ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: TAT DPA 8-0-1-0 │ 3^rd Read 24-2-4-0

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SB 1525: median barriers; study committee

Sponsor: Senator Gabaldon, LD 2

Committee on Transportation

Overview

Establishes the Interstate Barrier Median Expansion Study Committee (Study Committee).

History

Laws 1973, Chapter 146 established ADOT to provide for an integrated and balanced state transportation system with a director responsible for the department's administration (A.R.S. § 28-331). ADOT has exclusive control and jurisdiction over state highways, state routes, state-owned airports and all state-owned transportation systems or modes are vested in ADOT.

The duties of ADOT are as follows: 1) register motor vehicles and aircraft, license drivers, collect revenues, enforce motor vehicle and aviation statutes and perform related functions; 2) do multimodal state transportation planning, cooperate and coordinate transportation planning with local governments and establish an annually updated priority program of capital improvements for all transportation modes; 3) design and construct transportation facilities under a priority plan and maintain and operate state highways, state-owned airports and state public transportation systems; 4) investigate new transportation systems and cooperate with and advise local governments concerning the development and operation of public transit systems; and 5) have administrative jurisdiction of transportation safety programs and implement them following applicable law (A.R.S. § 28-332).

Provisions

1. Establishes the Study Committee that consists of the following 15 members:

a) Three members of the Senate who are appointed by the President of the Senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The President of the Senate must designate one of the members to serve as cochairperson of the Study Committee. Two of the members must be the chairperson and the ranking minority member on the Senate Transportation and Technology Committee or its successor committee;

b) Three members of the House of Representatives who are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The Speaker of the House of Representatives must designate one of the members to serve as cochairperson of the Study Committee and two of the members must be the chairperson and the ranking minority member on the House of Representatives Transportation Committee or its successor committee;

c) The Director of ADOT or their designee;

d) The Director of the Department of Public Safety or their designee;

e) The Director of the Maricopa Association of Governments or their designee;

f) The Director of the Pima Association of Governments or their designee;

g) The Director of the Central Arizona Governments or their Designee;

h) The Chairperson of the State Transportation Board or their designee; and

i) Two members of the public appointed by the Governor who have been impacted by a fatality on a highway without median barriers. One member must reside in the northern portion of this state and the other in the southern portion of this state. (Sec. 1)

2. Directs the Study Committee to conduct hearings on and examine:

a) The current landscape, inventory and mapping of median barriers throughout the state;

b) The feasibility of installing median barriers and public safety alternatives throughout highways, interstates and state routes in this state;

c) A Historical accounting of fatalities and crossover accidents for the past 10 years in this state; and

d) Other issues the Study Committee deems necessary relating to the best practices on specified aspects relating to median barriers and public safety on roads and highways. (Sec. 1)

3. Specifies that members of the Study Committee are not eligible to receive reimbursement of expense. (Sec. 1)

4. Directs ADOT to provide the Study Committee with administrative support.

5. Requires the Study Committee to submit a report, by December 15, 2022, regarding the Study Committee's activities and recommendations for administrative or legislative action to the Governor, The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State and any member of the public who requests a copy. The report must include a proposed priority list of median barriers to be installed in the state. (Sec. 1)

6. Sunsets the Study Committee on October 1, 2023. (Sec. 1)

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10.                   SB 1525

11. Initials AC/JB        Page 0 Transportation

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