18 - Designation of a Non-Radioactive Hazardous Material (NRHM) Route DesignationItem No. 18
TO: City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Carla Easton, PE, City Engineer
SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ROUTE DESIGNATION APPROVAL
DATE: August 10, 2020
BACKGROUND: The City of Paris is fortunate to have a system of public streets through our
City that accommodate local, regional, and interstate travel and commerce. Our street network
includes multiple state highway business routes running through town, as well as Loop 286
encircling most of the city limits. To enhance the safety of our residents, it is important to keep
large trucks carrying hazardous cargo out of the center of town where residents live, work and
play.
TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have a process by which a municipality can
request the designation of a hazardous cargo route within its jurisdiction in order to limit
exposure of the community to hazardous materials. These types of materials include explosives,
gases, toxic materials, infectious substances, and corrosive and radioactive materials. City Staff
proposes to designate Loop 286 as the specified route for transporting all hazardous goods
through the city limits. This will help emergency preparedness and response times to any spill
incident by keeping the locations to the outer loop, where exposure is reduced and access can be
easily provided.
This designation will also allow larger signage along the incoming highways that will direct
truck traffic along Loop 286 rather than through town. The City formally requested the NRHM
route along Loop 286 in 2018.
STATUS OF ISSUE: The route designation process is lengthy. A series of public hearings were
required at the local and state level, followed by a review by TxDOT staff. The process is now
complete and TxDOT has approved of the route designation. To complete the process, the City
must accept/approve of the designation by formal action.
BUDGET: The large NRHM route signs are several thousand dollars each, and it is expected
that five signs will be installed. Staff will work with TxDOT to identify potential funding
opportunities or budget for these as part of the annual operations budget.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve of a resolution designating Loop 286 as the Hazardous Cargo
Route through the City of Paris.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE DESIGNATION OF A HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS ROUTE THROUGH THE CITY OF PARIS ALONG LOOP 286;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Paris has a system of public streets through our city that
accommodate local, regional, and interstate travel and commerce; and,
WHEREAS, to enhance the safety of our residents, it is important to keep large
trucks carrying hazardous cargo out of the center of town where residents live, work and
play; and
WHEREAS, TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration allow municipalities to
request the designation of a hazardous cargo route within their jurisdiction in order to
limit exposure of the community to hazardous materials including explosives, gases, toxic
materials, infectious substances and corrosive and radioactive materials; and
WHEREAS, City Staff proposes to designate Loop 286 as more fully described and
depicted in Exhibit'A", as the specified route for transporting all hazardous goods through
the city limits, allowing emergency preparedness and faster response times to any spill
incident by keeping the locations to the outer loop, where exposure is reduced and access
can be easily provided; and
WHEREAS, this designation will allow larger signage along the incoming highways
that will direct truck traffic along Loop 286 rather than through town; and
WHEREAS, it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Paris that the City
to formally request Non -radioactive Hazardous Materials (NRHM) route along Loop 286;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That the City is hereby formally requests Loop 286, as more fully
described and depicted in Exhibit "A" as the specified NRHM route for transporting all
hazardous goods through the city limits.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be effective from and after the date of
passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of August, 2020.
Steven J. Clifford, M.D., Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney
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