COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE:

08/19/2002

SUBJECT: FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2002-O-206

DESIGNATING AS A ONE-WAY EASTBOUND THAT ONE BLOCK SECTION OF DENMARK LANE AND AS A ONE-WAY WESTBOUND THAT ONE BLOCK SECTION OF YUKON LANE, BETWEEN BACKWOODS DRIVE ON THE EAST AND GREENLAND DRIVE ON THE WEST, AND AS A ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND THAT ONE BLOCK SECTION OF BACKWOODS DRIVE, BETWEEN DENMARK LANE ON THE NORTH AND YUKON LANE ON THE SOUTH, PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROPRIATE SIGNS TO INDICATE ONE-WAY TRAFFIC AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

INITIATED BY: Larry Dovalina, City Manager STAFF SOURCE: Roberto Murillo, P.E., Traffic Director

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Introduced First Reading of Ordinance on 08-08-02.

BACKGROUND:

The new Charles Borchers Elementary School in northeast Laredo will be opened for school effective August 19, 2002. The only two streets that presently provide access to the school campus from the neighborhood are Denmark Lane and Yukon Lane.

Backwoods Drive directly in front of the school that runs north and south presently dead end on both sides. Since the only access that will be available when school starts is these streets, United Independent School District officials approached the City of Laredo to consider designating certain streets in the area as one-way in order to provide a more orderly ingress and egress during the peak school periods. Denmark Lane is being proposed to be designated to one way in the east direction for one block between Greenland Drive and Backwoods Drive.

Yukon Lane is being proposed to be designated in the west direction for one block between Greenland Drive and Backwoods Drive. In order to complete the one way access to and from school, Backwoods Drive is also being proposed to be designated to one way in the south direction. These streets will provide a direct connection to the school’s internal traffic circulation pick-up/drop-off loop. The proposed designation of these streets to one way is being proposed to be all day.

This is an interim situation to address some of the concerns that have been raised by parents and school officials regarding the difficulty that will be encountered to access the school once the school opens.

The permanent solution would be to extend Backwoods Drive to connect to Shiloh and therefore alleviate some of the traffic congestion that is expected through the neighborhood streets. It will require that right of way be acquired in order to construct the connection. A diagram showing the location of the school and the street network in the area is included.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: None.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of this ordinance.

ORDINANCE 2002-O-206

WHEREAS, the narrow width of the Denmark Lane and Yukon Lane will not adequately accommodate the anticipated two-way traffic as a result of the opening of the new Charles Borchers Elementary School, and the designation of Denmark Lane as a one-way in the east direction and Yukon Lane in the west direction will provide for improved traffic flow in and out of the school campus during peak school periods; and

WHEREAS, the Traffic Safety Department also recommends that Backwoods Drive, located directly in front of the school campus and which dead ends on both sides, also be designated as a one-way street in the southbound direction so as to provide orderly one-way traffic flow and minimize traffic conflicts; and

WHEREAS, the Traffic Safety Department, after proper analysis, has determined that the interest and safety of the citizens of Laredo will be improved by a change in the designation of those one block sections of Denmark Lane, Yukon Lane, and Backwoods Drive, in the eastbound, westbound, and southbound direction, respectively; and

WHEREAS, the designation of these streets as one-ways is being considered as a temporary safety measure until the construction of other roadways, providing more direct access to the school is accomplished; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Laredo is of the same opinion.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

SECTION 1: Denmark Lane and Yukon Lane, between Backwoods Drive on the east and Greenland Drive on the west, and Backwoods Drive between Denmark Lane on the north and Yukon Lane on the south, are hereby designated as a one-way in the eastbound, westbound and southbound direction, respectively; and

SECTION 2: The installation and erection of appropriate signs giving notice thereof be and is hereby approved and authorized; and

SECTION 3: The City Manager and the Director of Traffic Safety be and are hereby authorized to take the necessary steps to carry out this ordinance; and

SECTION 4: This ordinance shall be published one time in an official newspaper in the City of Laredo and shall be in force and effect from and after the date of such publication.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS _____________DAY____________, 2002.

ATTEST:

_________________________ ______________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR. ELIZABETH G. FLORES

CITY SECRETARY MAYOR

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

JAIME L. FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY

By: ______________________

ALLAN McGRAW

ASST. CITY ATTORNEY