Senate Bill S6129

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S6129

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to require the department of transportation to determine which
entrances to parkways in the state are most frequently accessed by over-
sized commercial vehicles and to install certain barriers to prevent
such vehicles from accessing such entrances

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To authorize the department of transportation (DOT) to determine which
parkways frequently have accidents due to commercial vehicles entering
and authorize DOT to install physical barriers to prevent these vehicles
from entering parkways based on its findings.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Authorizes and directs the department of transportation to
study and determine which entrances to parkways are used most frequently
              

by commercial motor vehicles and to install physical barriers to prevent
these vehicles from accessing such parkway entrances.

Subdivision 2. Authorizes the commissioner to receive from other depart-
ments and agencies information and data to enable the department to
conduct its study and make its determination.

Subdivision 3. Defines commercial motor vehicle for purposes of this
act.

Section 2. Establishes effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The dangers and damages caused by trucks entering parkways have plagued
the State for years. Even when there is no physical damage, a truck's
travel on parkways creates traffic chaos and a safety hazard to other
motorists on a road designed for passenger vehicles.

Parkways do not allow oversized vehicles for good reason - typically,
bridges on parkways cannot accommodate the height of these vehicles.
When an oversized vehicle enters a. parkway, it is often involved in a
crash with a low hanging bridge. These accidents cause damage not only
to the vehicle but can damage bridges, cause delays for commuters, and
use emergency services. Furthermore, these accidents can result in phys-
ical injury or even loss of life to drivers and passengers.

While the DOT has taken measures, including signage, to reduce the inci-
dence of commercial vehicles on parkways the problem still remains. The
installation of physical barriers proposed by this legislation would
effectively notify truck drivers that their vehicles are too tall to
travel safely on these state parkways and reduce accidents and hazards
to motorists.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S.701 - Referred to Transportation
2019: S.701 - Referred to Transportation
2018: S.8615-A - Recommitted to Transportation / A. 10747- Referred to
Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.