99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB5795

 

Introduced , by Rep. Charles E. Meier

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Solar Powered Road Signs Pilot Program Act. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a pilot program to test the use of solar powered LED road signs in 5 counties of varied population. After getting reports of the program from the counties, the Department shall file a report with the General Assembly that contains the complete findings of the program. Effective immediately.


LRB099 16660 AXK 40998 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5795LRB099 16660 AXK 40998 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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Solar
5Powered Road Signs Pilot Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Solar Powered Road Signs.
7    (a) Six months after the effective date of this Act, the
8Department of Transportation shall, subject to appropriation,
9develop a program to test the use of solar powered LED road
10signs on roadways. After consultation with counties, the
11Department shall choose 5 counties of varied population that
12have consented to participate in the program.
13    (b) In implementing the program, the Department shall use
14its own discretion in selecting and purchasing the necessary
15resources for the road signs.
16    (c) The selected counties shall have the discretion to
17choose which roadways shall be equipped with the solar powered
18technology, subject to these conditions:
19        (1) the roadways shall not be State highways, federal
20    highways, or within an incorporated area;
21        (2) the roadways shall have road signs of particularly
22    low visibility; and
23        (3) each county must follow the specifications

 

 

HB5795- 2 -LRB099 16660 AXK 40998 b

1    delineated in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
2    Devices.
3    (d) After a period of at least 90 days from the start of
4the program, each county shall report its findings of the
5program to the Department. After receiving reports from each
6county, the Department shall file a report within 60 days with
7the General Assembly. The report shall include, but is not
8limited to:
9        (1) the overall function of the solar powered LED road
10    signs;
11        (2) the benefits to the State of having solar powered
12    LED road signs;
13        (3) any safety concerns to the general public while the
14    signs were in use; and
15        (4) the projected cost for Statewide use of the signs.
 
16    Section 10. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 31,
172018.
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.