Loading...
O-91-2534 - 5/23/1991ORDINANCE NO. �,534 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 9.502, CODE OF ORDINANCES, 1990 EDITION, CITY OF ROUND ROCK , TEXAS; MAKING CERTAIN ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO SAID SECTION; THEREBY DECLARING THE MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS UPON GATTIS SCHOOL ROAD WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE "UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS' (VERNON'S ANN. CIV. STAT. ART. 6701D); PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: I. Based upon an engineering and traffic investigation and pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the "Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways" (Vernon's Annotated Civil Statues, article 6701d), the City Council hereby determines and declares that except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speeds in order to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering a street or highway, the limits specified in this section shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of the limits specified in this section shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful. H. That Section 9.502 (6), Code of Ordinances, 1990 Edition, City of Round Rock, Texas, (The maximum prima facie speed limit shall be forty (40) miles per hour along the following streets:) is hereby amended by deleting the following: ON FROM TO Gattis School Road Oxford Boulevard County Road 122 East and Westbound (Red Bud Lane) 1 That Section 9.502 (5), Code of Ordinances, 1990 Edition, City of Round Rock, Texas, (The maximum prima facie speed limit shall be thirty-five (35) miles per hour along the following streets:) is hereby amended by adding the following: ON Gattis School Road East and Westbound FROM South Mays Street IV. TO A point one hundred - fifty (150') feet east of Surrey Drive. That Section 9.502 (6), Code of Ordinances, 1990 Edition, City of Round Rock, Texas, (The maximum prima facie speed limit shall be forty (40) miles per hour along the following streets:) is hereby amended by adding the following: ON Gattis School Road East and Westbound FROM A point one hundred - fifty (150') feet east of Surrey Drive. V. TO A point one hundred (100') feet east of Double Creek Drive. That Section 9.502 (7), Code of Ordinances, 1990 Edition, City of Round Rock, Texas, (The maximum prima facie speed limit shall be forty-five (45) miles per hour along the following streets:) is hereby amended by adding the following: ON Gattis School Road East and Westbound FROM A point one hundred (100') feet east of Double Creek Drive. 2 TO City Limits VI. A. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in conflict herewith are expressly repealed. B. The invalidity of any section or provision of this ordinance shall not invalidate other sections or provisions thereof. Alternative 1. By motion duly made, seconded and passed with an affirmative vote of all the Council members present, the requirement for reading this ordinance on two separate days was dispensed with. READ, PASSED, and ADOPTED on first reading this day of ,1991. Alternative 2. READ and APPROVED on first reading this the --q!—�day of ,1991. R AD, APPROVED and ADOPTED on second reading this the day of i ,1991. ATTEST: (1,-ri /YLP J NE LAND, City Secretary – 3 liz MIKE ROBINSON, Mayor City of Round Rock, Texas CITY OF ROUND ROCK TO. Traffic Engineering Study Files FROM: Jim Stendebach, AICP Assistant Director Planning and Community Development and Alvin L. Wille, P.E., R.P.L.S., Assistant Director of Public Works DATE: April 22, 1991 SUBJECT: Speed Zone Investigation LOCATION: Gattis School Road from South Mays Street (Business Loop 35) to Red Bud Lane (city limits, east). A Traffic Engineering Investigation has been conducted to determine the maximum speed limit on Gattis School Road from South Mays Street to Red Bud Lane. The following information was collected and analyzed. 1- &=d Data C.c�Llc�c tion Street Existing Vehicles Segment * Speed Limit 85% Speed Recorded AB 30 § 34 36 217 180 BC 30 38 40 248 220 CD 40 44 44 162 140 DE 40 46 46 144 196 EF 40 48 55 58 57 FG 40 50 48 44 51 * Street segments are shown on Exhibit A. § This street segment incorporates a 20 mph school zone. Note: The current speed limit to the East of the study area is not posted. The speed limit to the West of the study area is not applicable (Gattis School Road terminates at South Mays Street). Eastbound: Development consists primarily of "back on" single family residential uses from South Mays to Windy Park. Uses from Windy Park to Red Bud Lane consists primarily of vacant land with sporadic single family residences set back from the street. There is a total of 15 driveways and road intersections serving these uses. Westbound: Development consists primarily of single family residential uses siding on Gattis School Road from South Mays to a point just east of Cushing Park Drive. Uses east of this point to Greenlawn Boulevard consist of a 23 acre vacant parcel, two multi -family developments, a vacant parcel and a small commercial strip center. Land Uses east of Greenlawn Boulevard are primarily vacant land with sporadic single family residences setback from Gattis School Road. There are 17 driveways and intersections serving these uses. Four lane with curb and gutter for 1.4 miles—from South Mays to just east of South Creek Drive. Two lane paved rural road with no shoulders east of South Creek Drive. The rural road surface is deteriorating in places between South Creek Drive and Red Bud Lane. The painted center line is almost totally faded from Double Creek Drive to Red Bud Lane. Gattis School Road is straight and generally level from South Mays to approximately Windy Park Drive. The road is slightly rolling from approximately Windy Park Drive to approximately Double Creek Drive. East of Double Creek Drive, the road is straight and level to east of Westview Drive (approximately 3.05 miles east of South Mays and Gattis School Road intersection). East of this location, the road becomes rolling and winding until it reaches Red Bud Lane. 1 1I_ O, Sight distances are excellent from South Mays to approximately South Creek Drive. Sight distance deteriorates from a point east of South Creek Drive to approximately Double Creek Drive because of rolling grades. Sight distance is excellent again east of Double Creek Drive to a point east of Westview Drive. East of Westview Drive (approximately 3.05 miles east of the intersection of South Mays and Gattis School Road) sight distances again deteriorate due to the rolling and winding road. Sight distance improves just west of Red Bud Lane. 0 The transition from the four lane road into a two lane rural road east of South Creek Drive creates a hazard. • Two narrow bridges/culverts between South Creek Drive and Double Creek Drive create a hazard. • Narrow and deteriorating pavement edges, in places, create hazards on the rural section of road. • Limited visibility, due to rolling topography, creates hazards on the rural section of road. • Numerous side streets from the South Mays intersection to South Creek Drive create hazards. Numerous turning movements from Gattis School Road onto High Country Road create a hazard. Sidewalks are located on both the north and south sides of the road from South Mays to a point just east of South Creek Drive (1.4 miles east of South Mays intersection). No parking was observed on the street. There were 9 reported accidents on this section of Gattis School Road during the 12 month period ending April 30, 1990. A significant concentration of accidents occurred near the South Mays/Gattis School Road intersection (3 accidents), and at the Greenlawn Blvd./Gattis School Road intersection (2 accidents). There are several problems and concerns with Gattis School Road within the study area. As noted above, the section of Gattis School Road from its intersection with South Mays to a point just east of South Creek Drive is a four lane facility which is in excellent condition and generally offers excellent visibility to motorists. This section of the road has numerous side streets. This sector also incorporates a 20 mph school zone between South Mays and Surrey Drive. However, children south of Gattis School Road are bussed to Voigt Elementary School. It is recommended that the above school zone be reviewed as a separate action. It should also be noted that the observed 85% speeds within the above section of the road (study segment A -B) , which were recorded within the school zone and during school zone hours, were 34 mph for eastbound traffic and 36 mph for westbound traffic. Gattis School Road changes from a four lane facility into a two lane rural road just east of its intersection with South Creek Drive. There are numerous of observed problems with the section of the road from South Creek Drive to Red Bud Lane. As noted above, the transition from the four lane road into a two lane rural road, just east of South Creek Drive in road study segment D -E, creates a driving hazard for motorists. The two small, narrow bridges between South Creek Drive and Double Creek Drive, within road study segment D -E, also create a driving hazard. Rolling grades within this same road segment, deteriorating pavement edges and lack of road shoulders result in additional hazards. To address these hazards "Narrow Bridge" signs have been posted for each of the above small bridges, and "No Passing" advisory signs have been posted in the portion of the right-of-way with rolling grades. Other hazards on Gattis School Road involve rolling and winding grade and alignment between approximately Westview Drive and Red Bud Lane, (study segment F -G). Faded, or non-existent centerline striping on this same segment may create a hazard. It is recommended that new centerline striping be placed on this segment of Gattis School Road. SUMMARY This is an arterial roadway with relatively limited side friction; however, there are numerous turning movements onto the western portions of Gattis School Road from adjacent subdivisions. Gattis School Road has three distinct segments. The first segment, between Mays and Greenlawn Boulevard, consists of a four lane urban section roadway contained within a restricted right-of-way. The second segment, between Greenlawn Boulevard and South Creek Drive, consists of a four lane urban section roadway. The third segment, east of South Creek Drive, consists of a two lane rural section roadway and a short transition area immediately east of South Creek Drive. The 85 percentile speed for eastbound traffic on segment A -B is 34 mph. The 85 percentile speed for westbound traffic on segment A -B is 36 mph. The 85 percentile speed for eastbound traffic on segment B-E ranges from 38 mph to 46 mph and averages 40 mph. The 85 percentile speed for westbound traffic on segment B-E ranges from 40 mph to 46 mph and averages 41 mph. The objective of providing reasonably uniform speed limits and the physical constraints which exist in the area immediately east of South Creek Drive necessitate the averaging of these segments. The 85 percentile speed for eastbound traffic on segment E -G ranges from 48 mph to 50 mph and averages 49 mph. The 85 percentile speed for westbound traffic on segment E -G ranges from 48 mph to 55 mph and averages 52 mph. The speed limit east of the city limits is the statutory 55 mph. Prepared by: James M. Stendebach, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development City of Round Rock. Additional En-ineering Concerns With regard to segment EG the 85 percentile speed may not be reliable due to the fact less than half the recommended practice number of 125 cars were checked in the two hour period of the speed check. Also with the 11 foot width traffic lanes, with no shoulder, and the existing horizontal and vertical alignment it is my engineering judgement other considerations must be relied upon in determining a reasonable and prudent speed limit. For this segment trial runs were conducted (Gambrel & Wille) and analysis of these runs coupled with the constraints of the existing lane widths and horizontal and vertical alignment the recommended speed limit was derived. Advisory speed limit signs of 40 mph should be posted at the curve warning signs just west of High Country Boulevard in this segment. Based on the analysis of the information, it is my engineering judgement that the speed limit on Gattis School Road should be established as follows: Gattis School Road eastbound and westbound from South Mays street to a point 150 feet east of Surrey Drive should be 35 mph. Gattis School Road eastbound and westbound from a point 150 feet east of Surrey Drive to a point 100 feet east of Double Creek Drive should be 40 mph. Gattis School Road eastbound and westbound from a point 100 feet east of DoubleCC 'ye to the city limits should be 45 mph. Respectfully su Alvin L. Wille, P.E., R.P.L.S., Assistant Director of Public Works X LLJ t -- Y U O tz C) Z O LOLL- 0 F- Z til U til V) C) ZD F- W J LU C O a Q a F- V, ) r r Z O 'N 0 L.LJ Lli CL CO HE 1 LU z� o- N J � O p O Lu LIJzV } d colv 7 W c1zo3Li,zz t7 d Q tom- V (n o -i LIJ o ►_ �_ 6� � j L, cn (10L CO d i Q U <C X X LU LU1 1 i Z Lli c7 W F- V) Lid tZ f_c.t i - C d O a d 37 a F- V) LL) Z 0 N Lt1 Lu Cf) V / I 00 z w a 0 w w Z 0 U Z Q _Z Z Q w 0 L LLJ f- Q. LLJ 0 i O O —� —t l� 0 1 LLJ 0 LLJ I (n Q U cn cn cn f Z ►- 0 Z Z Q w Q U 0 tI W � Q Lo NI z w a 0 w w Z 0 U Z Q _Z Z Q w 0 L LLJ f- Q. LLJ 0 z LLJ a 0 J LLJ w 0 z 0 0 z 0 z z Q a LL_ O L LLJ Q a LLJ 0 C)Di Ka I yl O O — � Z � ti ai r - C 0 oC b ___► J O p LL) o t- = w CD o W, p z (} lu a U-) O m Ul w O cL _� t7 c7 x 1� to Y w wF- 6� > V (n Y J - �L L CY V X X U � O W n p O CV C� LU It s D Q Lij �� � O d J 1Aj LL- a u O V) < �-- a v U c F -- U) w Z p 'v N D w � w a "ZI, (10 o U �z it moo` — N � p O w O U) a u U-) (f) U)>- z (7 U Z Z w� Q p Q w Q w O Z c1 J t c)— cn U > L p ww Qppa 1 cc) z LLJ a 0 J LLJ w 0 z 0 0 z 0 z z Q a LL_ O L LLJ Q a LLJ 0 Ka yl O z LLJ a 0 J LLJ w 0 z 0 0 z 0 z z Q a LL_ O L LLJ Q a LLJ 0 O — � N ti ai - C 0 oC b ___► J O p o o t- = w CD o W, p z (} lu a Q m Ul w O cL _� t7 c7 a.ZO�w_Z_Z to Y w wF- 6� > V (n In �L L CY V X X W n p Lit w z LLJ a 0 J LLJ w 0 z 0 0 z 0 z z Q a LL_ O L LLJ Q a LLJ 0 tK J I - z �w 'L LU O � lc:) z O � w o -' V) O - � C W O U) o w X - F -- 0- a U) w Z V) w F- w C'7 C7 L J co p w Z v u Z O O j Co Y w n X X U _> CY w Q U-) t w w a p p z co .- D Q Q~O� L:i O J azo3wzz LL �`- u O Q Cn cn� LIJ > - L) 0 r > - U) U) c!) LU z a p O Q w N w LJ CL tK J ..V ti(O V �w 'L J O � lc:) O Z � o -' - ► O - � C W O U) o w = - F -- 0- a U) u to to Z V) w C'7 C7 L Q d co p w Z Z LL, -5: O Z a Qc j U w Y w p X X U _> CY w Q U-) w w a p p Q co ..V ti(O 'L J O Z � Z O - � C I w Z � O - � N v O _I O —1 o a }- O w 3 _ U al 0 z LLJ u . Cl - L -ti Q~O� azo3wzz cn� LIJ > - 0 > - U U) c!) OD a p p Q w w At F - Z L1J z LD Lt1 (11i F— W J 0 a a_ F— V) w Z O N LU LL1 a U) LJ Q 70 O ir 0 0 t U z w a 0 J L1J } LO f - Z 0 U 0 z Q c� z _z Q J OL LjO L l tJ f - CL W o w zI-- O- N O p Z O U w } U7 a � W U) a z o 3 w? z Y w j t- F- tn CO Q CL w L1C UX X Qww z w a 0 J L1J } LO f - Z 0 U 0 z Q c� z _z Q J OL LjO L l tJ f - CL W o .r zzt -o A-iluno:D qt i" U7 E— Q, Z w z c� w ti� 2 � v cn O d �.7z 2 X ~ 2 LtJ E- W J Y — O U N O O C�0 � t► 2 Z w O n w J Mcc u a O Q O C) Q UZ F— F- a o U L F - C U7 V) w Q z 0 O tZ N Lu U a zzw3LU Q LLJ w LliLa- U co w C- �-- u) u) .r zzt -o A-iluno:D qt i" MOIAlsoM U7 Q, z ti� 2 v O �.7z 2 2 -J_jv O N O O E-- o 2 w n Mcc O C) Q UZ F— o a C F - C U7 U7 Q m0 0 tZ Lu U a MOIAlsoM U7 -J_jv N O O o w Mcc O C) Q UZ F— o o F - U7 U7 Q m0 0 tZ Lu U a zzw3LU Q w m U co w C- �-- U U� U) oza w wcDaLQ`C7(D c Cl. Z O w Z Z u7v7u>> �� � cnYLULU > F— xx�ccwQU� �•f>>ucnc_n W w -1 p p Q CO to -i w� U x X CO 0- Q w w i - tO 1lIU►hI DATE: May 21, 1991 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting, May 23, 1991 ITEM: 11.A. Consider an ordinance amending the Traffic Code by changing the speed limits on Gattis School Road. (Second Reading) STAFF RESOURCE PERSON: Joe Vining STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval In accordance with the need for updated speed limits along arterial streets, this ordinance is presented for Gattis School Road. Based on the most recent study conducted, the speed limits proposed were established through the application of professional traffic engineering criteria taking into account potential traffic hazards at specific locations along this route. This study covers the entirety of Gattis School Road lying within the city limits -- from Mays Street east to Red Bud Lane. Specifically, this proposal calls for three speed zones: 35 mph (east of Mays Street), 40 mph (east of Surrey Drive), and 45 mph (east of Double Creek Drive). A map showing the exact limits of the proposed speed limits is attached.