H.B. 5847 (H-3): COMMITTEE SUMMARY SPEED LIMIT NEAR SCHOOLS
House Bill 5847 (Substitute H-3 as passed by the House) Sponsor: Representative Deborah Whyman
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism
Date Completed: 12-4-96
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to provide for an exception to the Code’s provisions governing the boundaries of a school zone when a school was located in an area that required school children to cross a State trunk line highway or county highway.
Currently, “school zone” means school property on which a school building is located and the area adjacent to the school property that is designated by required signs. A school zone cannot extend more than 1,000 feet from the property line of the school in each direction.
Under the bill, if a school were located in an area that required school children to cross a State trunk line highway or county highway that had a speed limit of at least 35 miles per
hour to attend that school, the school superintendent could submit a request to the State Transportation Commission, county road commission, or local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway, as applicable, for a school crossing as permitted under the Code. If, based on the traffic engineering studies, the road authority determined the need for a lower speed limit, the authority could designate the crossing as a school zone. Before submitting a request, the school superintendent would have to have completed a school route plan as prescribed in the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
MCL 257.627a Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
Costs would depend on the number of crossings designated as school zones under the bill. Costs would include traffic engineering studies and appropriate signs for the crossings.
Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman
S9596\S5847SA
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Page 1 of 1 hb5847/9596