RE 12-09-97.7 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
RESOLUTION NO. 120997.7
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL ADOPTING RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE DALLAS REGIONAL MOBILITY COALITION (DRMC) FREEWAY
MANAGEMENT WORKGROUP, ESTABLISHING FREEWAY MANAGEMENT AND
INCIDENT REMOVAL FROM MAJOR ROADWAYS AS A PRIORITY, AND
ENCOURAGING AREA/REGIONAL ALLIANCES TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE
FREEWAY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE MOBILITY.
WFIEREAS, The City of Coppell recognizes the vital relationship between mobility and
effective transportation management practices for the continued economic viability of the entire
area, thus impacting the quality of life for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, Funding restrictions on providing additional expanded capacity for major
roadways in the area coupled with federal air quality conformity mandates require transportation
leaders and local governments to address use of existing roadway capacity in a more effective
manner; and
WHEREAS, DRMC adopted as part of its annual work plan a focus on freeway
management and incident removal from major roadways during peak congestion periods in an
effort to address mobility and air quality requirements; and
WFIEREAS, The Freeway Management Workgroup was established by DRMC to
identify issues and potential enhancement to existing practices of agencies involved in the
detection, response, and clearance of incidents from major roadways during peak traffic periods;
and
WHEREAS, The Workgroup has submitted recommendations to set in motion various
projects and programs to address freeway management and incident clearance in the Dallas area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY ~ CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF COPPELL, DAIJ.AS COUNTY, TEXAS THAT:
1. Recommendations of the DRMC Freeway Management Workgroup (Attachment "A") are
hereby adopted by the City of Coppell for support, additional refinement, and
implementation as appropriate.
2. The City of Coppell acknowledges freeway management as a critical element affecting
mobility and supports implementation of the aforementioned recommendations as a
priority for departments and divisions of affected local governments, and encourages area/
regional alliances to achieve enhanced mobility and congestion relief.
3. Copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition, the
Dallas District Engineer for TxDOT, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART),
the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) and the Texas Transportation Institute and
participating agencies with an expression of appreciation for cooperative efforts to
develop these recommendations and methods for implementation.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas this
day of December 1997.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Kathleen Roach, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Attachment "A"
DALLAS REGIONAL MOBILITY COALITION
FREEWAY MANAGEMENT WORKGROUP
Items Considered for Actton/Implementation
Priority / First Level
1 ENHANCED RELATIONSHIP / ENCOURAGEMENT WITH RUSH-HOUR NEWS
MEDIA (TRAFFIC REPORTS/HELICOPTERS) TO HAVE PSA'S READY TO GO
FOR CERTAIN AREAS ON ALTERNATE ROUTES, 'MOVE-IT' REIVIEqDERS,
ETC
2. REFERENCE MARKERS BY TXDOT / TrA / LOCALS TO PROVIDE EXACT
LOCATIONS TO ALLOW CELLULAR PHONE REPORTS TO PINPOINT
LOCATION, LANES, DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, OF INCIDENTS---THUS
ENHANCING RESPONSE TIMES OF NEEDED EQUIPMENT / PERSONNEL.
UNIFORM POLICY / PROCEDURE FOR LOCAL AGENCIES REGARDING
AUTHORITY TO ORDER HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO CLEAR ROADWAYS.
4. CENTRALIZE CONTACT POINT TO TXDOT FROM LOCAL AGENCIES FOR
ASSISTANCE REQUESTS, HEAVY EQUIPMENT, ETC. (MAYBE AT NEW
SATELLITE CENTER) TXDOT WOULD MAINTAIN INVENTORY AND ACCESS
NEAREST REQUIRED EQUIPMENT / PERSONNEL TO ASSIST IN ROADWAY
CLEARANCE.
5. CLARIFY AND ENCOURAGE UNIFORM DISCRETIONARY POLICY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON USE OF 'PUSH-BUMPERS' TO IMMEDIATELY
CLEAR ROADWAY DURING PEAK HOURS OF STALLED/DISABLED
VEHICLES TO A PLACE OF SAFETY OFF TRAVELED PORTION OF
ROADWAY.
6. DEVELOP AND ENCOURAGE ADOPTION OF 'CORRIDOR' CONCEPT FOR
TOWING / WRECKER SERVICE---THIS WOULD REQUIRE AGREEMENT WITH
ALL AREA CITIES AS TO CONTRACT, RESPONSE TIME, EQUIPMENT, ETC.
7. IMPLEMENT, THROUGH INSURANCE COMPANIES, AAA, ETC., ENHANCED
AWARENESS AND CONSTANT REMINDERS (MEDIA, INSURANCE CARDS,
PUBLICITY) OF 'MOVE-IT' LAW TO REQUIRE MOTORISTS INVOLVED IN
MINOR ACCIDENTS ON FREEWAYS TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE VEHICLES
FROM LANES OF TRAFFIC.
8. ADDRESS ISSUE WlTH INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES FOR ROADWAY
INCIDENTS THE BALANCE BETWEEN INVESTIGATIVE EFFORT AND TIME
FOR DOCUMENTATION OF INCIDENT WITH COST / IMPACT OF
DELAYS/CLOSURES DURING PEAK HOURS ..... NO AI'fEMPT TO SACRIFICE
SAFETY OF RESPONDERS, RATHER HOW CAN ROADWAY BE CLEARED IN A
TIMELY FASHION DURING THE MORNING AND EVENING PEAK TRAFFIC
PERIODS.
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Second Level - Areas to Address
1 CHANGE IN STATE LAW TO ALLOW 'TICKET BY MALL' FOR LANE
VIOLATIONS AND ALLOW VIDEO ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY (HOV ISSUE)
2 ENHANCE INITIAL TRAINING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT / FIRE / EMS
PERSONNEL ON PRIORITY TO REDUCE LANE BLOCKAGE AND DECREASE
ROADWAY CLEARANCE TIMES FOR INCIDENTS ON MAJOR ROADWAYS
DURING PEAK HOURS ...... AGAIN, REEMPHASIZE NO DESIRE TO IMPEDE
SAFETY ISSUES FOR RESPONDERS, RATHER HOW CAN INCIDENT BE
ADDRESSED AND ROADWAY CLEARED MORE QUICKLY
ADDRESS LIABILITY ISSUES (LEGAL) FOP, TRvlE REQUIRED FOR EMS
PERSONNEL TO GET INFORMATION AND COMPLETE PAPERWORK AT
SCENE OF INCIDE?Cf ...... THIS WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE UNIFORM
POLICY FOR EMS RESPONDERS
4. DEVELOP / IMPLEMENT FOCUSED INCIDENT COMMAND PROCEDURE FOR
INCIDENTS ON MAJOR ROADWAYS DURING PEAK HOURS. FIND
INCENTIVE FOR IN-SERVICE TRAINING / ROLL-CALL TRAINING TO
REENFORCE THE DESIRE PRACTICES WITH POLICE/I~H<E/EMS.
5. POTENTIAL TO EXPAND TXDOT COURTESY PATROL EQUIPMENT AND
ROADWAY CLEARANCE CAPABILITY (NOT REPLACING / COMPETING WITH
WRECKER SERVICE, RATHER IMMEDIATE CLEARANCE OF ROADWAY AND
MOVING VEHICLES/ITEMS TO A PLACE OF SAFETY OFF TRAVEL LANES)
6. UNIFORM POLICY / SEEK WAIVERS FOR HAZ-MAT REQUIREMENTS FOR
CERTAIN IixICIDENTS DURING PEAK HOURS----BALANCE LIMITED THREAT
OF MATERIALS TO COST/IMPACT ON MOTORISTS DURING PEAK HOURS.
7. LOCAL SCHEDULING OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL
PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE DURING PEAK HOURS
FOR EQU1PEMENT, SIGNAL REPAIR, ALTERNATE ROUTING METHODS.
8. COORDINATE WITH TXDOT MORE EFFICTIVE 18 WHEELER / CARGO
CLEARANCE AUTHORITY AND QUICKEST METHOD TO GET ROADWAY
REOPENED.
9. POSSIBILITY / PRACTICALITY OF ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
HANDLING INCIDENTS ON 'CORRIDOR' ROADWAYS (LOCAL AGENCY,
COUNTY, STATE)
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