13 - ONE-WAY STREETS DOWNTOWNItem No. 13
memorandum
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: John Godwin, City Manager
SUBJECT: ONE -WAY STREETS DOWNTOWN
DATE: March 10, 2015
BACKGROUND: For many months now we have considered and evaluated the advantages of
eliminating some or all one -way streets in downtown Paris. We do not believe converting
Lamar, Clarksville, Grand, or 1St SW should be addressed at this time, and all of those streets are
TXDOT highways in any case. The city controls six one -way streets in downtown, however, all
of which we have examined.
STATUS OF ISSUE: On December 2, the Traffic Commission considered changing 3`d Street
SW from one -way to two -way. Members voted 7 -0 recommending the change. On February 3,
the commission considered also changing Houston, Price, and 2nd Street SW & NW from one-
way to two -way traffic, with members voting 4 -0 to recommend this change.
BUDGET: Approximately $6,500 for changes to signs and road markings.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve attached ordinance, delaying 2nd Street to a later effective
date to assess need and function after the other changes have been implemented.
Draft
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE TRAFFIC CONTROL MAP ADOPTED IN SECTION 31-
65(b), OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; TO
CHANGE TRAFFIC FLOW ON 3RD SW FROM BONHAM STREET TO WEST
SHERMAN STREET, HOUSTON STREET FROM 3RD NW TO 6TH NE AND
PRICE STREET FROM 3RD NW TO 6TH NE, FROM ONE -WAY TO TWO -WAY
STREETS FOR TRAFFIC FLOW; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER
CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A PENALTY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Paris Traffic Commission is charged with reviewing and
evaluating proposals to change traffic flow on City streets and roadways throughout the
City of Paris; and
WHEREAS, among those traffic evaluations by the Traffic Commission is the flow of
traffic on streets throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Commission was forwarded a request from City Staff
requesting these certain one -way streets be changed to two -way streets for traffic flow;
and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Commission, at its regular meeting of December 2, 2014,
considered the item to change 3rd SW from one -way to two -way traffic from Bonham to W.
Sherman Street and approved the item by a vote of 7 -0 recommending the change; On
February 03, 2015, the Traffic Commission considered changing Houston Street from one -
way to two -way traffic from 3rd NW to 6th NE and changing Price Street from one -way to
two -way traffic from 3rd NW to 6th NE and approved the item by a vote of 4 -0
recommending the changes. It was found that these changes in the City of Paris are
necessary and in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Paris.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in
all things approved.
Section 2. That the Traffic Control Map referenced in Section 31-65(b) of the City
Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas, as heretofore amended, be, and the same is
hereby, further amended to change one -way streets to two -way street traffic flow at the
following locations:
"3rd SW from Bonham Street to W. Sherman Street
Houston Street from 3rd NW to 6th NE
Price Street from 3rd NW to 6th NE"
Section 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. That any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty
of a Misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine in accordance with
provisions of Sec. 1 -6 of Chapter One of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances, and each and
every day's continuance of any violation of the above - enumerated sections shall constitute
and be deemed a separate offense.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of March, 2015.
Matt Frierson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent McIlyar, City Attorney