COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

DATE: 08/19/2002

SUBJECT: FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2002-O-207 DESIGNATING AS A ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND THE 2100 AND 2200 BLOCK OF TEXAS AVENUE, BETWEEN CLARK BLVD. ON THE NORTH AND MUSSER STREET ON THE SOUTH, ONE WAY WESTBOUND THE 2400 AND 2500 BLOCK OF MUSSER STREET, BETWEEN MARTIN AVENUE ON THE WEST AND TEXAS AVENUE ON THE EAST, AND ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND THE 2100 AND 2200 BLOCK OF MARTIN AVENUE, BETWEEN CLARK BLVD. ON THE NORTH AND MUSSER STREET ON THE SOUTH, TO BE EFFECTIVE THE HOURS OF 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 2:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, DURING SCHOOL DAYS, PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROPRIATE SIGNS TO INDICATE ONE-WAY TRAFFIC DURING THE SPECIFIED HOURS 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:

Ryan Elementary school for several years has encountered increase traffic congestion during the school peak periods. The school has only a small off-street pickup/drop-off area on Martin Avenue that is not sufficient to accommodate the increase in vehicles as a result of a larger student population at that school. The streets within the perimeter of the school have been utilized for several years for loading and unloading of students.

Laredo Independent School District officials approached the City of Laredo to consider designating streets around the school as one way during school peak periods to minimize traffic conflicts and to provide improved traffic circulation around the school.

Texas Avenue is proposed to be designated as one way in the southbound direction, Musser Street one-way in the west direction and Martin Avenue in the northbound direction to form a U-shaped one-way system in the clockwise direction around the school.

The Traffic Department visited the site just prior to the end of the school year and again recently and these recommendations were prepared based on the observations during those visits. The school hours for the school year will be between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday,Wednesday, and Friday and 8:00 AM and 3:45 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Laredo Independent School District Safety Section had agreed to place, remove and properly maintain any traffic devices that may be needed to properly channelize traffic on the street.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: None.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of this ordinance.

ORDINANCE 2002-O-207

DESIGNATING AS A ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND THE 2100 AND 2200 BLOCK OF TEXAS AVENUE, BETWEEN CLARK BLVD. ON THE NORTH AND MUSSER STREET ON THE SOUTH, ONE WAY WESTBOUND THE 2400 AND 2500 BLOCK OF MUSSER STREET, BETWEEN MARTIN AVENUE ON THE WEST AND TEXAS AVENUE ON THE EAST, AND ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND THE 2100 AND 2200 BLOCK OF MARTIN AVENUE, BETWEEN CLARK BLVD. ON THE NORTH AND MUSSER STREET ON THE SOUTH, TO BE EFFECTIVE THE HOURS OF 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 2:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY DURING SCHOOL DAYS PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROPRIATE SIGNS TO INDICATE ONE-WAY TRAFFIC DURING THE SPECIFIED HOURS AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the school traffic at M.S. Ryan Elementary school has increased significantly and the school does not have sufficient off-street loading and unloading areas to accommodate the present school population; and

WHEREAS, the streets around the school are being utilized to drop off and pick up students during the peak periods and create many traffic conflicts because of the present two way designation; and

WHEREAS, Laredo Independent School District official have approached the City of Laredo to consider designating these streets as one way in order address some of their safety concerns pertaining to loading and unloading of school children, and

WHEREAS, the Traffic Safety Department, after proper analysis, has determined that the safety of the children at M.S. Ryan Elementary School will be improved by a change in the designation of those two block sections of Texas Avenue, Musser Street, and Martin Avenue, in the southbound, westbound, and northbound direction, respectively; and

WHEREAS, the designation of these streets as one-ways is being considered as a interim traffic safety measure until the proposed reconstruction of the school is completed at which time another traffic analysis will be conducted; 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: The 2100 and 2200 block of Texas Avenue, between Clark Blvd on the north and Musser Street on the south, the 2400 and 2500 block of Musser Street, between Texas Avenue on the east and Martin Avenue on the west, and the 2100 and 2200 block of Martin Avenue, between Clark Blvd on the north and Musser Street on the south, are hereby designated as one-way in the southbound, westbound, and northbound direction, respectively, all to be effective during the hours of 7:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday during school days; 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 W. McGRAW

ASST. CITY ATTORNEY