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Ord 2834 11/7/1973 ORDINANCE NO. Arr3 1 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING MEDIAN CUTS IN THE PUBLIC STREETS IN WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS. WHEREAS, it is deemed advisable to adopt regulations controlling cuts in the medians in the public streets in the city of Wichita Falls, recognizing that, while promiscuous cutting of such medians should not be permitted, it is feasi- ble to open such medians at selected points. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT : SECTION 1. Median cuts may be installed only at the following locations: A. At the intersection of two dedicated streets that meet the criteria set out in Section 2 below, and B. In conjunction with a left-turn lane to serve as a common entrance to large traffic volume generators such as a multi-commercial shopping center or an industrial complex. Such traffic generators shall be characterized by a large ex- panse of parking areas, served by an internal roadway network generally adequate to absorb entering traffic without backups onto the surrounding city streets. The turning movements into entrances to these types of areas usually are quite similar to normal intersectional movements and should be treated as such. Median cuts of this nature will only be allowed after a thorough traffic engineering investigation has determined the feasibility of such cuts and their compliance with all median cut criteria. SECTION 2. Criteria for all median cuts are as follows: A. The median cut shall be located so that it will leave a minimum of 300 feet of unbroken median strip along the road- way center line, measured from the near nose of the closest existing median cut to the near nose of the proposed median cut. B. Except as hereinafter otherwise provided in this para- graph, the median cut shall include a 12 foot wide left turn storage bay of a minimum of 50 feet in length, measured from the nose of the median cut, plus a taper no steeper than 7 to 1. The actual length of the left turn storage bay shall be determined by a traffic study conducted by the Traffic Engi- neering Department. Left turn storage bays for median cuts at street intersections may not be required, if the Director of Public Works and the Director of Traffic and Transporta- tion determine that such storage bays are not necessary at a particular location. C. Traffic controls (including any signalization) that are deemed necessary by the Traffic Engineering Department shall be installed at the median cut in accordance with the requirements of the City. Whenever a proposed traffic signal at a median cut is to be located within 800 feet of an exist- ing traffic signal, it shall be coordinated with said exist- ing signal. SECTION 3 . Additional criteria for those median cuts which serve large volume traffic generators are as follows: A. The driveway which is served by the median cut shall have a peak hour traffic volume in excess of 100 vehicles per hour in one direction during at least ten peak hours per week. B. The driveway which is served by the median cut shall serve an establishment that has a parking lot area that con- tains a minimum of 300 vehicular parking stalls. C. The driveway which is served by the median cut shall serve a property that has a minimum of 300 feet of frontage along the street right of way line. SECTION 4. The following procedures shall be used in apply- ing for a median cut which serves large volume traffic generators. A. Formal application for a median cut shall be made in writing to the Director of Traffic and Transportation. B. Upon approval by the Director of Traffic and Transpor- tation and the Director of Public Works, the applicant shall, at his sole expense, have construction plans prepared for the median cut. The geometric design and construction shall meet - 2 - the requirements of the City. Such plans shall be submitted in the form and number of copies required by the Director of Public Works. Such plans must be approved and endorsed by the Director of Public Works, the Director of Traffic and Transportation, and the City Manager. C. The applicant shall furnish the City a performance bond with a surety acceptable to the City, or cash in lieu of such bond, in an amount equal to cover the cost, as esti- mated by the Director of Public Works, of all improvements required to be installed. Such bond will be released after all construction is completed and accepted by the Director of Public Works and the Director of Traffic and Transporta- tion. D. The applicant shall acquire all necessary permits (such as street excavation, sewer connections, et cetera) required by the City or other agency for installation of the median cut. E. When all of the preceding requirements have been met, the applicant shall receive a median cut permit from the Director of Public Works or his designated representa- tive. The fee for said median cut permit shall be $5. 00, and shall cover the cost of permit processing that will be performed by the Department of Public Works Permit Office. No construction work shall be commenced on a median cut until the median cut permit has been issued. SECTION 5. The construction of all required surface and underground improvements (except installation of traffic controls) at any median cut which serves a large volume traffic generator, shall be performed by a bonded contractor at the sole cost and expense of the applicant. The applicant shall make all necessary arrangements for, and pay all costs of, the relocation of any existing utilities and improvements that may be required to be relocated. Engineering design and the installation of traffic controls at such median cuts shall be performed by the City of Wichita Falls. The cost of - 3 - all such traffic control materials and equipment, plus the cost of engineering design and installation labor, shall be paid to the City by the applicant. The cost of the engineering design and installation labor pertaining to such traffic con- trols is here determined to be an amount equal to 25% of the cost of material and equipment. SECTION 6. In the event an application for a median cut to serve a large volume traffic generator is denied by the City administrative staff, and the applicant wishes to appeal such decision, he will notify in writing the Director of Traffic and Transportation of his intention to appeal within ten days after the denial. The applicant will then present his appeal to the City Traffic Commission at its next regular meeting. The recommendation of the Traffic Commission regarding the appeal will be forwarded through the City Manager to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. After the applicant and the administrative staff have been given an opportunity to be heard concerning the matter, the Board of Aldermen shall de- cide the appeal, and such decision will be final. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1973 . d .49 A 1 ice// -ad/./4 AI.. OF A O • ATTEST: _ iii. fl /ia.AvAAt. Cit ' Clerk - 4 -