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(a) <br />hicl <br />Ordinances in connection with comprehensive review and update to truck route regulations C. <br />Alexander <br /> <br />City Manager Corby Alexander introduced Phil Stillman, Chair of the Ad Hoc Trucking Committee; and <br />he presented recommendations <br />Ordinances. <br /> <br />Committee member Maggie Anderson spoke and advised the committee worked really hard updating <br />the truck route regulations and asked Council to think about the truck route because the traffic will be <br />increasing. <br /> <br />Mayor Rigby commented the item is being presented to Council to approve , <br />, or to send it back to the committee. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zemanek requested comments and a point of view from Assistant Fire Chief Donald <br />Ladd. Mr. Ladd commented he agrees with most of what the committee suggested; but one section he <br />is against is opening the section on Bay Area Blvd. between Fairmont Parkway and Spencer Hwy. Mr. <br />Ladd commented Spencer Hwy is the main corridor for the La Porte Fire Department with one of the <br />fire stations being located on Spencer Hwy. In addition, Mr. Ladd commented traffic will increase at <br />Spencer Hwy and Highway 146, and he would like it taken off from consideration. <br /> <br />Councilmember Earp asked Mr. Stillman what the rationale is on the Spencer Highway corridor. Mr. <br />th <br />Stillman responded the rationale is to get hazardous materials from 16 Street east to Hwy. 146 and <br />th <br />those down 16 Street to Wharton Weems Blvd.; and the committee believes some of the traffic south <br />of Fairmont to Bay Area Blvd. up to Spencer Hwy would help alleviate traffic congestion. <br />Councilmember Earp questioned the daily truck and vehicle volume. Mr. Stillman responded from the <br />Fred Hartman Bridge to Hwy 225 there are 33,000 commercial vehicles coming into La Porte. <br />Councilmember Earp commented the comprehensive plan has a vision for the City and addresses the <br />truck issues and anticipated truck loads. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zemanek commented the City needs to keep the one main east/west artery free of <br />th <br />trucks and questioned why Spencer Hwy west of 16 Street was ever on the truck route without an <br />origin or destination. Councilmember Zemanek also commented he understands the concerns of <br />emergency services, and the City needs to work with Harris County to improve Fairmont Parkway into <br />three lanes each direction. In addition, Councilmember Zemanek commended the committee on their <br />efforts. <br /> <br />Councilmember Martin asked if there were any thoughts to allowing all trucks on the proposed <br />hazardous truck route. Mr. Stillman responded yes, the thought was to take the Haz Mat away with the <br />synchronization of lights and signals in the area and allow all trucks along the route. Councilmember <br />Martin agreed with Councilmember Zemanek to work with Harris County on expanding Fairmont <br />Parkway. <br /> <br />City Manager Corby Alexander advised the City has spoken with Harris County regarding the need to <br />eliminate traffic congestion along Fairmont Parkway, and they agreed there is a problem. Mr. Alexander <br />advised synchronizing lights is the first step to solving the traffic congestion. <br /> <br />Mayor Rigby commented he would like to thank the committee regardless of the outcome tonight and <br />advised the City is still working on the heavy haul corridor concerns. <br /> <br /> <br />68 <br />Page of <br />May 11, 2015, Council Meeting Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />