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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1985-1466 . . ORDINANCE NO. /4fob ~ ~- AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 25, ARTICLE 2, SECTIONS 25-23, and 25-24, OF THE CODE OR ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNATING MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS UPON THE STREETS OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE; FOR THE FURTHER PURPOSE OF SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATING SCHOOL ZONES AND THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS APPLYING TO SAID SCHOOL ZONES AT TIMES SPECIFIED HEREIN; AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE BE AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO POST SIGNS AT BOTH ENDS OF SPECIAL SPEED ZONES CREATED HEREIN IN SAID SPEED ZONES; PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. WHEREAS, Article 670ld, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, provides that whenever the governing body of the Ci ty of La Porte shall determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any prima facie speed therein set forth is greater or less than is reason- able or safe under conditions found to exist at any intersection or other place or upon any part of a street or highway within the City of La Porte, taking into consideration, but not limited to, the width and condition of the pavement and other circumstances on such portion of said street or highw'ay, as well as the usual traffic thereon, said governing body may determine and declare a reasonable and safe prima facie speed limit thereat or thereon by the passage of an ordinance, which shall be effective when appropriate signage giving notice thereof is erected at such intersection or other place or part of the street or highwaY1 and, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Porte has directed that an Engineering and Traffic Investigation take place for the purpose of ascertaining reasonable and safe prima facie speed limits on said streets or highways within the City of La Porte; and WHEREAS, the results of said Engineering and Traffic Investi- gation have become known unto the City Council of the City of La Porte; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Porte finds that it . . . . ORDINANCE NO. I 4-" fa , Page 2 is consistent in promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of La Porte to designate maximum speeds upon the streets and highways of the City of La Porte based upon the results of said engineering and traffic investigation1 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: SECTION 1. Upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investi- gation heretofore made as authorized by the provisions of Article 670ld, Vernon I s Texas Civil Statutes, the following maximum speed limits hereafter indicated for vehicles are hereby determined and declared to be reasonable and prudent; and such speed limi ts are hereby fixed as the maximum rates of speed indicated for vehicles traveling upon the named streets and highways, or parts thereof, described as follows, and any speed in excess of the limits specified and during the time set out shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that it is unlawful, and that the Code of Ordinances, City of La Porte, Harris County, Texas, Chapter 25, Traffic, Article 2, Section 25-23, and Section 25-24 are hereby amended to read as set forth in Exhibit II A" , attached hereto and fully incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Section 2. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the Ci ty Council was posted at a place convenient to the publ ic at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Article 6252-17, Texas Revised Civil Statutes Annotated; and that this meeting has been open to the' public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof. ORDINANCE NO. . 1 'fro Co I . , Page 3 Section 3. If any section, sentence, phrase, clause, or any part of any section, sentence, phrase or clause, of this ordinance shall, for any reason, be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance, and it is hereby declared to be the intention of this City Council to have passed each section, sentence, phrase, clause, or part thereof, irrespective of the fact that any other section, sentence, phrase or clause, or part thereof, .may be declared invalid. Section 4. Any person, as defined in Section 1.07 (27), Texas Penal Code, who shall violate any provision of this ordinance, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollar ($200.00). Section 5. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict only. Section 6. This Ordinance shall be effective fourteen (14) days after its passage and approval. The City Secretary shall give notice of the passage of this ordinance by causing the caption hereof to be published in the official newspaper in the City of La Porte at least twice within ten (10) days after the passage of this ordinance. PASSED AND APPROVED this the 23rd day of September, 1985. CITY OF LA PORTE B~~Ih7#1/-- Norm n Malone, Mayor ATTEST: ~~ City Secretary AP~ tJ ~ City Attorney . . EXHIBIT "A" Section 25-23. Maximum limits generally. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a motor vehicle within the City of La Porte at'a rate of speed greater than 30 miles per hour. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, no person shall drive a motor vehicle on any street or highway in the City at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing, having regard to the actual and potential hazard when approaching or crossing an intersection or a railway grade crossing, when approaching or going around a curve~ when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling uppn a narrow or winding street or highway, or when a special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or street conditions. In any event, speeds shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the street, alleyway, or highway in compliance with legal requirements, and the duty of all persons, to use due care. (c) The City Council finds,upon traffic and engineering studies,and having regard to all other. elements and 'factors required by law, including, but not limited to, the widths and conditions of pavements and other circumstances, as well as the usual traffic thereon, that the maximum rates of speed is prescribed in this article are the maximum, reasonable, and prudent., safe prima facie speeds for motor vehicles operating as described herein. (d) Maximum limits and school zones. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive any motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of 20 miles per hour in any of the following designated school zones: (a) Along Park Street from San Jacinto to Fairmont Parkway, a distance of 700 feet, .133 miles. (b) Along Fairmont Parkway from Park Street to South Broadway, a distance of 1,800 feet, .34 miles. . (c) Along Texas Ave. from Fairmont Parkway to East "G" Street, a distance of 1,400 feet, .27 miles. (d) Along East "G" Street from South Broadway to San Jacinto, a distance of 1,500 feet, .28 miles. (e) Along South Broadway from a point 250 feet south of East "G" Street to a point 75 feet south of East "B" ~: ~-'='_ a distance of 2,525 feet, .48 miles. (f) Along San Jacinto from a point 20 feet south of East "B" Street to a point 200 feet south of East "G" Street, a distance of 2,330 feet, .44 miles. (g) Along East "c" Street from San Jacinto to South Broadway, a distance of 650 feet, .123 miles. . . (d) Maximum limits and school zones (continued) (h) Along West Madison from a point 30 feet west of.North 4th Street to North 6th Street, a distance of 62~ feet, .117 miles. (i) Along North 6th Street from a point 400 feet south of Barbours Cut Blvd. to a point 50 feet north of West Tyler, a distance of 950 feet, .179 miles. (j) Along North- 5th from a point 75 feet south of Barbours Cut Blvd. to a point 20 feet north of West Tyler, a distance of 1,300 feet, '.246 miles. (k) Along North "L" Street from a point 50 feet weSlt of Alvy Drive to a point 175 feet west of Lomax School Road, a distance of 2,400 feet, .454 miles. (1) Along Willmont from a point 100 feet north of Fairmont Parkway to a point 100 feet south of Shell Rock, a distance of 1,200 feet, .227 miles. (m) Along Clairmont from Roseway to Rosemont, a distance of 600 feet, .114 miles. (n) Along Rosemont from Clairmont to Parkway, a distance of 600 feet, .114 miles. (0) Along Parkway from Willmont to Rosemont, a distance of 250 feet, .047 miles. (p) Along Roseway from Clairmont to ,Roseberry, a distance of 500 feet, .095 miles. (q) Along Cedarmont from a point 50 feet north of Stonemonc to Myrtle Creek, a distance of 1,150 feet, .218 miles. (r) Along Myrtle Creek from Antrim to West Main, a distance of 600 feet, .114 miles. (s) Along Carlow from a point 200 feet east of Catlett to Cedarmont, a distance of 500 feet, .095 miles. (t) ~long West Main from a point 200 feet east of Underwood ~oad to a point 200 feet east of Myrtle Creek, a distance of 1,150 feet, .218 miles. (u), Along Underwood Road from a poi.nt 30 feet north of Andricks to a point 100 feet south of Carlow, a distance of 1,480 feet, .280 miles. (v) Along West Main from a point 530 feet east of Farrington Blvd. to a point 280 feet west of Farrington Blvd., a distance of 810 feet, .153 miles. (w) Along Farrington Blvd. from West Main to a point 850 feet south of West Main, a distance of 850 feet,.161 ~;l~~ . . (2) The speed limit established in this section shall be in effect between 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M., and between 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday of. each week, from the first day of September, or the beginning of the school term, whichever event first occurs; to the first day of June, or the last day of the school term, whichever event last occurs, of each and every year, when the school zone to which such limit applies is properly signed or posted as a school zone. Timed flashing lights, as well as fixed signs, may be used to, sign or post a school zone. (e) Maximum limits in parks. It shall be unlawful for any persqn to drive any motor vehicle on any street or road within a city park at a rate of speed in excess of 10 miles per hour. (f) Thirty (30) Mile Per Hour Zones. The following streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate of speed .in excess of 30 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along Myrtle Creek from West Main to Underwood Road, a distance of 3,800 feet, .72 miles. (2) Along Fairmont Parkway from South Broadway to Park Ave., a distance of 1,800 feet! .34 miles. (3) Along Park Ave. from., San .Jacinto " to Fairmont Parkway,a distance of 700 feet, ,13 miles. (g) Thirty-five (35) Mile Per Hour Zones. The following streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of 35 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along Underwood Road from a point, 2,350 feet south of West Main to a point 650 feet north of West Main, a distance . of 3,000 feet, .57 miles. (2) Along West Main from a point 650 feet west of Underwood Road to a point 2,050 feet east of Underwood Road, a distance of 2,700 feet, .51 miles. (3) 'Along West Main from a point 925 feet west of Farrington Blvd. to a point 1,125 feet east of Farrington Blvd., a distance of 2,050 feet, .39 miles. (4) Along West Main from a point' 1,275 feet east of 26th Street to State Highway 146, a distance of 4,200 feet, .79 miles. (5) Along North ilL" Street from a point 850 feet west of Lomax School Road to a point 2,750 feet east of Lomax School Road, a distance of 3,600 feet, .68 miles. . . (6) Along Driftwood Drive from West Main to Fairmont Parkway, a distance of 4~700 feet, .89 miles. (7) Along Fairmont Parkway from a point 550 feet west of State Highway 146 to South Broadway, a distance of 4,000 'feet, .76 miles. (8) Along South 16th Street from West Main to a point 1,500 feet south of West Main, a distance of 1,500 feet, .28 miles. (9) Along ,East Barbours Cut Blvd. from State Highway 146 to North Broadway, a distance of 3,100 feet, .59 miles. (10) Along Park Ave. from San Jacinto to East "E" Street, a distance of 4,700 feet, .89 miles. (h) Forty (40) Mile Per Hour ,Zones. The following 'streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of 40 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along West Main from Luella Blvd. to a point 2,000 feet west of Luella Blvd., a distance of 2,000 feet, .38 miles. (2) Along West Main from a point 950 feet east of Myrtle Creek to a point 900 feet west of Farrington Blvd., a distance of 2,200 feet, .42 miles. (3) Along North "H" Street from Lomax School Road to 26th Street, a distance of 8,300 feet, 1.57 miles. (4) Along North "L" Street .from Underwood Road to a point 850 feet west of Lomax School Road, a distance of 4,000 feet, .76 miles. (5) Along North "L" Street from a point 2,750 feet east of Lomax School Road to 26th Street, a distance of 5,500 feet, 1.04 miles. (6) Along North lip" Street from Underwood Road to 26th Street, a distance of 13,100 feet, 2.48 miles. (7) Along 26th Street from State Highway 225 to West Main, a distance of 9,300 feet, 1.76 miles. (8) Along North 16th Street from Barbours Cut Blvd. to West Main, a distance of 2,850 feet, .54 miles. (9) Along South 16th Street from a point 1,500 feet south of West Main to Fairmont Parkway, a distance of 3,300 feet, .63 miles. (10) Along Barbours Cut Blvd. from North 16th Street to State Highway 146, a distance of 2,050 feet, .39 miles. . . (1) Forty-five (45) Mile Per Hour Zone. The following streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of 45 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along Underwood Road from North lip" Street to a point 650 feet north of West Main, a distance of 6,900 feet, 1.31 miles. (2) Along Underwood Road from a point 2,350 feet south. of West Main to, Fair.mont Parkway, a distance of 2,400 feet, .45 miles. (3) Alo~g West Main from a point 2,000 feet east of Luella Blvd. to a point 650 feet west of Underwood Road, a distance of 5,200 feet, .98 miles. (4) Along West Fairmont Parkway from.a point 2,400 feet east of Bay Area Blvd. to a point 550 feet west of State Highway 146, a distance of 2,500 feet, .47 miles. (j) Fifty (50) Mile Per Hour Zone. The following streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and'it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of 50 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along UndeJ;"wood Road from State Highway 225 to North "p" Street, a distance of 6,500 feet, 1.23 miles. (2) Along West Main from a point 1,125 east of Farrington Blvd. to a point 1,275 east of 26th Street, a distance of 7,850 feet, 1.49 miles. (k) Fifty-five (55) Mile Per Hour Zone. The following streets or portions thereof shall constitute special speed zones, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle at a rate o,f speed in excess of 55 miles per hour in any such zone: (1) Along Fairmont Parkway from a point 2,400 feet east of Bay Area Blvd. to Luella Blvd., a distance of 22,800 feet, 4.318 miles. Section 25-24. Speed Limit Signs. The Chief of Police of the City of La Porte is hereby authorized and directed to post signs at both ends of special speed zones created in this article, which signs shall reflect the speed limits of the respective zones.