HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 23478-12-2018ORDINANCE NO. 23478-12-2018
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, "MOTOR VEHICLES AND
TRAFFIC," OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
(2015), AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING ARTICLE I, "IN GENERAL,"
SECTION 22-1, "DEFINITIONS" TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF PRE-
ARRANGED MOTORBUS, AND AMENDING ARTICLE VI, "STOPPING,
STANDING, AND PARKING," DIVISION 1, "GENERALLY," TO ADD
SECTION 22-158.4 CREATING A PRE -ARRANGED MOTORBUS ZONE;
PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF
ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES AND REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES;
PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE; PROVIDING
FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Fort Worth ("City Council") seeks to promote
public safety on streets by regulating parking areas throughout the City of Fort Worth ("City");
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to encourage tourism throughout the City by
minimizing congestion and making parking more convenient to patrons visiting local
establishments;
WHEREAS, local hotels and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau have
identified an increase in traffic congestion, as well as safety concerns, in the Central Business
District because pre -arranged motorbus services do not have designated zones to load and unload
passengers;
WHEREAS, City staff, local businesses, and pre -arranged motorbus operators have
collaborated to identify locations within the Central Business District where pre -arranged
motorbus services can load and unload passengers in a manner that minimizes traffic congestion
and maximizes safety for the passengers;
WHEREAS, the City's Traffic Engineer has the authority to regulate parking signage
within the City; however, an amendment to the City Code is necessary to enforce a designated
zone;
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the pre -arranged motorbus zone is
necessary to protect health, life, and property and to preserve good government, order, and security
of the City and its inhabitants; and
Ordinance No. 23478-12-2018
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WHEREAS, it is reasonable to amend Chapter 22, Articles I and VI of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, to better manage the City's public assets and continue to
encourage tourism in the City of Fort Worth.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 22, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article I, "In General," Section 22-1,
"Definitions" of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, is hereby amended
to add the following defined term:
Pre Arranged Motorbus. A motorbus, that allows passengers to board and dismount the
motorbus at pre -arranged times at fixed pick-up and drop-off locations. Passengers may schedule
the pre -arranged appointments by telephone, electronic communication, or other available means
with the motorbus owner.
SECTION 2.
Chapter 22, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article VI "Stopping, Standing, and Parking,"
Division 1, "Generally" of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, is hereby
amended to add Section 22-158.4 to read as follows:
Sec. 22-158.4 PRE -ARRANGED MOTORBUS ZONE.
(a) The driver of a vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle that is not a pre -arranged motorbus
shall not stop, stand or park such vehicle for any period of time in a location specifically designated
for use by pre -arranged motorbuses.
(b) The driver or operator of a pre -arranged motorbus shall not load or discharge passengers
outside of a pre -arranged motorbus zone when in downtown, or within the pre -arranged motorbus
zone in an unsafe manner.
(c) A pre -arranged motorbus parked in a pre -arranged motorbus zone shall not idle its engines nor
remain parked for more than the posted time limit for that pre -arranged motorbus zone, unless
extenuating weather conditions require a longer period.
(d) The pre -arranged motorbus driver or operator shall enter a pre -arranged motorbus zone in
such a manner that the pre -arranged motorbus shall be in a position with the right front wheel no
further than 18 inches from the curb and with the pre -arranged motorbus parked parallel to the
curb so as not to unduly impede the movement of other vehicular traffic.
Ordinance No. 23478-12-2018
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SECTION 3.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances of the Code of the City of
Fort Worth, Texas, (2015), as amended, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct
conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such Code, in which event conflicting provisions
of such ordinances and such Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the phrases, clauses, sentences,
paragraphs and sections of this ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph
or section of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases,
clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted
by the City Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase,
clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 5.
All rights and remedies of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, are expressly saved as to any and
all violations of the provisions of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, or any other ordinances of
the City, that have accrued at the time of the effective date of this ordinance; and, as to such accrued
violations and all pending litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or not, under
such ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance, but may be prosecuted until final
disposition by the courts.
SECTION 6.
The violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be civil offenses subject to civil
penalties and fines pursuant to the procedures for administrative adjudication as set forth in
Chapter 10 of this Code. Accordingly, any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision
of this Code related to the parking, stopping or standing of vehicles shall be fined in an amount
not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense. Each violation shall constitute a
separate offense.
SECTION 7.
The City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth, Texas is hereby directed to publish the
caption, penalty clause and effective date of this ordinance for two (2) days in the official
newspaper of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as authorized by Texas Local Government Code,
Section 52.013.
Ordinance No. 23478-12-2018
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SECTION 8.
All other provisions of Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as
amended, shall remain in full force and effect, save and except as amended by this ordinance.
SECTION 9.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and publication as required by law, and it is
so ordained.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Jess SangYvanV
Sena Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED: December 4.2018
EFFECTIVE: w ll e Y 1 & Y�
Ordinance No. 23478-12-2018
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ATTEST:
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Mary J. Ka er
City Secretary'
Motor Bus Loading Zones — FW CBD
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Bus Loading Zone
Location
Orientation
Stakeholders
BLZ 1
200 Main St.
West Curb
Worthington Hotel
BLZ 2
300 Taylor St
West Curb
Library
BLZ 3
200 W. 5" St
South Curb
Garage
BLZ 4
500 Calhoun
West Curb
Bass Hall
BLZ 5
600 Main St
East Curb
Ashton, Embassy, Courtyard
BLZ 6
800 Commerce
West Curb
Hilton
BLZ 7
900 Main St.
East Curb
Kennedy Square, Hilton
BLZ 8
1000-1100 Commerce
West Curb
Convention Center
BLZ 9
250 Texas
South Curb
City Hall, General
BLZ 10
1300 Houston
West Curb
Omni
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 12/4/2018 - Ordinance No. 2347842-2018
DATE: Tuesday, December 4, 2018
LOG NAME: 20MOTORBUS LOADING ZONES
REFERENCE NO.: **G-19425
SUBJECT:
Adopt Ordinance Amending Chapter 22, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Articles I, "In General" and VI,
"Stopping, Standing and Parking" of the City Code to Add a Definition of Pre -Arranged Motorbus to Section
22-1, "Definitions" and to Add Section 22-158.4 to Create Pre -Arranged Motorbus Zones to Address Traffic
Congestion and Establish Standards to Safely Discharge Passengers (COUNCIL DISTRICT 9)
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Chapter 22, "Motor
Vehicles and Traffic," Articles I, "In General" and VI, "Stopping and Standing and Parking" of the Code of
the City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015) to add a definition of Pre -Arranged Motorbus to Section 22-1
Definitions, and to add Section 22-158.4 to create Pre -Arranged Motorbus Zones to address traffic
congestion and to establish standards to safely discharge passengers.
DISCUSSION:
The local hotels and the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau have identified an increase in traffic
congestion, as well as safety concerns, in the Central Business District due to pre -arranged motorbus
services that do not have designated zones to load and unload passengers. Since August 2017, City staff
has been meeting with local businesses and pre -arranged motorbus operators to collaboratively identify
locations within the Central Business District where pre -arranged motorbus services can load and unload
passengers in a manner that minimizes traffic congestion and maximizes safety.
Although the City's Traffic Engineer has authority to regulate parking signage within the City, this
amendment is necessary to add enforcement within the designated zones. The City's Traffic Engineer will
have authority to designate pre -arranged motorbus zones as may be necessary, including temporary
zones, to load and unload passengers during special events at the Convention Center.
City staff reviewed other cities' pre -arranged motorbus ordinances. Based on the high demand of pre-
arranged motorbuses operating within the Central Business District, City staff recommends establishing
ten pre -arranged motorbus loading zones (see attached map). The designation of these zones will
minimize traffic congestion, enhance pre -arranged motorbuses' ability to better serve their passengers,
minimize the inconvenience of pre -arranged motorbuses blocking parking that can be used by patrons
visiting local establishments, and ensure pre -arranged motorbuses are loading and discharging
passengers in a safe manner.
This applies to COUNCIL DISTRICT 9.
This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION /CERTIFICATION:
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CERTIFICATIONS:
Submitted for City Manager's Office by:
Originating Department Head:
Additional Information Contact:
Susan Alanis (8180)
Steve Cooke (5134)
Gerald Taylor (6987)
Logname: 20MOTORBUS LOADING ZONES Page 2 of 2