HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 97-42 ?�ESOI,iJTION N0. R97-42
A RESOLUTION OF Tf� CITY COUNCIL OF TFIE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD, TSRAS, BSTABLIS�iING A POI,ICY ON
TJESIGNING, MODIFYING AND 1�AINTAINING THB PUBS,IC
STREETS OF Tf� CITY OF FRIENDSNaOD, TO FACILITATE
BICY�LE USAGE.
* * * * * : * * : : *
WFIEREAS, the bicycle is a legitimate vehicle and as is suqgested in the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficien�y Act {ISTEA) of 1991 should be
an integral part of the transnortation system; and
Wf�REAS, the City of Friendswood is a bieycle friendly community and wishes
to encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transportation within the
City; and
WHRRRAS� inexpensive roadway improvements can facilitate bicycle travel, and
often an improvement that aids bicycle travel will aid motor vehicle travel
as well; and
WHSREAS, the provision �f wider outside lanes on major streets can better
acconunodate both vehicular and bicycle traffic in the same lane and thereby
aid both bicyclists and motorists; and
WEIEREAS, parallel drainage grates may be hazardous to bic_yclists, and the
necessity for bicyclists to take sudden evasive action may create a hazard
for motor vehicle traffic; and
WI�REAS, other measures can be taken to imprave conditions for bicyclists on
public streets;
NOW, 'i�iRRRFARR� BE IT RESOLVED BY TFIE GOVSRNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSNOOD, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the following guidelines are hereby established:
l. When four-lane thoroughfares are initially constructed, overlaid with a
new course of asphalt, or reconstracted, the outside lanes may be striped
wider than the inside lanes if the following criteria are met, as determined
by the Director of Public Works:
a. The segment of street being constructed, overlaid, or reconstructed
must have a continuous length of at least one-half mile, or connect
to an existing wide outside lane;
b. The street segment must have a driving surface in one direction of
at least 24 feet wide, exclusive of curb and gutter sections;
R97.42/LST03
c. The Director of Public Works must determine that the street segment
does not contain any unique geometrics or other unusual
circumstances that would cause the uneven lane widths to present a
hazard to the public health, safety and�or welfare; and
d. If the thoroughfare is a state and/or federal highway or project,
the appropriate state and/or federal agency must approve the
modified striping plan.
2. The city advocates that every reasonable effort b� made to either
maintain traffic signal 3etectors that are sensitive to the presence of
bicycles or provide for other means of actuation of traffic signals
for bicyelists.
3, When designing or reviewing plans for new streets or when developing
plans for the reconstruction of existing streets, engineers for the
City and for utility companies are encouraged to specify that any storm
water inlets containina street grates, and utility covers and other
surface irregularities be designed to be safe for the passage of
bicycles.
4. Whenever it has street maintenance responsibility, the City is
encouraged to make every reasonable effort to maintain as smooth as
practicable transitions between street surfaces and bridge decks,
between street surfaces and cancrete gutter sections and between street
surfaces and any street gates.
SEG�.'ION 2. That the purpose and intent of this Resolution is to give broad,
general policy directian to the Director of Public Works and other
appropriate employees and officials of the city and to strongly encourage
them to utilize their best efforts to improve conditions for bicyclists
on public streets within the City, and to grant them the autharity to take
the actions recommended ir. this Resolution if, in the exercise of their
discretionary authoxity and sound engineering judgment, they deem such
action to be app�opriate.
PASSEI), APPROVED AND ADOPTED, by the City of FriendswQOd, Texas, this
lst aay of December , 1997.
�
Mayor Harold L. Whitaker
City of Friendswood
ATTEST:
t
' .
Deloris McKenzi , C
City of Friendswaod
R97.42/LST03
,. . ._ _._ �
` A Resolution Establishing Policy on Designing,Modifying and Maintaining the Public
Streets of the City of Friendswood, Texas, to Facilitate Bicycle Usage
WHEREAS, the bicycle is a legitimate vehicle and as is suggested in the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act(ISTEA)of 1991 should be an integral part of the transportation
system; and
WHEREAS, the City of Friendswood is a bicycle friendly community and wishes to encourage
the use of bicycles as a means of transportation within the City; and
WHEREAS, inexpensive roadway improvements can facilitate bicycle travel, and often an im-
provement that aids bicycle travel will aid motor vehicle travel as well; and
WHEREAS, the provision of wider outside lanes on major streets can better accommodate both
vehicular and bicycle traffic in the same lane and thereby aid both bicyclists and motorists; and
WHEREAS, parallel drainage grates may be hazardous to bicyclists, and the necessity for bicy-
clists to take sudden evasive action may create a hazard for motor vehicle traffic; and
WHEREAS, other measures can be taken to improve conditions for bicyclists on public streets;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the following guidelines are hereby established:
1. When four-lane thoroughfares are initially constructed, overlaid with a new course of asphalt,
or reconstructed, the outside lanes may be striped wider than the inside lanes if the following cri-
teria are met, as determined by the Director of Public Works:
a. The segment of street being constructed, overlaid, or reconstructed must have a continuous
length of at least one-half mile, or connect to an existing wide outside lane;
b. The street segment must have a driving surface in one direction of at least 24 feet wide,
exclusive of curb and gutter sections;
c. The Director of Public Works must determine that the street segment does not contain any
unique geometrics or other unusual circumstances that would cause the uneven lane widths to
present a hazard to the public health, safety and/or welfare; and
d. If the thoroughfare is a state and/or federal highway or project, the appropriate state and/or
federal agency must approve the modified striping plan.
2. The City advocates that every reasonable effort be made to either maintain traffic signal detec-
tors that are sensitive to the presence of bicycles or provide for other means of actuation of traf-
fic signals for bicyclists.
° 3. When designing or reviewing plans for new streets or when developing plans for the recon-
struction of existing streets, engineers for the City and for utility companies are encouraged to
� specify that any storm water inlets containing street grates, and utility covers and other surface ir-
regularities be designed to be safe for the passage of bicycles.
4. Whenever it has street maintenance responsibility, the City is encouraged to make every rea-
sonable effort to maintain as smooth as practicable transitions between street surfaces and bridge
decks, between street surfaces and concrete gutter sections and between street surfaces and any
street gates.
SECTION 2. That the purpose and intent of this Resolution is to give broad, general policy direc-
tion to the Director of Public Works and other appropriate employees and officials of the City
and to strongly encourage them to utilize their best efforts to improve conditions for bicyclists
on public streets within the City, and to grant them the authority to take the actions recom-
mended in this Resolurion if, in the exercise of their discretionary authority and sound engineer-
ing judgment, they deem such action to be appropriate.
ADOPTED, by the Governing Body of the City of Friendswood, Texas, this day of
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk