Ord 15-2015 4/7/2015
Ordinance No. __15-2015__
Ordinance amending Section 102-108(b), Altered Prima Facie Speed
Limits of the Code of Ordinances of the City o f Wichita Falls, to
Codify a 45 MPH Speed Zone on Highway 79 from Mile Post 5.240 To
5.82
WHEREAS, relevant parts of Texas Transportation Code § 545.356, Authority of
Municipality to Alter Speed Limits, provide:
(a) The governing body of a municipality, for a highway or part of a highway in
the municipality, including a highway of the state highway system, has the
same authority to alter by ordinance prima facie speed limits from the
results of an engineering and traf fic investigation as the Texas
Transportation Commission on an officially designated or marked highway
of the state highway system. The governing body of a municipality may
not modify the rule established by Section 545.351(a) or establish a speed
limit of more than 75 miles per hour.
(b) The governing body of a municipality, for a highway or part of a highway in
the municipality, including a highway of the state highway system, has the
same authority to alter prima facie spe ed limits from the results of an
engineering and traffic investigation as the commission for an officially
designated or marked highway of the state highway system, when the
highway or part of the highway is under repair, construction, or
maintenance. A municipality may not modify the rule established by
Section 545.351(a) or establish a speed limit of more than 75 miles per
hour;
and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds the attached Engineering and Traffic
Investigations have been prepared in accordance with the “Procedure for Establishing
Speed Zones” adopted by the Texas Transportation Commission; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines from the results of the
attached Engineering and Traffic Investigations that the prima facie speed limit for
the section of Highway 79 from mile post 5.240 to mile post 5.82 be established as 45
miles per hour as recommended, as reasonable and safe; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the attached documents constitute all
state-required documentation necessary to establish an altered prima facie speed limit;
and,
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Wichita Falls,
Texas, that the provisions of this ordinance shall become a part of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas and be codified accordingly.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 102-108 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wichita Falls is
amended to add the following to Table 102 -108(b):
Section 102-108. Altered Prima Facie Speed Limits
Table 102-108(b)
Speed Zones
Name of Zone Location of Zone
Altered
Prima Facie
Speed Limit
(MPH)
Highway 79 Zone #1 From mile post 5.24 to mile post 5.82 45
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 7th day of April, 2015.
___________________________
M A Y O R
ATTEST:
____________________
City Clerk
Street Location: State Highway 79
From: South City Limits at mile .582 continuing .58 miles to mile .524
Posted Speed: 45MPH
85% speed measured near Professional Drive
Eastbound 49 MPH
Westbound 46 MPH
Date: March 25,2015
CRASH STUDY
TxDOT Procedures for Establishing Speed Zones recommends, but does not require, a crash study to be
included in a speed zone study. As this speed zone will not be 5 miles per hour or more below the 85th
percentile speed because of high crash experience, the information for crashes for the most recent
calendar year is not included in this speed zone study.
SPEED ZONE DESIGN
The traffic superintendent has taken the following issues into account in the speed zone design: Zone
Length, Transitions, Urban Areas, Directional Differences, and Variation from the 85th percentile for such
issues as different results at adjacent speed check stations, crash rate greater than average, light traffic
volume. Additional roadway factors were considered including narrow roadway widths, horizontal and
vertical curves, hidden driveways, high driveway density, crash history, rural residential or developed
areas, and lock of striped, improved shoulders. The traffic superintendent has driven this speed zone
section of roadway at the chosen speed and has determined that the speed is appropriate for the area.
The traffic superintendent has determined that the regulatory speed limits signs are appropriately
placed and located.
RECHECKS OF SPEED ZONES
TxDOT Procedures for Establishing Speed Zones recommends, but does not require, periodic rechecks of
all zones at intervals of about 3-5 years in urban areas and rechecks of 5-10 years in rural areas. These
procedures state that in many instances, trial runs are sufficient. The City’s traffic superintendent
preforms trial runs within these suggested intervals and makes revisions to zones as he finds necessary.
STRIP MAP
TxDOT has prepared a strip map for the city of Wichita Fal ls. The traffic superintendent has reviewed the
map and utilized the information from the map as part of the process of producing this speed zone
recommendation. The Strip Map is incorporated in its entirety herein.
__________________________
Traffic Superintendent
Traffic Engineering Department
City of Wichita