our enforcement effort and requested that it be continued. Several m~ers also inquired about the sequencing of the lights on Memorial. They stated that in particular between 7:30am and 8:30am and again between 4:30pm and 5:30p~, it appears that the traffic lights impede rather than promote traffic flow. Several mentioned that they could not get out onto Memorial during these times without difficulty. They explained that they have also seen people pulling out in front of traffic trying to get on Memorial due to the impeded traffic flow. These m~m~ers stated that the lights cycle in such a way that north bound traffic and south bound traffic flow at times making entrance to Memorial difficult if not impossible without a driver making a risky attempt to gain access or cross Memorial Blvd. Lastly, I spoke with the City Prosecutor about raising the fine for red light violations and stop sign violations. The City Prosecutor met with the Municipal Court Judge. The Judge has ordered that the minimum fine for such violations be raised from $75.00 to $100.00. Further, if the running of a red light or stop sign results in an accident the minimum fine has been raised to $150.00 Unless directed otherwise, I will continue the enforcement effort through the month of March. I will continue to track the violations. Please advi~e should need anything further. Colom~ M~rk Blanton Assistant Chief of Police 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 89994 89995 89996 89997 89998 89999 90000 90001 90002 90003 90004 90005 90006 90007 90013 90014 90015 90016 90017 90018 90019 90020 90021 90022 90023 90030 90031 90032 90033 90034 90035 90036 90037 90088 90089 90090 90091 90092 90093 90094 90095 90096 90097 90214 90215 90216 90217 90218 90219 90220 90221 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 48 47 48 49 Traffic Citations 39th and Memorial and 32nd and Memorial 87215 87216 87217 87218 87220 87221 87222 87223 87224 87225 87226 87228 87229 87230 87231 87232 87234 87235 87236 87237 87247 87558 88242 88243 88244 88245 88246 88248 88249 88250 89373 89374 89376 89377 89378 89379 89380 89648 89649 89650 89651 89652 89653 89988 89989 89990 89991 89992 89993 Disposition Date Disposition 101 90222 102 90223 103 90224 104 90225 105 90227 106 90228