Publish one time in The Ellis County Press on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
CITY OF FERRIS, TX
ORDINANCE 0-25-1041
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FERRIS, TEXAS, REPEALING AND REPLACING ORDINANCE NO.0-84-182 IN ITS ENTIRETY; AMENDING TITLE VII, CHAPTER 70, SECTION 70.03 AND CHAPTER 73, SCHEDULE III OF THE FERRIS CODE OF ORDINANCES; ESTABLISHING UPDATED TRUCK ROUTE RESTRICTIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS WITHIN THE CITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ROUTES; PROVIDING CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; DIRECTING PLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE; PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR A TRANSITION PERIOD; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to municipalities by Texas Local Government Code §51.001, the City of Ferris may adopt ordinances necessary for the good government, peace, or order of the municipality; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Texas Transportation Code §§311.001 and 311.002, municipalities are authorized to regulate traffic, designate routes, and restrict access by trucks and other heavy vehicles on city-maintained streets; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of Ferris has determined that certain streets within the City, specifically Ferris Road, Ewing Boulevard (between Ferris Road and Western Hills Drive), and Western Hills Drive, have experienced an increasing volume of truck traffic, thereby adversely affecting roadway infrastructure, residential tranquility, public safety, pedestrian safety, and overall community well-being; and
WHEREAS, the City Council expressly intends to maintain previously designated truck routes established under Ordinance No. 0-84-182, as codified in Chapter 73, Schedule III, except for those routes expressly restricted in this new ordinance, thereby ensuring a coherent and comprehensive approach to truck traffic regulation within the City;
WHEREAS, heavy truck traffic causes accelerated deterioration of roadway surfaces and increases the risk of accidents, posing heightened dangers to pedestrians, residents, and other motorists; and WHEREAS, these streets were not originally designed or constructed to accommodate heavy truck traffic, and continual use by trucks will significantly shorten the lifespan of such roads, increasing maintenance costs borne by the taxpayers of Ferris; and
WHEREAS, restricting truck traffic on these designated streets aligns with the strategic objectives of the City of Ferris to ensure public safety, preserve infrastructure integrity, reduce unnecessary noise and congestion,and enhance over all quality of life in residential neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS,Texas Transportation Code §§ 545.301,545.352, and 545.353 grant municipalities broad regulatory power regarding truck route designation,weight limitations, and safety regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ferris seeks to mitigate negative impacts caused by truck traffic through the designation of specific routes as restricted,ensuring safer road conditions and protecting residential areas from noise and environmental degradation caused by heavy vehicular traffic; and
WHEREAS,pursuant to Texas Transportation Code §542.202, the City has jurisdiction over and control of streets and highways within its municipal boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Transportation Code §621.303 further authorizes municipalities to adopt weight and size limitations for vehicles traveling on streets within city limits to prevent roadway damage and protect public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of clearly designated restricted truck routes will enhance traffic enforcement capabilities, facilitate smoother traffic and aid in reducing unnecessary wear and damage to critical city infrastructure, thereby preserving fiscal resources for other essential municipal projects and services; and
WHEREAS,Texas Local Government Code §§ 54.001 and 217.002 empower municipalities to enact ordinances designed to protect public safety, reduce hazards, and promote orderly development and use of property within municipal boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that clear delineation and enforcement of truck route restrictions will substantially reduce unnecessary heavy vehicle traffic insensitive residential and recreational areas, minimize disturbances to citizens, and improve overall safety and tranquility within affected neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Texas Transportation Code §§544.001 and 544.002, the City has the authority and responsibility to install, maintain, and enforce traffic-control devices necessary to give notice of traffic regulations and restrictions, including those pertaining to truck routes; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ferris recognizes that effective enforcement, signage, and clear communication regarding these route restrictions are critical to achieving compliance and the intended beneficial outcomes, including increased roadway longevity, enhanced public safety, and improved quality of life for Ferris residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FERRIS, TEXAS:
SECTION 1
Definitions
For purposes of clarity and enforcement under this ordinance,the following definitions shall apply:
Truck: Any vehicle, tractor, semi-trailer, truck-tractor, or combination there of,having a total gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or actual gross weight, inclusive of load, in excess of 8,000 pounds (4 tons), designed or operated primarily for the transportation of property, materials, equipment, or goods.
Truck Traffic: The operation, driving, movement, or parking of any Truck as defined above on public streets, roads, or highways within the municipal boundaries of the City of Ferris.
Emergency Vehicle: Any vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency and authorized by state law to respond to emergencies, including, but not limited to, police vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, and official public safety vehicles.
Local Delivery: The operation of a Truck delivering to or picking up goods or materials from a property accessible solely via restricted streets,with entry and exit conducted using the shortest practicable route, and remaining within restricted zones for only as long as necessary to complete the delivery or pickup.
Public Utility Vehicles: Vehicles operated by municipal,governmental,or utility service providers for construction, repair, maintenance, or inspection of infrastructure or utilities located within restricted street areas.
Official Municipal Vehicles: Vehicles owned,leased,operated by,or under direct control of the City of Ferris or other governmental entity when used in official duties, maintenance activities, or public infrastructure projects.
SECTION 2
Designation of Truck Routes and Restricted Routes
The following streets, previously established under Ordinance 0-84-182 and Chapter 73, Schedule III, shall remain officially designated as authorized truck routes, or are newly established as authorized truck routes, within the City of Ferris:
i. 6th Street (FM983) from U.S. Highway 75 (oldroute) to southwest city limits.
ii. 8th Street (FM 660) from U.S. Highway75 (old route) to east city limits.
iii. FM 664 from intersection of FM 983 to west city limits.
iv. Interstate Highway 45 (I-45) from south city limits to north city limits.
v. U.S. Highway75 (old route) from south city limits to north city limits.
vi. Ewing Boulevard from the intersection of Western Hills Drive southward to FM-664 (newly designated truck route). Notwithstanding any prior designation, the following streets are hereby restricted from all truck traffic as defined herein, except as explicitly provided for in Section 3 (Exceptions):
i. Ferris Road (entire length within city limits).
ii. Ewing Boulevard (north of Western Hills Drive to Ferris Road).
iii. Western Hills Drive (entire length).
The designated truck routes and the specifically restricted routes set forth herein are depicted in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto and incorporated fully by reference.
All streets within the corporate limits of the City of Ferris not explicitly designated as authorized truck routes in subsection A above, or specifically restricted in subsection B, are hereby restricted from truck traffic.
Truck traffic on these streets shall only be permitted in compliance with the exceptions provided in Section 3 (Exceptions) herein.
SECTION 3
Exceptions
Notwithstanding the truck route restrictions detailed in Section 2 herein, the following exceptions shall apply:
Emergency Vehicles: Trucks utilized by emergency services, including fire, police, emergency medical services, and other governmental emergency response agencies, while responding to, or returning from, emergency calls or situations.
Public Utility and Infrastructure Vehicles: Trucks operated by or contracted through public utility providers,governmental agencies, or other authorized entities performing necessary infrastructure inspection, maintenance, installation, or repair operations.
Local Delivery Trucks: Trucks engaged in local deliveries or pick-ups from residential or commercial locations which are accessible solely by the restricted routes identified herein.
Such trucks must utilize the shortest feasible route when entering and exiting the restricted route and must limit their presence to only the time reasonably necessary to complete delivery or pick-up operations.
Municipal Operations: Trucks owned or operated by the City of Ferris, Ellis County, other authorized governmental bodies, and operators contracted with any governmental body while engaged in official business, including but not limited to street maintenance, waste and recycling collection, and construction or repair of public infrastructure.
Any truck operating under an exception set forth above shall strictly adhere to these provisions, ensuring minimal disruption to residential neighborhoods, preservation of roadway conditions, and protection of public safety.
SECTION 4
Placement and Maintenance of Signage
The City Manager or their authorized designee shall ensure that appropriate signage clearly identifying the prohibited truck routes designated in Section 2 is installed, maintained, and conspicuously visible at all relevant entry points, intersections, and key transition areas along Ferris Road, Ewing Boulevard, and Western Hills Drive.
Such signage shall conform in all respects to the standards prescribed by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) and Texas Transportation Code §§544.001 and 544.002.
The signage shall explicitly communicate the restrictions established by this ordinance, providing adequate notice to operators of trucks as defined herein to prevent inadvertent violations and to facilitate effective enforcement.
Ongoing inspection and maintenance of these signs shall be conducted regularly to ensure continued compliance, visibility, and effectiveness.
SECTION 5
Enforcement and Penalties
The Ferris Department of Public Safety, along with any other law enforcement agency possessing jurisdiction within Ferris city limits, is hereby authorized and directed to actively enforce compliance with this ordinance.
Enforcement shall include the issuance of citations to any individual, firm, corporation, or entity found to be in violation.
Pursuant to the authority provided by Texas Local Government Code §§54.001 and 54.004, any violation of this ordinance shall constitute a Class C misdemeanor. Any person, firm, corporation, or entity found guilty of violating the provisions herein shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation.
Each separate occurrence or incident of non-compliance shall constitute a distinct violation, punishable independently by the prescribed fine.
The establishment of this penalty aligns directly with statutory authority and existing practice for municipal ordinances under Texas law, providing clear, enforceable parameters for violations.
SECTION 6
Severability
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this ordinance are severable.
Should any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, be held invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect or impair the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, sections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or applications of this ordinance, which shall continue to be given full force and effect as if the invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable portion had not been included.
SECTION 7
Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption, passage,and publication in accordance with applicable provisions of Texas law,
including but not limited to Texas Local Government Code §52.011 and §52.013.The City Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to ensure timely publication and official recording of this ordinance following its approval.
SECTION 8
Repeal of Prior Ordinances and Conflicting Provisions
Ordinance No. 0-84-182, adopted December 3, 1984, and codified within Title VII, Chapter 70, Section 70.03 and Chapter 73 (Schedule Ill), of the Ferris Code of Ordinances, as well as any other ordinance or part thereof in direct conflict with the provisions of this ordinance, is hereby expressly repealed in its entirety.
This repeal shall not affect any prior enforcement actions or citations issued under the repealed ordinance.
SECTION 9
Amendment of Ferris Code of Ordinances
The Ferris Code of Ordinances, Title VII,Chapter 70,Section 70.03 and Chapter 73, Schedule III, are hereby amended, updated, and replaced by the provisions set forth herein.
The City Secretary is directed to ensure that the Ferris Code of Ordinances reflects the terms and conditions of this ordinance accurately and comprehensively.
SECTION 10
Transition and Implementation
The City Manager or their designee shall coordinate signage installation, public education, and enforcement activities related to the new truck restrictions established by this ordinance.
Enforcement shall commence thirty (30) days from the effective date to allow reasonable public notification and signage installation.
DULY PASSED, PROVED ADOPTED
by the City Council of Ferris, Texas
on this 18th day of June. 2025
BY: FRED C. PONTLEY
Mayor
ATTEST: KRYSTINA RODRIGUEZ
City Secretary
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