Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Capital Projects
CM/ ACM: Mario Canizares
Date: August 7, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and make a recommendation to City Council to authorize the Traffic Engineer to restrict parking in front on Bus Stops within City limits.
Body
BACKGROUND
Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) completed a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) in late 2016 in an effort to improve bus service provided within DCTA member cities of Lewisville, Highland Village and Denton. The goal of the analysis was to develop service recommendations that would maintain the strongest areas of existing service, strengthen the weaker areas, fill existing service gaps and ensure all significant transit markets are well served. DCTA began implementing the recommendation described in the COA earlier this year. The recommendations included changes to the overall operation of its bus services which comprised of new bus routes, modification of old bus routes, frequency/headway, and changes to origins/destinations.
These changes included installation of new bus stops (with and without shelters) along new and modified bus routes throughout the City. Some of the bus stops were installed along roadway segments that allowed on-street parking. As such, residents/patrons continued to use the parking area in front of the new bus stops which resulted in impeding the access between the bus stops and the buses. Parked vehicles in front of the bus stops not only obstruct access for passengers boarding or alighting the buses but it also impacts the traffic movement along the street. Additionally, at locations where the bus stops are obstructed by parked vehicles, DCTA is not able to service passengers with disabilities, as the buses are not able to drop the ADA ramps or lower the bus entrance to the curb level.
City staff recommends addressing this issue by establishing parking restriction in front of the bus stops that are impacted by parked vehicles. The most efficient way of implementing the parking restriction is by amending the current authority of the Traffic Engineer in the municipal code to provide him/her with the ability to establish parking restriction in front of bus stops to facilitate public transportation and improve traffic circulation and access.
Under the current City of Denton Municipal Code, the traffic engineer has the authority to implement parking zones (restrictions) along a public street under certain conditions. Per current City Code,
Sec. 18-3. - Authority of traffic engineer.
(b) The traffic engineer is hereby authorized to:
(1) Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at any intersection where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway and at such other places as he may deem necessary;
(2) Establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians;
(3) Mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem advisable consistent with this chapter and other traffic ordinances of this city.
(4) Establish parking zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem advisable for solid waste containers, consistent with this chapter and other traffic ordinances of the city.
(Code 1966, §§ 24-78, 24-79; Ord. No. 2009-081, § 1, 4-7-09)
Based on the current City Code, parking restriction cannot be enforced in front of bus stops as such, the following amendment is recommended.
Sec. 18-3. - Authority of traffic engineer.
(b) The traffic engineer is hereby authorized to:
(1) Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at any intersection where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway and at such other places as he may deem necessary;
(2) Establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians;
(3) Mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem advisable consistent with this chapter and other traffic ordinances of this city.
(4) Establish parking zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem advisable for solid waste containers and bus stops, consistent with this chapter and other traffic ordinances of the city.
OPTIONS
1. Clarify municipal code related to authority granted to the Traffic Engineer to improve access to public transportation by restricting parking in front of bus stops as recommended by staff.
2. Provide staff additional direction and/or language regarding authority granted to the Traffic Engineer in the City Code.
3. Take no action
RECOMMENDATION
Update the municipal code related to authority granted to the Traffic Engineer to improve access to public transportation by restricting parking in front of bus stops
EXHIBITS
1. Excerpt - City of Denton Municipal Code (Section 18-3)
Respectfully submitted:
Pritam Deshmukh
Traffic Engineer