HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 19768-07-2011ORDINANCE NO. 19768 -07 -2011
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, "MOTOR VEHICLES AND
TRAFFIC" OF ARTICLE III, "OPERATION OF VEHICLES" OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, AS AMENDED, TO PROVIDE
FOR THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN BUSES AND BICYCLES IN BUS
LANES AND TO NAME DESIGNATED BUS LANES; PROVIDING THAT
THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE; PROVIDING A
SEVERABITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council has established a strategic goal to improve mobility and
air quality; and
WHEREAS, replacing vehicle trips with bicycle trips can decrease congestion and
improve air quality; and
WHEREAS, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the Bike Fort Worth Plan
on February 9, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the City is converting bus only lanes to shared bus - bicycle lanes; and
WHEREAS, the City is working in conjunction with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority to
identify and designate shared bus - bicycle lanes; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable to amend Chapter 22 of the Fort Worth Code of Ordinances to allow
bicycles to legally occupy bus lanes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
Section 22 -84, Chapter 22, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article III, "Operation of Vehicles" of
the Code of the City of Fort Worth (1986) is amended to provide for the operation of certain
buses and bicycles in bus lanes and to name designated bus lanes, to read as follows:
Sec. 22 -84. - Operation of vehicles except certain buses and bicycles in bus lanes
prohibited; certain bus lanes designated.
(a) Except for turning as provided in section 22 -71, a person commits an offense if he
operates a vehicle which is not a bus of the public bus transportation system or a bicycle
in any portion of a roadway designated as a bus lane by an official traffic- control device.
(b) Where a bus lane is designated in any portion of a roadway as a bus - bicycle lane,
bicycles may be operated within such lane.
(c) In addition to any bus lanes established by the city traffic engineer, as authorized in
this chapter, each of the following is designated as a bus lane:
Houston Street. The westernmost lane between the south curb line of Belknap Street and
the north curb line of West Lancaster Street.
Throckmorton Street. The easternmost lane between the north curb line of West
Lancaster Street and the south curb line of West Belknap Street.
SECTION 2.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of
the City of Fort Worth (1986), as amended, affecting motor vehicles and traffic, except where the
provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such
Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and if any phrase,
clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such
voidness, ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases,
clauses, sentences, paragraphs or sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been
enacted by the City Council without the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or
unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shall be effective upon its passage and publication as required by law.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
By: Qa5�c_
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED: July 19, 2011
EFFECTIVE:��
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION. Approved on 7/19/2011 - Ordinance No. 19768
DATE: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 REFERENCE NO.: * *G -17318
LOG NAME: 06BUSBIKELANE
SUBJECT:
Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapter 22 -84 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth to Allow Bicycles to
Legally Occupy Bus Lanes (COUNCIL DISTRICT 9)
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Chapter 22 -84 of the
Code of the City of Fort Worth to allow bicycles to legally occupy bus lanes.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of the proposed ordinance amendment is to further the the City's goals of (1) promoting Fort
Worth as a Bicycle Friendly Community and (2) continuing to ensure that the City's streets and
neighborhoods are safe and accessible for all roadway users.
On February 9, 2010, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bike Fort Worth plan, which recommends
conversion of the City of Fort Worth's bus -only lanes to shared bus and bicycle lanes. Bus and bicycle
lanes are travel lanes restricted to buses, bicycles and right- turning vehicles. Conversion of bus -only lanes
to bus and bicycle lanes has been successful in similar downtown environments across the United States
including Tucson, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Houston Street and Throckmorton Street provide a vital north -south movement for bicyclists downtown.
The proposed conversion of bus -only to shared bus and bicycle lanes will greatly improve mobility and
access for cyclists getting to and through downtown. A shared bus and bicycle lane is functional because
bus traffic tends to be relatively light with slow speeds for the majority of the day. Additionally, bus traffic
can merge partway into the adjacent lane to pass a bicyclist. This treatment also reduces the conflict point
with bike lanes at bus stops.
On August 17, 2010, (M &C C- 24391) the City Council authorized an engineering services agreement with
Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc., for the design of on- street bicycle signage, pavement markings and
installation of bicycle racks in downtown Fort Worth. The City, as part of this grant, has received funding to
convert bus -only lanes in downtown Fort Worth to shared bus and bicycle lanes. Engineering design plans
for this project have been approved by both the City Traffic Engineer and the Fort Worth Transportation
Authority. Installation of signs and pavement markings for Houston Street and Throckmorton Street is
scheduled for Summer 2011.
The project is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 9.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Financial Management Services Director certifies that this action will have no material effect on City
funds.
Logname: 06BUSBIKELANE Page 1 of 2
FUND CENTERS:
TO Fund /Account/Centers
CERTIFICATIONS:
Submitted for City Manager's Office by:
Originating Department Head:
Additional Information Contact:
FROM Fund /Account/Centers
Fernando Costa (6122)
Randle Harwood (6101)
Julia McCleeary (2593)
Logname: 06BUSBIKELANE Page 2 of 2