REVISE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT

House Bill 4840 (proposed substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Tedder

Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Complete to 11-27-17

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4840 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to make highway segments with overhead pedestrian walkways subject to the Code’s provisions regarding school zone speed limits.

Section 627a of the Code currently allows for a reduced speed limit on a highway segment within 1,000 feet of a school to which students might be expected to walk. A school zone speed limit may be up to 20 miles per hour less than the normally posted speed limit on the highway segment, to a minimum speed limit of 25 miles per hour. The school zone speed limit is generally effective, with some discretion, during the 30 minutes before the school’s first class begins and the 30 minutes after the last class ends.

School zone speed limits currently do not apply to highway segments that are crossed by an overhead pedestrian walkway that is adjacent to the school property.

HB 4840 would remove this exception and make highway segments crossed by overhead walkways subject to school zone speed limits, if those limits would otherwise apply.

MCL 257.627a

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Michigan Department of Transportation indicates that the proposed substitute would have minimal fiscal impact on the department.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                                           Rick Yuille

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.