Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Engineering Services
CM/ ACM: Jon Fortune
Date: February 21, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Consider adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances to revise the school safety speed zone for Sam Houston Elementary School along Teasley Lane, for Ryan Elementary School along Ryan Road and to remove the school safety speed zone for Selwyn School along W. University Drive (US 380); providing a penalty of a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00); providing a severability clause, providing for publication; and declaring an effective date. The Traffic Safety Commission recommends approval (7-0).
Body
BACKGROUND
A considerable number of schools (Elementary, Middle and High) within the City of Denton have school zones along adjacent streets that provide access to the schools. School zones are sections of a roadway where the legally enforceable speed limit has been reduced for a specific time period to allow pedestrian crossings in a low vehicle speed environment. Sam Houston Elementary School, Ryan Elementary School and Selwyn School have such school zones along their frontage.
The school zone in front of Sam Houston Elementary School is along Teasley Lane, beginning three hundred twenty-five (325) feet east of where Teasley Lane intersects the center line of Pennsylvania Drive to three hundred sixty-five (365) feet west of where Teasley Lane intersects the center line of Lillian Miller Parkway. Similarly, the school zone in front of Ryan Elementary School is along Ryan Road, beginning five hundred (500) feet west of the intersection of Creekdale Drive and Ryan Road and continuing east to a point five hundred (500) feet east of the intersection of Forrestridge Drive and Ryan Road. Also, the school zone in front of Selwyn School is along W. University Drive (US 380), beginning four hundred fifty (450) feet east of where US 380 intersects the center line of Marshall Drive to one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet west of where US 380 intersects the center line of Mesa Drive. These school zones are implemented in both directions and are marked by a regulatory speed limit sign (reduced speed limit) along with the specific time period at the beginning and a speed limit sign (prima facie or posted speed limit) at the end of the zone.
Recently, City staff received a request from developers of properties along Teasley Lane and Ryan Road to considering the relocation of the regulatory speed limit sign (reduced speed limit) to accommodate new access driveways to their properties. Also, Selwyn School has recently closed their campus and relocated to another City necessitating the removal of existing speed zone along US 380.
Based on the design plans submitted by a developer whose property is located at the north-west corner of the intersection of Lillian Miller Parkway and Teasley Lane, the access driveway is placed such that the existing school zone sign in the westbound direction would have to be relocated. The approved design plans include construction of a deceleration lane (right turn lane) from westbound Teasley Lane to the project driveway. Due to the location of the access driveway and the associated westbound right turn lane, staff recommends relocating the school zone along Teasley Lane (westbound direction only) approximately 100 feet west of the existing location.
Similarly, the design plans submitted by a developer whose property is located on the south side of Ryan Road between Ryan Elementary School and Country Club Road (FM 1830) has a proposed access road such that it would require relocation of the existing school zone sign along eastbound Ryan Road. Based on review of the approved design plans and the existing field conditions along eastbound Ryan Road staff recommends relocating the school zone along Ryan Road (eastbound direction only) approximately 20 feet west of the existing location.
As part of a larger roadway widening project, this segment of W. University Drive (US 380) has been under construction for the last couple of years. Originally, there was a 35 mile per hour (mph) speed limit within a school zone along W. University Drive (US 380) in front of the Selwyn school campus. The school has recently relocated and a school zone is no longer required along this section of W. University Drive (US 380). As such, the school zone speed limit has been removed from this segment of W. University Drive (US 380).
Traffic Safety Commission agreed on the proposed changes and recommended 7-0 that Council consider School Zone updates along Teasley Lane, Ryan Road and W. University Drive (US 380).
OPTIONS:
1. Approve changing the School Zone along Teasley Lane and Ryan Road to accommodate access to new developments along these streets and removal of the School Zone along W. University Drive (US 380).
2. Provide staff with additional direction on proposed school zone changes.
3. Reject the proposed change of the school zone along Teasley Lane, Ryan Road and W. University Drive (US 380).
RECOMMENDATION
The Traffic Safety Commission considered this item at the February meeting and recommends Option 1 (7-0).
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
It is anticipated the work could be scheduled for completion within a month of Council approval.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
The Traffic Safety Commission considered this item at the February meeting.
FISCAL INFORMATION
The project funding would be covered by developers and TxDOT.
STRATEGIC PLAN RELATIONSHIP
The City of Denton’s Strategic Plan is an action-oriented road map that will help the City achieve its vision. The foundation for the plan is the five long-term Key Focus Areas (KFA): Organizational Excellence; Public Infrastructure; Economic Development; Safe, Livable, and Family-Friendly Community; and Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship. While individual items may support multiple KFAs, this specific City Council agenda item contributes most directly to the following KFA and goal:
Related Key Focus Area: Safe, Liveable & Family-Friendly Community
Related Goal: 4.1 Enhance public safety in the community
EXHIBITS
1. Map of Teasley Lane at Lillian Miller Parkway
2. Map of Ryan Road near Ryan Elementary
3. Map of US 380 near Selwyn School
4. Ordinance
Respectfully submitted:
Pritam Deshmukh
Senior Engineer - Traffic