Assigned to TRANSIT AS
PASSED BY COW
Assigned to TRANSIT AS
PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
communication service
information; technical correction
(NOW: commercial vehicles; ports of entry)
Purpose
Allows the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to establish an axle fee for commercial vehicles entering certain counties in Arizona from Mexico and dedicates collected axle fee monies to improve transportation facilities in proximity to the international port of entry.
Background
ADOT sets by rule the allowable dimensions and weight of loads moved on the highways in Arizona. ADOT or a local authority may, with good cause, issue a special permit to authorize limited movement of an oversize or overweight vehicle (A.R.S. § 28-1103). The fees for a special permit vary, dependent on dimensional exceptions and length of time for which the permit is issued. For a commercial vehicle traveling through an international port of entry, a single trip excess weight permit is $75 and is distributed: 50 percent to the State Highway Fund, 25 percent to the counties in the 25‑mile border zone and 25 percent to municipalities within the 25-mile border zone (A.R.S. § 28‑1105).
Statute allows the Director of ADOT to adopt rules to impose a fee based on the number of axles on the vehicle on foreign, nonresident vehicles or vehicle combinations entering Arizona from Mexico through an international port of entry. If imposed, the commercial axle fee is deposited into the Safety Enforcement and Transportation Infrastructure Fund to enforce vehicle safety requirements, procure technology for relieving vehicle congestion, and construction and maintenance of transportation facilities within the 25-mile border zone (A.R.S. §§ 28-5474 and 28-6547).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows, retroactive to July 1, 2018, the Director of ADOT to establish an axle fee in rule for all commercial vehicles, rather than nonresident commercial vehicles, that enter Arizona from Mexico through an international port of entry located in a county with a population of fewer than 190,000 persons or a county of greater than 250,000 persons.
2. Requires, beginning July 1, 2018, the Director of ADOT to deposit collected axle fees in the State Highway Fund.
3. Directs ADOT to spend collected single trip excess weight permit and axle fee monies on qualifying transportation facilities proportionally based on the amount collected through each international port of entry.
4. Stipulates that qualifying transportation facilities must be located within 20 drivable miles of the international port of entry.
5. Defines terms.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with retroactive provisions as noted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Adopted the strike-everything amendment.
2. Restricts an imposed axle fee to commercial vehicles entering Arizona only through certain counties.
3. Requires qualifying transportation facilities to be located within 20 drivable miles of the international port of entry.
Senate Action
TRANSIT 2/13/18 DPA/SE 7-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 5, 2018
KN/lb