Irwindale Municipal Code Ch. 10.56 Interstate Trucks

The following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth, and if any word or phrase used in this chapter is not defined in this section, it shall have the meanings set forth in the California Vehicle Code; provided that if any such word or phrase is not defined in the Vehicle Code, it shall have the meaning attributed to it in ordinary usage.

A. "Caltrans" means the state of California Department of Transportation or its successor agency.

B. "City" means the city of Irwindale.

C. "Designated route" means a route approved and signed by the city between and approved ingress or egress point and a terminal or service facility.

D. "Interstate truck" means a combination or vehicles consisting of a truck tractor and semitrailer, or of a truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, with limited width and unlimited length as regulated by Vehicle Code, Sections 351000 and 35401.5.

E. "Terminal" means any facility at which freight is consolidated to be shipped or where full-load consignments may be loaded and offloaded, or at which the vehicle combinations are regularly maintained, stored, or manufactured.

F. "Traffic engineer" means the traffic engineer of the city or his authorized representative.

(Ord. 382 § 1(A), 1985).

The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for terminal designation and truck route designation to terminals for interstate trucks operating on a federally designated highway system and to promote the general health, safety and welfare of the public.

(Ord. 382 § 1(B), 1985).

A. The owners or operators of a terminal requiring terminal access for interstate trucks from the federally designated highway system, which interstate trucks will utilize any city streets in traveling to, or from, such terminal, shall submit an application, on a form as provided by the city together with such information as may be required by the city, and make payment of the application fees as required by the city. The application shall be filed with the traffic engineer. The application shall include the name and address of the applicant, the location of the terminal, the preferred route (and alternate routes if appropriate), evidence that the terminal, if located within the city, meets established criteria and that said terminal's parking and entries are adequate and such other information as the city may require.

B. Upon receipt of the application, the traffic engineer will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether or not the proposed terminal meets the requirements for an interstate truck terminal. Upon its approval of that designation, the traffic engineer will then determine the capability of the route requested and alternate routes, whether requested or not. Determination of route capability will include, but not be limited to, a review of adequate turning radius and lane widths of ramps, intersections, streets and highways and general traffic conditions such as sight distance, speed and traffic volumes. No access off a federally designated highway system will be considered without the prior approval of Caltrans.

C. Should the requested route pass through the city to a terminal located in another jurisdiction, the applicant, in addition to complying with subsection A hereof, shall also comply with that jurisdiction's application process. Securing the approval of the route through that jurisdiction will be the responsibility of the applicant, and the applicant shall present a copy of approval granted from that jurisdiction to the city.

D. No interstate truck may leave a designated route in the city.

(Ord. 382 § 1(C), 1985).

A. The applicant shall pay to the city a nonrefundable application fee of two hundred fifty dollars for review of the application and each single proposed terminal together with the access route(s).

B. Upon the approval of the terminal designation and route by the city and by Caltrans the applicant shall deposit with the city, funds as estimated by the Traffic Engineer for the purchase and installation of terminal trailblazer signs and terminal identification signs. Trailblazer signs will be required at every decision point in the city on the designated route to the terminal. Terminal identification signs will be required at the entrance to the terminal. No terminal or route may be used until such signs, as may be required, are in place. Costs for subsequent trailblazer signs may be proportioned in accordance with the procedures in Section 10.56.050D. Upon completion of the sign installation, the actual costs shall be computed and any difference between the estimated and actual cost shall be billed or refunded to the applicant, whichever the case may be.

C. Upon approval of a terminal and/or its access route, the terminal owner or its successor in interest will pay to the city an annual fee of forty dollars for each such terminal and/or access route, due on January 1st of each year. In addition, the terminal owner shall be responsible for maintenance or replacement of trailblazer signs costs, as determined by the traffic engineer, also payable on January 1st of each year.

(Ord. 382 § 1(D), 1985).

A. If all feasible routes to a requested terminal are found unsatisfactory by the traffic engineer, the applicant shall be notified of the modifications necessary to eliminate a traffic hazard, or to protect existing facilities, as referred to in this section. The applicant may request the necessary modifications to make the route acceptable. All costs of engineering, construction and inspection necessary to effect the required modifications will be responsibility of the applicant. Except when the modification of deficiencies is within the jurisdiction of Caltrans, the actual construction will be done at no cost to the city by a contractor acceptable to the city. Within Caltrans jurisdiction, the applicant is subject to the requirements of Caltrans.

B. Modifications shall be limited to the reconstruction of curbed islands, curb returns and appurtenant structures; relocation of above-ground fixtures such as traffic signs, traffic signal standards, traffic signal controllers, street light standards and fire hydrants within the curb return area; relocation of subgrade fixtures such as drains, conduit or related appurtenances; and intersection approach markings together with traffic signal detection devices. Required modifications shall not include reconstruction of any pavement or street surface not related to the above.

C. When the work is done by the applicant or the applicants contractor, the applicant may file with the city, on a form satisfactory to the city, a statement detailing the actual costs of the modification. It shall be the applicant's responsibility to obtain all necessary permits.

D. If at any time within five years from the date of completion of the modification by the applicant, should any other applicant seek terminal approval which would use the route upon which such modification was accomplished, any such applicant's fee may include that applicant's proportionate share of the modification, as determined by the city, which fee shall be disbursed by the city to the original applicant who paid for the modification as well as to any applicant who contributed to the cost of modification under this subsection. Nothing herein shall require the payment of a proportionate fee if the applicant doing the work failed to file the report with the city required by subsections B and C above.

(Ord. 382 § 1(E), 1985).

The city may revoke any approved terminal or route if the terminal or route becomes a traffic hazard which cannot be modified to the satisfaction of the city pursuant to Sections 10.56.040 and 10.56.050, for vehicular traffic or if there is a failure to pay the fees provided for in Section 10.56.040. A traffic hazard includes the inability of interstate trucks to negotiate the route or said vehicles causing unsafe traffic conditions for other vehicular traffic or pedestrians. If the city should so revoke any approved terminal or route, it may, at its discretion, designate an alternate route subject to negotiation or approval of the applicant/terminal owner and the city.

(Ord. 382 § 1(F), 1985).

A. If the city denies terminal designation, route feasibility or revokes a previously approved terminal or route, the applicant/terminal owner, within fifteen working days following the date of receipt of the decision of the city, may appeal said decision to the city council in writing. An appeal shall be made on a form prescribed by the traffic engineer and shall be filed with the city clerk. The appeal shall state specifically wherein the decision is not supported by the evidence in the record. Within fifteen working days of the filing of an appeal, the traffic engineer shall transmit to the city council the terminal application, the sketches of the proposed or revoked route and all other data filed therewith, the report and decision of the traffic engineer on the appeal.

B. The city clerk shall make copies of the date provided by the traffic engineer available to the applicant and to the appellant (if the applicant is not the appellant) for inspection and may give notice to any other interested party who requested notice of the time when the appeal will be considered by the city council.

C. If Caltrans, and not the department, denies or revokes terminal access from federally designated highways, no appeal may be made to the city but must be made to Caltrans.

(Ord. 382 § 1(G), 1985).