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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 11718: TRAFFIC STUDYinteroffice MEMOP3LNDUM To: From: Subject: Date: Mayor, City Council, City Manager ~ Judith S. Rawls, First Assistant City Attorney P. R. No. 11718; Council Meeting of April 2, 2002 March 28, 2002 Attached is P. R. No. 11718 authorizing the City Manager to execute agreements to do two (2) traffic feasibility studies, one (1) for the proposed Stilwell Boulevard closure at Lakeshore Drive (Account No. 302-1603- 591.86-00 CIP 806) and one (1) for the proposed Highway 365 at Spur 93 Overpass {Account NO. 301-1601-591.54-00 CIP 101) in an amount not to exceed $15,000 each {requested by City Manager). sR/ts Attachment CC: Director of Public Works z.prl 1718.memo 1 P. R. No. 11718 03/28/02 ts RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS TO DO TWO (2) TRAFFIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ONE (1) FOR THE PROPOSED STILWELL BOULEVARD CLOSURE AT LAKESHORE DRIVE (ACCOUNT NO. 302-1603- 591.86-00 CIP 806) AND ONE (1) FOR THE PROPOSED HIGHWAY 365 AT SPUR 93 OVERPASS (ACCOUNT NO. 301-1601-591.54-00 CIP 101) IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000 EACH (REQUESTED BY CITY MANAGER) WHEREAS, the City Council desires to hire Ergonomic Transportation Solutions, Inc., as a consultant to do traffic feasibility studies for the proposed Stilwell Boulevard closure and for the proposed Highway 365 at Spur 93 overpass. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. That the City Manager is herein authorized to execute agreements with Ergonomic Transportation, Inc. as a consultant to do traffic feasibility studies for the proposed Stillwell Boulevard closure at Lakeshore Drive and for the proposed Highway 365 at Spur 93 overpass at an amount not to exceed $15,000 each on a form to be approved by the City z.prll718 Attorney and to be filed with the City Secretary. Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of , A.D., 2002, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor , Councilmembers NOES: ATTEST: MAYOR ACTING CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: TY ATTOP~NEY APPROVED AS APPROVED FOR ADMINISTR3%TION: CITY MANAGER TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE z.prll718 MEMORANDUM CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO: FROM: DATE: Mayor and City Council Steve Fitzgibbon~, City Manager March 28, 2002 RE: Traffic Study - Stilwell Boulevard Traffic Issues Feasibility Study - Overpass at Hwy 365 and West Port Arthur Road Both studies by Ergonomic Transportation Solutions, Inc., not to exceed $15,000 each COMMENTS Stilwell Boulevard A number of concerns have been raised about the requested closure of Stilwell Boulevard by Lamar State College. Major concerns involve safety of students as well as traffic flow in the areas of Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Lamar College. After a number of discussions involving representatives from the City, Lamar, and PAISD, it was felt that it would be desirable for this issue to be reviewed by an outside traffic engineer, with the idea of reviewing the safety issues and traffic flow and to propose solutions to address these concerns. One component of the study would be to look at the possibility of relocating school bus loading and unloading onto school property. Alternative options for bus loading and unloading, on-street parking issues, street striping, and a number of other ideas could be valuable to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow even if Stilwell remains open. The City would coordinate the study, working with input from Lamar and PAISD, but the study would be contingent on sharing of costs among the City, PAISD and Lamar. Overpass Study - Hwy 365 & West Port Arthur Road The City and the County have shared in the engineering costs for the widening project on Highway 365, in the approximate amount of $450,000 each. The TXDOT District 20 office is supportive of the proposed overpass project in conjunction with the highway widening project. In order to have the overpass project ready to be done at the same time as the highway widening, it is necessary to have the engineering work for the overpass done at this time. Even though the local TXDOT office supports the overpass project and feels both projects should be done together, there is some concern by area businesses about the importance of the overpass. This concern could negatively impact support for the project including local funding support. City staff is concerned that if we do not take advantage of the current opportunity to get the overpass done in conjunction with the widening, it would result in additional expenses to put in the overpass later, or worse yet it could result in the loss of the overpass project completely. In addition to strengthening local support, we believe the feasibility study would also help make even a stronger case for TXDOT to continue moving forward on this project. "Remember, we are here to serve the citizens of Port Arthur." Memo to Mayor and Council March 28, 2002 Page 2 of 2 Harry Simconidis, with Ergonomic Transportation Solutions, Inc. of Houston has worked with the City and BASF on the traffic study at the main gate for the new C-4 facility. Mr. Simconidis was successful in obtaining a TXDOT permit and City staff believed the quality of his work was good. /Id "Remember, we are here to serve the citizens of Port Arthur."