CC Resolution No. 13122521
RESOLUTION NO. 1312
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS,
ESTABLISHING A MID -BLOCK CROSSWALK POLICY AND PROVIDING FOR THE
EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
WHEREAS, the prevalent occurrences of excessive speed on arterial streets result in dangerous
conditions for pedestrians attempting to cross; and
WHEREAS, mid -block crosswalks are designed to protect both pedestrians and drivers by warning
drivers of pedestrian crossings through the use of appropriate signs; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds that in order to ensure that mid -block crosswalks will be
effective, the crossings must be selectively located in accordance with well- defined criteria and available to
organizations sensing a need for the same; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, hereby adopts the Mid -Block
Crosswalk Policy, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein for all intents and purposes.
Section 2: This resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage by the City
Council of the City of Baytown, Texas.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED, by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of
Baytown this the 12 "' day of June, 1997.
_'e� (. gey�!'v
PETE C. ALFARO, Mayor
ATTEST:
EILEEN P. HALL, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ctrs
CTfI ACIO RAMIREZ, S City Attorney
c:klh40\ Council\ Resolutions \MidblockCrosswalkPol icy. Resolution
CITY OF BAYTOWN
MID -BLOCK CROSSWALK POLICY
PedestrianCrosswalk Policy. doc
Run Date: June 1, 1997
MID -BLOCK CROSSWALK POLICY
A. FINDING OF PURPOSE
The prevalent occurrences of excessive speed on arterial streets result in
dangerous conditions for pedestrians attempting to cross. As such, it is desirable
that mid -block crosswalks be permitted in certain instances if in accordance with
this policy, which is designed to protect both pedestrians and drivers by warning
drivers of the crossings through the placement of appropriate signs and allowing
the drivers to safely reduce vehicle speeds.
B. GENERAL
In order for mid -block crosswalks to be effective, mid -block crosswalks must be
located selectively in accordance with defined criteria. Proper location with
adequate visibility will enhance safe pedestrian crossing.
This policy promotes reasonable opportunities for organizations requesting mid -
block crosswalks to participate in the process that leads to mid -block crosswalk
installation.
C. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF INTERPRETATION N
"APPLICANT" refers to the designated representative of the organization
submitting a written request for the installation of a mid -block crosswalk on an
arterial street.
"COMMISSION" unless otherwise specifically noted, refers to the Growth
Management and Development Advisory Commission.
"DIRECTOR" refers to the Director of Planning and Community Development
and such other persons authorized by the Director of Planning and Community
Development to act in the same capacity for the purposes of this policy.
"MID -BLOCK CROSSWALK" or "CROSSWALK" refers to a designated
pedestrian crossing location on an arterial street.
"ORGANIZATION" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
association, or other similar entity.
"STREET" refers to an arterial street as defined in the Major Thoroughfare Plan
of the City of Baytown.
Mid -Block Crosswalk Policy, Page I
D. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All of the following criteria must be satisfied for a street to be considered eligible
for a mid -block crosswalk.
1. Property Usage: The organization must own, lease or otherwise have
control over two (2) or more properties which are separated solely by an
arterial street. The properties must be regularly used by and accessible to
the general public. The arterial street on which the mid -block crosswalk is
proposed to be located must intersect at least two (2) arterial streets at
the intersections closest to and surrounding the proposed crosswalk.
2. Operational Characteristics of the Street: The street must satisfy the
following:
a. the street must be used to provide pedestrian access between the
organization's properties;
b. the street must have one or more moving lanes of traffic; and
C. one hundred (100) or more pedestrians must cross the street
between the properties for access to the same during any one (1)
hour within a twenty -four (24) hour period on a weekly basis.
3. Geometric Characteristics of the Street:
a. The street must have adequate sight distances to safely
accommodate the mid -block crosswalk markings and warning signs
in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices.
b. A crosswalk may be located only at those locations where the
eighty -fifth (85'") percentile speed is no greater than forty (40) miles
per hour and the nearest traffic signal on the street on which the
crosswalk is proposed is greater than five hundred feet (500') from
the crosswalk.
C. The mid -block crosswalk cannot be closer than three hundred feet
(300') to another established crosswalk.
E. GENERALPROCEDURES
The following procedures are to be followed in determining whether or not a
crosswalk is to be approved or denied:
Mid -Block Crosswalk Policy Page 2
I . A written request for mid -block crosswalk installation must be submitted
by the applicant to the Director. The applicant shall submit all information
that it wishes the Director to consider in determining whether the
crosswalk is preliminarily eligible for installation.
2. After the receipt of the request, the Director will make a preliminary
determination as to whether the street is eligible for a crosswalk using
available transportation data and the criteria in D. The applicant will be
notified in writing of the Director's decision.
a. If the Director preliminarily determines that the street is eligible for
the installation of a crosswalk, the Director shall perform an
engineering study and ensure that the proposed mid -block
crosswalk will have adequate visibility. Thereafter, the Director
shall place the matter on the Commission's agenda for its
consideration.
b. If the Director preliminarily determines that the street is not eligible
for the installation of a crosswalk and if the applicant believes that
such preliminary determination was made in error, the applicant
may appeal the denial of the request to the Commission by fling a
letter requesting an appeal. Such appeal letternmust be filed with
the Director within ten (10) days of being notified that the request
was denied and must specify why the applicant believes that the
Director's preliminary determination is erroneous. All Commission
actions are appealable in accordance with the Commission's
appeal procedures. If the applicant timely perfects its appeal, the
Director shall place the matter on the Commission's agenda for its
consideration.
3. If the street is determined by the Director to be eligible for the requested
crosswalk installation or if the applicant timely prefects its appeal, the
Director will submit the comments, recommendations, and results of all
studies to the Commission for its consideration. The applicant will be
notified in writing of the Commission's decision.
a. If the Commission approves the mid -block crosswalk, based on the
criteria in D, the Commission will make a recommendation to City
Council for mid -block crosswalk installation.
b. If the Commission denies the mid -block crosswalk, the applicant
will be notified in writing of the decision and can appeal in
accordance with the Commission's appeal procedures if the
Mid -Block Crosswalk Policy, Page 3
applicant perfects such appeal in writing within ten (10) days of
being notified that the Commission denied the request.
4. The City Council, based upon as the eligibility criteria enumerated in this
policy, the recommendation of the Commission and the comments,
recommendations, and results of the studies submitted by the Director,
shall make the final determination as to whether the requested mid -block
crosswalk will be installed. The applicant will be notified in writing of the
City Council's decision.
a. If the City Council approves the installation of the requested mid -
block crosswalk, the Director will inform the Public Works
Department of the approved mid -block crosswalk location for
installation. Thereafter, the Public Works Department shall install
the mid -block crosswalk at the approved location with markings and
signs in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices.
b. If the City Council and /or the Commission denies the request for
the installation of the crosswalk, the organization may not reapply
for such installation until the expiration of one (1) year after such
denial.
G. REASSESSMENT
The City Staff, in consultation with the Commission, will reassess this policy six
(6) months from the effective date of adoption of this policy and every six (6)
months thereafter.
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