97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1711

 

Introduced , by Rep. Cynthia Soto

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/1-107.1 new
625 ILCS 5/11-709.1  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709.1
625 ILCS 5/11-709.2 new

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "bus rapid transit vehicle" as a bus specifically authorized by the Department of Transportation to be operated upon highways and shoulders for bus rapid transit. Adds bus rapid transit vehicles to the list of vehicles exempted from prohibitions against driving on the shoulder. Creates the Bus Rapid Transit Pilot Program. Provides that commencing January 1, 2011, the Department, in cooperation with the Regional Transportation Authority and the Illinois State Police, shall establish a 5-year pilot program within the boundaries of the Regional Transportation Authority for bus rapid transit on highways and shoulders. Provides that the Department may adopt rules as necessary to implement the bus rapid transit pilot program, and that the Department shall present to the General Assembly a report on the effectiveness of bus rapid transit at the conclusion of the 5-year pilot program.


LRB097 05255 HEP 45307 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1711LRB097 05255 HEP 45307 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 11-709.1 and by adding Sections 1-107.1 and 11-709.2 as
6follows:
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/1-107.1 new)
8    Sec. 1-107.1. Bus rapid transit vehicle. A bus specifically
9authorized by the Department to be operated upon highways and
10shoulders for bus rapid transit.
 
11    (625 ILCS 5/11-709.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709.1)
12    Sec. 11-709.1. Driving on the shoulder.
13    (a) Vehicles shall be driven on a roadway, and shall only
14be driven on the shoulder for the purpose of stopping or
15accelerating from a stop while merging into traffic. It shall
16be a violation of this Section if while merging into traffic
17and while on the shoulder, the vehicle passes any other vehicle
18on the roadway adjacent to it.
19    (b) This Section shall not apply to any authorized
20emergency vehicle, to any authorized bus rapid transit vehicle,
21to any farm tractor or implement of husbandry, to any service
22vehicle while engaged in maintenance of the highway or related

 

 

HB1711- 2 -LRB097 05255 HEP 45307 b

1work, or to any authorized vehicle within a designated
2construction zone.
3(Source: P.A. 95-785, eff. 8-7-08.)
 
4    (625 ILCS 5/11-709.2 new)
5    Sec. 11-709.2. Bus rapid transit pilot program.
6    (a) For purposes of this Section, bus rapid transit is the
7use of specifically designated shoulders of roadways for
8authorized rapid transit lanes.
9    (b) Commencing January 1, 2011, the Department, in
10cooperation with the Regional Transportation Authority and the
11Illinois State Police, shall establish a 5-year pilot program
12within the boundaries of the Regional Transportation Authority
13for bus rapid transit on highways and shoulders. The pilot
14program may be implemented on shoulders of highways as
15designated by the Department in cooperation with the Regional
16Transportation Authority. Designated shoulders of roadways may
17be used by bus rapid transit vehicles at times and locations as
18set by the Department in cooperation with the Regional
19Transportation Authority. The Department may adopt rules as
20necessary for the implementation of the bus rapid transit pilot
21program.
22    (c) At the conclusion of the 5-year pilot program
23established under subsection (b) of this Section, the
24Department shall present to the General Assembly a report on
25the effectiveness of bus rapid transit.