31 - Establishing a Construction Speed Zone on US 82-Loop 286 during a construction project from US 271 Exit Ramp to the FM 79 Entrance RampItem No. 31
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Randy Tuttle, Assistant Chief of Police
SUBJECT: TEMPORARY SPEED LIMIT ON NW LOOP 286
DATE: December 08, 2021
BACKGROUND: The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has contracted highway
19 Construction to construct a concrete overlay on westbound lanes of NW Loop 286 from the
Campbell Soup entrance west to intersection of FM 79. For safety of the workers doing the overlay
project and motorist driving through the construction area TXDOT has requested the City Council
enact an ordinance to temporarily reduce the speed limit in the construction zone from 60 mph to
50 mph for the duration of this project which is expected to take about eight to nine months to
complete.
STATUS OF ISSUE: On December 07, 2021 the City of Paris Traffic Commission considered
this issue and voted 4-0 to recommend the City Council consider enacting a temporary ordinance
reducing the speed limit in the construction zone from 60 mph to 50 mph.
BUDGET: No anticipated impact on current budget
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Ordinance amending the Traffic Control Map establishing
a temporary speed limit in the construction area on NW Loop 286.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
ESTABLISHING A CONSTRUCTION SPEED ZONE ON US 82/LOOP 286 IN
THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS, LAMAR COUNTY,
TEXAS, DURING THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FROM US 271 EXIT RAMP TO THE FM 79
ENTRANCE RAMP; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE,
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A PENALTY CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation has requested the City of Paris,
Texas, by and through the authority granted to it in the Texas Transportation Code and at
direction of the City Council, to establish that a construction speed zone for vehicular traffic
upon US 82/Loop 286 from the US 271 exit ramp to the FM 79 entrance ramp in the
Corporate Limits of the city of Paris, Lamar County, Texas, to remain in place throughout
the duration of this construction project; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2021, the City's Traffic Commission considered the
issue and voted unanimously to recommend that the City enact a temporary ordinance to
reduce the speed in said construction zone from sixty (60) miles per hour to fifty (50) miles
per hour; and
WHERAS, the City Council finds that enacting an ordinance to provide for said
construction zone speed limit in the affected area is in the best interest of the citizens of
Paris and of public safety;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That no person shall drive a vehicle on US 82 /Loop 286 from the US
271 exit ramp to the FM 79 entrance ramp in the City of Paris, Texas at a speed greater than
fifty (50) miles per hour during said construction project. Except when a special hazard
exists that requires lower speeds for compliance with the above requirements, the
construction zone limits hereinafter set out for US 82/Loop 286 and portions thereof to
which they apply shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent
during the times so indicated by the Texas Department Transportation by posting speed
signs for construction purposes. Upon completion of the project, the speed limit shall revert
to sixty (60) miles per hour on said highway
Section 3. That on US 82/Loop 286 in the corporate city limits of Paris, Lamar
County, in an westerly direction from approximate CS mile point 2.171 to 3.227 for a
distance of approximately 1.056 miles, a construction speed limit of fifty (50) miles per
hour as evidenced by the attached construction Speed Zone Plan Map for Highway US
82/Loop 286 in Paris, Lamar County, Texas which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A",and is
hereby approved and made a part hereof.
Section 4. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section S. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering
any penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any
section or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 6. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance, and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 7. That any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall
be guilty of a Misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine in accordance
with provisions of Section 1.01.009 of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances and Texas
Transportation Code Sec. 545.401.
Section 8. That this ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage
and publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on this 131h day of December, 2021.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney