Provides that the town board of certain towns may establish maximum speed limits on certain town highways

BILL NUMBER:A11086

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing speed limits in towns

Purpose

To permit towns to set speed limits on all local roads under their jurisdiction.

Summary of provisions

This bill would amend section 1622 of the Vehi- cle and Traffic Law to authorize towns to establish maximum speed limits on all town highways that are functionally classified as "local roads," within limits and standards set forth in the bill, The bill would require towns electing to set maximum speed limits to do so on all local roads under their jurisdiction in accordance with engineering specifica- tions and other factors applicable to speed limits, set forth in the New York State manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices, certified by a licensed professional engineer special- izing in traffic operations. For towns which do not opt to set speed limits, the bill would retain the State Department of Transportation's (DOT's) jurisdiction to set maximum speed limits on all such roads, at the request of the applicable town board.

Justification

Under current law, towns with 50,000 in population (24 towns), suburban class towns (56 towns), and all cities and villages (without regard to population) are authorized to set speed limits within their jurisdiction. However, the remaining 852 towns in New York State are prohibited from addressing speed limit issues in their jurisdiction without petitioning the State DOT, which usually takes a long time and often results in a denial.

This arbitrary distinction does not make sense. Many of the villages that are setting their own speed limits are smaller in population than the towns that seek comparable authority to set their own speed limits. And, as the population of many towns' increases, the need to address road safety through speed limits in a timely fashion also increases This bill would remedy the inequitable situation and allow town governments to set speed limits in order to ensure public safety.

Legislative history

2008: S.1137-A 3rd Reading; A.6260-Transportation 2007: S.1137 Passed Senate; A.6260 Codes 2006: S.723- Transportation; A.2822-A Codes 2005: S.723 Rules; A.2822 Transportation 2003/04: S.3931 Rules

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the department of transportation is authorized and directed to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the imple- mentation of this act on its effective date.