Title
Resolution - A Resolution Supporting a Request to the Texas Department of Transportation to Reduce the Speed Limit on US 287 Between Heritage Parkway and the South City Limits from 70 MPH to 65 MPH.
Requested Action
Approval by the City Council supporting a request to the Texas Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on US 287 between Heritage Parkway the South City Limits from 70 MPH to 65.
Recommendation
The Public Works Staff recommends approval of the resolution.
Description/History
Traffic volumes and speeds on US 287 have steadily increased over the years. The stretch of US 287 between Heritage Parkway and Lone Star Road contains businesses and a residential subdivision which have direct access to the US 287 main lanes. These businesses and subdivision were granted access many years ago when the speeds and traffic volumes on US 287 where lower. The current traffic volume and speed makes ingress and egress to these businesses and subdivision difficult and hazardous. The current speed limit on this section of roadway is 70 MPH and continues north through Arlington. South of SH 360 the posted speed limit is 65 MPH.
Over the past few months staff has been working with TxDOT and Ramtech Building Systems to help improve driver awareness along this stretch of highway and increase safety for those that access the businesses and subdivision. TxDOT has recently installed a truck traffic ahead sign. The City will be replacing that sign with a flashing sign to help alert the drivers of the slow moving truck traffic at Ramtech. In addition the City has commissioned a speed study along that corridor. The results of the study indicated the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which speed limits are posted) are between 73 and 76 mph. TxDOT has the ability to set a speed limit up to 12 mph lower than the 85th percentile speed. Ramtech has requested a posted speed of 60 mph; however given the results of the speed study and conversations with the police department, the Public Works staff recommends an appropriate speed for this section of roadway of 65 mph.
Justification
The purpose of this resolution is a request to TxDOT to reduce the speed limit on US 287 from Heritage Parkway to the South City Limit from 70 MPH to 65 MPH to help improve safety for vehicles entering and exiting the businesses and residential subdivision along this corridor. If TxDOT concurs with this request, then an Ordinance will be presented to the Council at a later date to formally approve the speed limit change.
The Public Works Director will be in attendance at the meeting to answer Council’s questions.
Funding Source
N/A
Prepared By
David Boski, P.E., Asst. Director of Public Works - Transportation, 817-276-4208