COUNCIL COMMUNICATION

 

     DATE:

  05/19/2003

 

 

SUBJECT:  FINAL READING ORDINANCE 2003-O-133

Designating as a one-way northbound and one way southbound the east side IH-35 frontage road and the west side IH-35 frontage road, respectively, between Loop 20 and Uniroyal Drive, as requested by Texas Department of Transportation, providing for the installation of appropriate signs to indicate one-way traffic in the designated direction and providing for publication and effective date .

 

 

 

INITIATED BY:                                                        STAFF SOURCE:

Larry Dovalina, City Manager                                      Roberto Murillo, P.E., Traffic Safety Director

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:  None

 

 

 

BACKGROUND: 

 

The Texas Department of Transportation is planning to reconstruct the existing IH-35 main lanes and adjacent frontage roads from 0.70 mile, north of the Loop 20 intersection to 0.36 mile, north of Uniroyal Drive to improve traffic flow and safety.  The improvements include the widening and/or reconstruction of the IH-35 main lanes from a flush median divided freeway with a depressed grassy median to a 6-lane divided freeway with a flush median divided by a concrete barrier.  In addition, the northbound and southbound frontage roads are to be reconstructed and converted from two-way traffic operations to one-way operations.  This new project adds seven (7) new entrance or exit ramps, reconstructs three (3) existing ramps and removes one (1) existing ramp, one existing ramp remains in place. These improvements will improve access to IH-35 and to adjacent properties.

 

TxDOT has requested that a city ordinance to designate as a one-way the proposed new service roads, between Loop 20 and Uniroyal Drive, upon completion of this project.

 

This project is consistent with local and regional land use and will have positive effect by improving safety and levels of service.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:  None.

                                                                                                                            

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:

 

.

 

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends introduction of this ordinance.

 

 

 

 

ORDINANCE 2003-O-133

               

Designating as a one-way northbound and one way southbound the east side IH-35 frontage road and west side IH-35 frontage road, respectively, between Loop 20 and Uniroyal Drive, as requested by Texas Department of Transportation, providing for the installation of appropriate signs to indicate one-way traffic in the designated direction and providing for publication and effective date.

 

WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has funding to reconstruct the existing IH-35 main lanes and adjacent frontage roads from 0.70 mile north of the Loop 20 intersection to 0.36 mile north of Uniroyal Drive to  improve traffic flow and safety; and 

 

WHEREAS, improvements include widening and/or reconstruction of the IH-35 main lanes from a four lane freeway to a six lane divided freeway, with a flush median divided by a concrete barrier, and the reconstruction of the northbound and southbound frontage roads; and      

 

WHEREAS, reconstruction of the existing IH-35 main lines and adjacent frontage roads and the conversion from two way traffic operations to one way traffic operation is a positive step in securing the safety of our citizens; and

 

WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has mandated that all service roads be converted to one way anytime substantive road improvements are made; and

 

WHEREAS,  the City Council of the City of Laredo supports TXDOT’s efforts to reconstruct existing IH-35 main lanes and adjacent frontage roads and is of the same opinion;

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Laredo that:

 

SECTION 1 :        The east side IH-35 frontage road and the west side IH-35 frontage road, between Loop 20 and Uniroyal Drive, are hereby designated as a one-way in the northbound and southbound direction, respectively; and

 

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

 

SECTION 3:         The City Manager and the Chief of Police 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 completion of this project and after the date of such publication.

 

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS

_______DAY OF __________________, 2003

                                                          

                                                              

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