2005 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1133 – State highways, maximum speed

SENATE BILL NO. 1133

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Bill Status



S1133.....................................................by TRANSPORTATION
MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS - Amends existing law to increase the maximum speed
limit which the Idaho Transportation Board may set for state highways to
seventy-five miles per hour; and to remove the maximum speed limit of
sixty-five miles per hour on interstate highways for vehicles with five or
more axles operating at a gross weight of more than twenty-six thousand
pounds.
                                                                        
02/14    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15    Rpt prt - to Transp

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2005
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1133
                                                                        
                                BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO RULES OF THE ROAD  AND  MAXIMUM  SPEED  LIMITS;  AMENDING  SECTION
  3        49-201,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT WHICH THE IDAHO
  4        TRANSPORTATION BOARD MAY SET FOR STATE HIGHWAYS TO SEVENTY-FIVE MILES  PER
  5        HOUR;  AND  AMENDING  SECTION  49-654, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM
  6        SPEED LIMIT WHICH MAY BE SET ON STATE HIGHWAYS TO SEVENTY-FIVE  MILES  PER
  7        HOUR,  AND  TO REMOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF SIXTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR
  8        ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS FOR VEHICLES WITH FIVE OR MORE AXLES OPERATING AT A
  9        GROSS WEIGHT OF MORE THAN TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND POUNDS.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 1.  That Section 49-201, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 12    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 13        49-201.  DUTIES  OF BOARD. (1) With the exception of requirements for sec-
 14    tions 49-217 and 49-218 and chapters 6 and 9,  title  49,  Idaho  Code,  which
 15    shall  be  the  responsibility  of the director of the Idaho state police, and
 16    section 49-447, Idaho Code, which shall be the responsibility of the  director
 17    of  the  department of parks and recreation, the board shall adopt and enforce
 18    administrative rules and may designate agencies or enter into agreements  with
 19    private companies or public entities as may be necessary to carry out the pro-
 20    visions  of this title. It shall also provide suitable forms for applications,
 21    registration cards, vehicle licenses, and all other forms  requisite  for  the
 22    purpose  of  the provisions of this title, and shall prepay all transportation
 23    charges.
 24        (2)  The board may enter into agreements, compacts  or  arrangements  with
 25    other  jurisdictions  on  behalf of Idaho for the purpose of conforming proce-
 26    dures for proportional registration of commercial vehicles and other types  of
 27    reciprocal agreements. Copies of agreements, compacts or arrangements shall be
 28    placed  on  file  in the department and the board shall, as to all filings and
 29    adoption, conform with the provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. The
 30    board may approve, on a case by case basis, exemption from operating fees  for
 31    private  nonprofit entities who are bringing public interest programs into the
 32    state. These entities may not be in competition with companies  who  transport
 33    goods and services for hire.
 34        (3)  The  board shall adopt a manual and specifications for a uniform sys-
 35    tem of traffic-control devices consistent with the provisions  of  this  title
 36    for  use  upon  highways  within the state. The uniform system shall correlate
 37    with, and so far as possible, conform to the system  set  forth  in  the  most
 38    recent  edition  of  the manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets
 39    and highways and other standards issued or endorsed  by  the  federal  highway
 40    administrator.
 41        (4)  Whenever  the  board shall determine upon the basis of an engineering
 42    and traffic investigation that any maximum speed is greater or  less  than  is
 43    reasonable  or safe under the conditions found to exist at any intersection or
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    other place or upon any part of the state highway or interstate  highway  sys-
  2    tem,  the board may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit,
  3    thereat, not exceeding a maximum limit of seventy-five (75) miles per hour  on
  4    interstate  highways  and  sixty-five  (65)  miles per hour on state highways,
  5    which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice are erected. The
  6    speed limit may be declared to be effective at all times or at  the  times  as
  7    indicated  upon  the  signs. Differing limits may be established for different
  8    times of day, different types of vehicles, varying weather  conditions,    and
  9    other  factors  bearing  on  safe speeds, which shall be effective when posted
 10    upon appropriate fixed or variable signs. The authority of the board to estab-
 11    lish speed limits on state highways pursuant to this section does not restrict
 12    the authority of the duly elected officials of an incorporated city acting  in
 13    the capacity of a local authority to establish lower speed limits for portions
 14    of  state  highways, excluding controlled access and interstate highways, that
 15    pass through residential, urban or business districts within the  jurisdiction
 16    of the incorporated city, for the purpose of enhancing motorist and pedestrian
 17    safety.
 18        (5)  The board shall adopt and enforce rules as may be consistent with and
 19    necessary to determine the classification of and the basis on which fees shall
 20    be computed.
                                                                        
 21        SECTION  2.  That  Section  49-654, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 22    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 23        49-654.  BASIC RULE AND MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS. (1) No person shall drive  a
 24    vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions
 25    and  having  regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. Consis-
 26    tent with the foregoing, every person shall drive at a  safe  and  appropriate
 27    speed  when  approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade cross-
 28    ing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a  hillcrest,
 29    when  traveling  upon  any narrow or winding highway, and when special hazards
 30    exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather  or
 31    highway conditions.
 32        (2)  Where no special hazard or condition exists that requires lower speed
 33    for  compliance  with subsection (1) of this section the limits as hereinafter
 34    authorized shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle
 35    at a speed in excess of the maximum limits:
 36        (a)  Thirty-five (35) miles per hour or a  lesser  maximum  speed  adopted
 37        pursuant to section 49-207(2)(a), Idaho Code, in any residential, business
 38        or urban district;
 39        (b)  Thirty-five (35) miles per hour in any urban district;
 40        (c)  Seventy-five (75) miles per hour on interstate highways;
 41        (d)  SixtySeventy-five (675) miles per hour on state highways;
 42        (e)  Fifty-five  (55)  miles  per hour in other locations unless otherwise
 43        posted up to a maximum of sixty-five (65) miles per hour.
 44        (3)  The maximum lawful speed  limit  on  interstate  highways  shall  not
 45    exceed sixty-five (65) miles per hour for vehicles with five (5) or more axles
 46    operating at a gross weight of more than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                                  STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
 
                                        RS 14990


This legislation would amend Sections 49-201 and 49-654, Idaho Code, to raise the maximum
speed limit on the Interstate and State highway system from 65 miles per hour to a maximum of
75 miles per hour on those sections of the system which qualify for a higher limit according to
engineering studies and established speed limit procedures. There are many sections of the
Interstate and State highway system that are posted at the statutory limit of 65 MPH despite
the fact that standard speed limit establishment procedures would select a higher speed to post. 
Changing the maximum speed limit for Interstate and State highways from 65 mph to 75 mph
would allow more roads to be posted according to established procedures while still keeping
sections that do not qualify for higher speeds posted at 65 MPH or lower.  

                                       FISCAL IMPACT

There will be no impact to the general fund or ITD dedicated funds.  There will be a short term
change in workload priorities for Traffic Engineers to do speed studies and for the sign shop and
sign crews to produce and install new Speed Limit signs.  For the estimated 400 miles of
roadway, one sign every 5 miles and $150 per sign, the estimated cost is $12,000 which will be
covered by our normal budget.





Contact:  Senator Skip Brandt
Phone: (208) 332-1326

Carl Main
Asst Traffic & Highway Safety Engineer
Idaho Transportation Department
(208) 334-8558




Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Impact                                                   S 1133