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Home My Public Portal AboutResolution No. 256-06 02-28-2006 • RESOLUTION N0.256-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF A SPECIAL STUDIES APPLICATION FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UNDER THE LOCAL AIR QUALITY PROGRAM, TO REALIGN VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FLOW FOR AIR QUALITY AND SAFE PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALI{S WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF RICHLAND HILLS. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS: WHEREAS, The City of Richland Hills plans to conduct a Special Studios within its city limit boundaries to determine a realignment of vehicular traffic flow and pedestrian sidewalks to improve the air quality and provide a safe environment for citizens to walk and/or ride bicycles to and from work, school and recreational areas; and WHEREAS, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is currently accepting applications for a Special Studies Program for transportation improvements that will improve air • quality and provide for a safe travel environment for the citizen's of Richland Hills. NOW THRERFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The City of Richland Hills will apply fc~r funding through the North Central Texas Council of Governments to conduct a Special Studies to determine the realigtunent of vehicular traffic flow and pedestrian sidewalks to improve ai.r quality and provide a safe travel environment for the citizen's of Richland Hills. The City agrees to commit to the project's development, implementation, construction, maintenance, management and financing. This Resolution shall become effective upon it adoption. FASSED AND APROVED THIS 28t" DAY OF February 2006. ~ ~ ~ - CITY OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS v. ~ y` > lda S. Strcder, Nlayor ATTEST: ~~~~~i~iinnm~~~~~~~ • I~im 'utter, T C, City Secretary ~ CITyO •c~ CITY OF RICHLAf~~ HILLS,TEXAS * ~ * DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS . ~ ~ (817) 299-1830 • Fax: (817) 299-1832 • 6700 RENA DRIVE • RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS 761 18 icy ~`~v ~N ~ INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE DATE: February 21, 2006 TO: James Quin, City Manager 7 FROM: Michael H. Barnes, Director of Public Works M~ V 1' I" SUBJECT: Special Studies Application For The NCTCOG Local Air Quality Program Attached is a Special Studies Application and Resolution for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Local Air Quality Program. The application is a planning study of Vehicular Traffic Flow and Pedestrian Sidewalks within the City of Richland Hills. This application is to be submitted to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) prior to Friday, March 3, 2006 at 5:00 pm. The purpose of this • planning study is to improve the air quality index by the realignment of traffic flow patterns and location of pedestrian sidewalks in the City of Richland Hills. The estimated cost of this study is $90,000.00. The proposed funding of this program is 80% NCTCOG ($72,000.00) and 20% City of Richland Hills ($18,000.000). Therefore, staff is recommending that this Special Studies Application and Resolution be placed on the councils February 28, 2006 agenda for their approval. If you have any questions please contact me. • Printed on Recycled Paper SPECIAL STUDIES APPLICATION • NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS LOCAL AIR QUALITY PROGRAM I. INTRODUCTION The City of Richland Hills is located in the center of the northeast area of Tarrant County, an area that is growing at a rapid rate. In order to keep pace with the growth rate of surrounding cities, the city of Richland Hills requires assistance in funding a special study that would enhance the area both in vehicular traffic flow and pedestrian sidewalks for the public. Under the Special Studies Section of the Local Air Quality Program, the City of Richland Hills would like to conduct a planning study to • determine; 1) a realignment of the vehicular traffic flow along the major arterials through Richland Hills to improve the air quality in the area; and 2) to determine a locale of pedestrian sidewalks that will allow more pedestrians a safe environment to walk and/or ride bicycles to work, school and recreational areas. The study results of these two areas would potentially improve the air quality in the area and give other cities encouragement to implement the same type of improvements. II. PROJECT LOCATION The study will be within the city limits of the City of Richland Hills. Attachment `A' defines the limits of Richland Hills which is the boundary limits of the study. The study would also look at connecting to surrounding cites that have similar • improvements. 1 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION • The project will be a study of the various ways of improving the air quality within the City of Richland Hills by; 1) improving the flow patterns of vehicle traffic through Baker Blvd. (Hwy. 183) and Boulevard 26 (Hwy. 26); and 2) providing pedestrian sidewalks in areas that will allow residents to walk and or bicycle to businesses, schools and recreational areas as opposed to using their vehicles for such purposes. It is anticipated that his new program will demonstrate the effectiveness of traffic flow patterns and pedestrian sidewalks. IV. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION This project is needed to improve the qualit~~ of life in Richland Hills and surrounding cities. It is anticipated that this study will find ways to relieve traffic congestion in • designated areas where the air quality needs improvement. V. PROJECT PHASES This project would consist of one phase. It is anticipated this project will take approximately twelve months to gather and compile information, process the information into definable categories and present it in a final report complete with maps, pictures, and quantifiable data. • 2 VI. COST ESTIMATE • The anticipated cost of this study is $90,000 and will involve the following areas of information: 1. Define the location of proposed pedestrian sidewalks in the study area. 2. Collect existing data for vehicular traffic counts and flow patterns. 3. Develop proposed traffic plan for vehicular traffic to reduce emissions and improve safety standards. 4. Develop proposed re-timing plan of existing traffic signals along the proposed arterials. 5. Development of the final report. Proposed cost projection of the disciplines required for the development of this study: Project Manager 40 hrs. ($155) $ 6,200 Sr. Transportation Engineer 80 hrs. ($140) $11,200 • Traffic Engineer 120 hrs. ($125) $15,000 CADD Tech 160 hrs. 75) $12,000 Field Tech 320 hrs. 75) $24,000 GIS Tech 80 hrs. 75) $ 6,000 Administration 80 hrs. 60) $ 5,200 $79,600 Report Development $10 400 TOTAL $90,000 VII. LOCAL MATCH The City of Richland Hills will pay the local match of $18,000 and will have the funds prior to the start of the project. • 3 VIII. START DATE • The estimated start date will be within one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the Notice to Proceed (NTP) from TxDOT. It will take approximately sixty (60) days from the NTP to select a consulting engineering firm and an additional sixty (60) days to award the contract, conduct apre-design conference and issue astart-to-work order. IX. END DATE The estimated completion date of the project report will be twelve (12) months after the start-to-work notice has been issued to the consulting engineering firm. X. PROJECT CONTACT • Michael H. Barnes, P.E., Director of Public Works, City of Richland Hills 3200 Diana Dr. Richland Hills, TX 76118 PH: 817.299.1835 * FAX: 817.299.1832 * E-MAIL: mbarnes(a~richlandhills com XI. PARTNERSHIP CERTIFICATE No one was able to attend the advanced program workshops for this project. • 4 ATTACHMENT "A" • ~ ~ ~ ~ Narln AlehlenC XN~. . ; ~ D-0 ~ a . - - o - ' ~O ~ ai• ' - - ~ ~ , ~ - - R r - . - ~-.:o - ..~a - ~ auaa ervu . us, w wra xva - us w au~rtxrc - - ~ ..1. . ~ • - - LEGEND Richland Hills City Limits NTS